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interest, in connexion with the antiquities of Ireland, as show- 
ing that a great progress might be made in the manufacture 
of iron weapons without iron hammers and anvils; and, there- 
fore, that the use of stone hammers was quite consistent with 
the existence of iron weapons. This fact seemed, in some de- 
gree, to invalidate the theory of certain antiquaries who at- 
tempted to draw a definite line of demarcation between an 
iron and a stone period. The iron weapons might have been 
forged with the ancient stone implements, and therefore may 
have come into use before the stone had been abandoned. 
Dr. Petrie thought the position taken by Dr. Todd an un- 
tenable one. It was quite possible, as well as natural, that 
when the Kaffirs, who were accustomed to the use of stone, 
came into contact with civilized men and obtained articles of 
iron, they would try to shape them into weapons with the 
stone hammers which they had been in the habit of using for 
other purposes. 
Dr. Ball stated, that when the Cape of Good Hope was 
first discovered by Europeans, their attention was attracted 
by the beauty and perfection of the weapons found in the 
hands of the natives, manufactured by themselves from native 
iron. 
Sir William Hamilton presented Tables containing a series 
_ of meteorological observations, made and drawn up by his as- 
sistant, Mr. Charles Thompson. 
A yote of thanks was given to Mr. Thompson for having 
_ devoted his time and attention to a subject in which the Aca- 
' demy took so deep an interest. 
