300 
these bits were manufactured, iron was a cheaper metal than 
bronze, it being used to save so much of that metal. It might, 
however, have been used for the purpose of chilling the bronze 
which composed the lateral rings, when their material in the 
molten state flowed through the openings in the mouth-pieces 
and formed these rings, which would otherwise have adhered 
to the mouth-pieces. In the Museum are many specimens of 
bronze castings, united by a process of this kind, yet there 
is no example of hard soldering, which appears to be a more 
modern invention. 
The principle of covering iron with bronze, in the fluid 
state, is exhibited in the fabrication of the folded or lapped 
iron bells in the Museum, which are, in several instances, 
covered with bronze or brass, perfectly adhering to the iron 
surface. ‘The bronze fills up the folds and joints, thus pre- 
venting any false vibration, and the bell sounds as if it were 
composed of one piece of metal. 
He also directed the attention of the Meeting to the 
resemblance between the patterns on some curious antique 
plates in the Museum, and the details of a certain ornament 
very common in the initial letters in the manuscript Books of 
Kells, in the College Library, and the Book of Armagh, now 
deposited in the Museum of the Academy. He was disposed 
to infer, that these plates were of the same time as the MSS., 
or even earlier; for Mr. Westwood, who was the first to notice 
the resemblance, considered the pattern on them to be the 
type or original of the designs in the illuminations. This 
would support the conjecture that these plates were intended 
for Christian purposes, as pattens, or communion plates, pro- 
bably; though the designs differ so very much from those of 
a later period. 
The size and materials of these plates are the same as 
those of the Mias Tighernain, which may have been used as a 
patten also. This is rendered probable by the fact, commu- 
nicated by the Rey. Dr. Kelly of Maynooth, that he had seen 
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