312 



light they throw on the history of the aboriginal inhabitants of 

 Denmark, as well as on the antiquities which belong to the period 

 of the Danish occupation of Ireland. It contains, also, some ex- 

 tremely beautiful casts, which, for the purpose of comparison, are 

 as valuable to the student as the original objects. 



It is much to be desired that a closer correspondence could be es- 

 tablished between the principal Museums of national antiquities in 

 Europe, by an interchange of casts, drawings, and descriptive cata- 

 logues. Nothing would have a greater tendency to promote antiqua- 

 rian science, and to establish fixed principles from which inferences 

 of the utmost importance respecting the migrations and early his- 

 tory of the human race might be derived. With a view to pro- 

 mote this object, the Council have already formed a pictorial Ca- 

 talogue of the Museum, and they have long been desirous to prepare 

 for publication a descriptive Catalogue. They have the gratification 

 of stating now, with respect to the latter object, that Dr. Petrie has 

 kindly undertaken to carry out their views by compiling a short 

 Catalogue of the most important articles of the collection, including 

 especially such as are in their nature unique, and such as are 

 types of a class. 



The same gentleman has also undertaken, at the request of the 

 Committee of Antiquities, to draw up a detailed account of the ex- 

 cavations of the ancient tumulus of Dowth, and to present it to the 

 Academy in the form of a Memoir, with a view to its publication in 

 the Transactions. 



The Library, during the past year, has received several dona- 

 tions, and has also been increased by a few purchases. A list of 

 both will be given in the Appendix to the present>olume of the 

 Proceedings. 



It was resolved,— That the Report of the Council be 

 adopted, and printed in the Proceedings. 



The Ballot for the annual election having closed, the Scru- 

 tineers reported that the following gentlemen were elected 

 Officers and Council for the ensuing year : 



President.— Re\. Humphrey Lloyd, D. D. 



Treasurer, — Robert Ball, Esq. 



