59 
Errors such as these may seem to some trivial, but it is impossible to 
overrate the importance of correcting them; they are corruptions at the 
very fountain-head of history; they lead to a confusion that propagates 
itself and generates other more serious errors. Important, however, as 
these corrections are, they are far from being any measure of the value 
and interest of Dr. Reeves’s notes ; I regret that time will not permit me to 
go into further particulars; but I must stop to call the attention of an- 
tiquaries to the note in which Dr. Reeves has given a list of the various 
articles which tradition represented as haying been in the possession or 
in the use of St. Columba: the great Altar Cross, said to have been sent 
him by Pope Gregory the Great; the Cathach, which may be seen in our 
Museum; the Cochall or cowl of the saint; the Cuilebadh, or Cuilefaidh, 
probably his tunic; his Delg or brooch; his great Bachall, or pastoral 
staff; the Bachall he gave to St. Centigern when they exchanged croziers; 
the Gospels of St. Martin of Tours; the two Evangelistaria, called the 
‘‘ Book of Durrow,” and the ‘‘ Book of Kells,”” now in the Library of 
Trinity College, Dublin; the Misach, now in the possession of St. Co- 
lumba’sCollege; and many other similar relics,—bells, consecrated stones, 
and croziers, which were supposed to have been connected with his his- 
tory. Some of these, as we know, still exist; and the great value of 
such an enumeration of them as Dr. Reeves has given, is, that it may 
possibly lead to the discovery, or identification of others of them, ifthey 
should still peradventure be found on the Continent, or in the possession 
of some obscure or private person. 
Dr. Reeves is the author of several other publications of great interest 
to the Irish antiquary and historian. The able description of the Bell 
of St. Patrick and its shrine; the Visitation of Archbishop Colton, of the 
diocese of Derry; the ‘Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down and Connor;” 
and we may shortly, I hope, expect from him the ‘“ Book of Armagh,” 
with a valuable dissertation on its contents. 
Having given you this short and very imperfect account of the 
grounds upon which the Council have awarded the Cunningham Medals 
on the present occasion, nothing now remains for me but the very grateful 
duty of presenting the Medals to the gentlemen who have so well de- 
served this high distinction. I regret, however, to say, that two of those 
gentlemen are unavoidably absent,—Mr. Cooper having been detained 
in London by his Parliamentary duties, and Dr. Wall being prevented 
from being present by his advanced age, and the inclemency of the 
weather. Mr. Cooper, however, has deputed his distinguished assistant, 
Mr. Graham, to represent him on this occasion; and I have requested 
Dr. Butcher, the Regius Professor of Divinity in the University, to re- 
ceive the Medal for Dr. Wall, and to convey to him my regret that I 
could not have the pleasure of delivering it into his own hand. 
The President then, having called forward Mr. Graham, said :— 
“‘ Mr. Graham, although every one here must lament the unavoidable 
absence of Mr. Cooper, there will, I think, be equal unanimity in feeling 
that no more worthy substitute for him could have been found than your- 
