260. 
through Mr. Mulvany, a numerous and valuable collection of anti- 
quities discovered in the progress of the works carried on by order 
of the Commissioners in different parts of Ireland. The great va- 
lue of this donation has been enhanced by the care which has been 
taken to record the exact locality in which the several objects were 
found. 
The Academy, at a former stated meeting, adopted a plan re- 
commended by the Council for the preparation of a Catalogue of 
the Museum. The Council, regarding this work not only as desir- 
able for the information of visiters, and the promotion of Ar- 
chzological Science, but even as essential for the safe keeping of 
the Museum itself, regret extremely that they have not been able 
before now to report its completion. They had hoped, at all events, 
to announce this evening the fulfilment of Dr. Petrie’s promise to 
place the manuscript catalogue of the stone articles in the hands of 
the Committee of Publication, before the 16th of March. For an 
account of the progress actually made, and an explanation of the 
causes of the delay which has arisen in the execution of the work, 
the Council beg to refer to the annexed statement from Dr. Petrie. 
It is right to observe, that Dr. Petrie now contemplates a plan of 
compiling the Catalogue different from that sanctioned by the Aca- 
demy :— 
‘¢ Dr. Petrie states that he has given a considerable portion of time to 
the classification and cataloguing of the portion of the Museum consisting of 
stone implements, &c., and he had expected that he should have been able 
to fulfil his promise to the Academy made at its,last Stated Meeting. He 
deeply regrets, however, that in this expectation he has been disappointed. 
The number of the articles to be noticed, with the particulars necessary to 
make the Catalogue of real value, and such as he believes will be expected 
by the antiquaries of Europe, has been found to be far beyond what he had 
conceived, and must necessarily require a greater expenditure of time than 
he had asked. He trusts, however, that if the Academy will allow him to 
proceed on his own comprehensive plan, he may be able, by unremitting at- 
tention to it, to have it finished before the Academy breaks up for the sum- 
mer vacation: and he adds, that he would be very reluctant to engage in a 
work of a merely popular character, such as one comprised within the limited 
number of pages originally proposed, as he cannot conceive that such a work 
would be creditable to the Academy, or worthy of himself.” 
