180 
five different modes used for completing the syllabie charac- 
ters, by the addition of letters, were briefly explained ; and it 
was then stated, that the old syllabic powers or names of the 
letters of the alphabet, were completed by the addition of 
another alphabetic character, representing the final sound in 
the syllable. This additional character is the expletive of 
the letter, and for it, as has been already noticed, an idea- 
graph, determining the pronunciation of the syllable, and thus 
equivalent to the first letter, may be obtained. 
The reason why the practice of using expletives was re- 
tained, especially in foreign words, was the readiness with 
which some letters were confounded in the Hieratic texts. 
These letters had always different expletives, and a distinc- 
tion was thus established between them, which would not 
exist if the expletives were omitted. The hieroglyphic texts 
in which expletives are chiefly found, were stated to be those 
which were copied from Hieratic, or, as they are called here, 
hieroglyphic originals. 
Mr, Huband Smith read a paper descriptive of an ancient 
Wayside Cross, situate in the townland of Nevinstown, on the 
northern bank of the river Blackwater, about two miles from 
the town of Navan, in the county of Meath. One side bears 
an inscription; the opposite has a shield, with armorial bear- 
ings, party per pale, nearly effaced. Beneath the dexter side 
are the initial letters M.C., and, under the sinister, M.D. 
The height of the shaft is at present three feet six inches 
above the slab, in which a socket is cut to receive the tenon 
upon the lower end of the shaft. This slab stands on a low 
grassy hillock, the remains, doubtless, of an ascent of three or 
four stone steps, which, when complete, the cross surmounted. 
Mr. Smith exhibited to the Academy a “‘ rubbing,” taken 
from the shaft, which shewed the present state of the inserip- 
tion on the front, the shield on the back, and an ornamental 
pattern on each of the sides. He also produced a restoration 
