243 



number of volumes, published by the Smithsonian Institution 

 in the city of Washington. 



A vote of thanks was passed to the Smithsonian Society 

 for their donation. 



Mr. Mulvany, in pursuance of a resolution passed at the 

 last preceding meeting of the Academy, having read a Paper,* 

 giving an account of a large collection of antiquities, presented 

 to the Museum by the Commissioners of Public Works, and 

 others : — 



Sir William Betham, in allusion to the large metallic cast- 

 ing which formed a part of the collection, observed, that it 

 bore the arms of Castile and Leon, the double-headed eagle 

 and the Imperial Crown of Germany. There were also the 

 two Spanish pillars, in allusion to the pillars of Hercules. It 

 must, in his opinion, have belonged to the period of Charles V., 

 or his son Philip, when he was King of Spain and Emperor of 

 Germany at one and the same time. 



Mr. Kelly said that the communication made by Mr. Mul- 

 vany being one of so much importance, as regarded the ancient 

 history of Ireland, ought to be referred to the Council of the 

 Academy, with a view to its publication. He therefore begged 

 to propose a resolution to that effect, and at the same time a 

 vote of thanks to the Board of Works for their valuable 

 donation. They lived in times when discoveries of an extra- 

 ordinary kind were of almost daily occurrence. Through dis- 

 coveries in Australia and California great treasures were 

 making their way into England ; and he was proud to say 

 that Mr. Mulvany's " diggings" bid fair to add to the histo- 

 rical lore of Ireland treasures as valuable as anything which 

 had been heretofore contributed. 



Dr. Petrie had great pleasure in seconding the motion. He 



* The particulars of this donation and Mr. Mulvany's remarks will appear 

 as an Appendix. 



