On the Ring Money of the Celta, and their System of IV eights, which appears to 
have been what is now called Troy Weight. By Sim Wituiam Bernam, 
M.R.1.A., Ulster King of Arms, §c¢. Sc. 
Read 23d of May, and 27th of June, 1836. 
That the Britons at Cesar’s invasion, were considerably advanced in civilization, 
fully appears from his statements. They had large ships, and much trade and com- 
mercial intercourse with Gaul, Spain, and Germany. ‘The island was populous ; they 
had good houses; great abundance of cattle ; and, among other proofs of a polished 
and cultivated people, they possessed a well regulated and graduated metallic circu- 
lating medium. “ Hominum est infinita multitudo, creberrimaque edificia, feré Gallicis 
consimilia, pecoris magnus numerus, utuntur autem nummo aureo aut annulis ferreis 
ad certum pondus examinatus pro nummo. Nascitur ibi plumbum album in mediter- 
raneis regionibus, in maritimis ferrum, sed ejus exigua est copia, wre utuntur im- 
portato.” Many circumstances are stated in this short passage which only could refer 
to a people somewhat advanced in civilized life. ‘These observations are equally ap- 
plicable to the Celtz of Hibernia, which the remains daily found under her surface 
fully substantiate. 
Suetonius says, (in Czsare, cap. 54,) “In Gallia fana templaque Deum donis re- 
ferta expilavit, urbes diruit, sepius ob praedam quam ob delictum, unde factum est ut 
auro abundaret ternisque millibus nummum in libras promercale, per Italiam provin- 
ciasque divenderet.” 
The great abundance of gold found by Cesar in the cities and temples of Gaul, 
absolutely diminished its value in Italy. 
It appears also, from Czsar and Diodorus Siculus, that there was a great abundance 
of gold among the Celtz ; the people wore the richest and most ponderous ornaments 
of that metal, as torques, chains, breastplates, and even had the frontlets of their hel- 
mets covered with plates of gold. Many specimens of all these have been found of 
great Weight and value in Gaul and Britain ; but, in recent times, those found in Ire- 
land greatly exceed them, both in number and value. Several are still in the Dean of 
St. Patrick’s and other museums. 
Many reasons may be given for the more frequent occurrence of these remains in 
Ireland than in either Britain or Gaul The former has ever been more a grazing 
