260, 



through Mr. Mulvany, a numerous and valuahle collection of anti- 

 quities discovered in the progress of the works carried on hy order 

 of the Commissioners in different parts of Ireland. The great va- 

 lue of this donation has been enhanced by the care which has been 

 taken to record the exact locality in which the several objects were 

 found. 



The Academy, at a former stated meeting, adopted a plan re- 

 commended by the Council for the preparation of a Catalogue of 

 the Museum. The Council, regarding this work not only as desir- 

 able for the information of visiters, and the promotion of Ar- 

 chaeological Science, but even as essential for the safe keeping of 

 the Museum itself, regret extremely that they have not been able 

 before now to report its completion. They had hoped, at all events, 

 to announce this evening the fulfilment of Dr. Petrie's promise to 

 place the manuscript catalogue of the stone articles in the hands of 

 the Committee of Publication, before the 16th of March. For an 

 account of the progress actually made, and an explanation of the 

 causes of the delay which has arisen in the execution of the work, 

 the Council beg to refer to the annexed statement from Dr. Petrie. 

 It is right to observe, that Dr. Petrie now contemplates a plan of 

 compiling the Catalogue different from that sanctioned by the Aca- 

 demy : — . 



"Dr. Petrie states that he has given a considerable portion of time to 

 the classification and cataloguing of the portion of the Museum consisting of 

 stone implements, &c, and he had expected that he should have been able 

 to fulfil his promise to the Academy made at its. last Stated Meeting. He 

 deeply regrets, however, that in this expectation he has been disappointed. 

 The number of the articles to be noticed, with the particulars necessary to 

 make the Catalogue of real value, and such as he believes will be expected 

 by the antiquaries of Europe, has been found to be far beyond what he had 

 conceived, and must necessarily require a greater expenditure of time than 

 he had asked. He trusts, however, that if the Academy will allow him to 

 proceed on his own comprehensive plan, he may be able, by unremitting at- 

 tention to it, to have it finished before the Academy breaks up for the sum- 

 mer vacation : and he adds, that he would be very reluctant to engage in a 

 work of a merely popular character, such as one comprised within the limited 

 number of pages originally proposed, as he cannot conceive that such a work 

 would be creditable to the Academy, or worthy of himself." 



