322 Mr. J. W. Mallet's Report on the Chemical Examination of Antiquities 



Cambridge, analyzed portions of bronze vessels found near Sawstone, Cam- 

 bridgeshire, and found them to consist of 88 per cent, of copper, and 12 per 

 cent, of tin. This same composition has recently been found for Irish speci- 

 mens by Dr. Robinson of Armagh.* Professor E. DAVT,f Mr. O'Sullivan,* 

 Mr. Donovan,* and Mr. J. A. Phillips,| have published more complete 

 analyses of antiquities from the latter country, in which foreign metals (as 

 lead, silver, and iron) have been carefully sought for, and their quantity de- 

 termined ; and a similar accurate examination of Scottish relics of bronze has 

 been made by Mr. Wilson, Hon. Sec. of the Society of Antiquaries of Scot- 

 land.§ Of these investigations that of Mr. Phillips is the most important as 

 regards Ireland. 



The specimens from the Museum of the Academy which I have examined 

 were all found in Ireland ; and are, as a group, completely illustrative of the 

 principal classes of antiquities belonging to that country. They are sixteen 

 in number. 



No. 1. A flat celt or kind of hatchet, the most common weapon of bronze 

 found in Ireland, Museum mark, -i-. This specimen was discovered, it is be- 

 lieved, in the county of Cavan ; it is a fine hard bronze, of a deep brass-yellow 

 colour, the " Celtic brass" of antiquaries. It was in excellent preservation, 

 being scarcely even tarnished on the surface. Specific gravity, 8-631. 



No. 2. Another flat celt, with rounded edges ; locality unknown. Museum 

 mark ^ |ms]. It was slightly and uniformly corroded on the exterior, and 

 on being filed proved to be a much softer bronze than No. 1 ; of a copper- 

 red colour, a little lighter than that of pure copper. Specific gravity, 8-303. 



No. 3. A long hollow celt, resembling in shape specimens which have been 

 fotmd in Denmark, discovered in the county of Wicklow. Marked, M'Enty. 

 It was a hard and rather brittle bronze, of about the same colour as No. 1 ; 

 slightly and uniformly corroded. Specific gravity, 7-960. 



No. 4. A short hollow celt, of very good workmanship, and exhibiting scarcely 

 a trace of corrosion ; supposed to be from the county of Cavan. Museum mark, 



• Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, vol. iv. pp. 430-469. 

 t Wilson's Archseology of Scotland, p. 247. 

 J Quarterly Journal of the Chemical Society, October, 1851. 

 § Wilson's Archseology of Scotland, p. 245. 



