369 



been yet discovered in this country. At the same time he 

 thought it desirable to bring it under the notice of antiqua- 

 ries, in order that, if it be spurious, competent authority may 

 pronounce it to be a forgery ; or, if it should appear to be ge- 

 nuine, that other inscriptions of the same kind might be sought 

 for on the cromleachs which abound in this country. 



Mr. Graves suggested that some persons in the neigh- 

 bourhood of TuUycorbet might possibly possess information 

 calculated to throw light on this question. 



The characters employed in the inscription seem to be 

 Runes depending from a stem-line ; a mode of Runic writing 

 which certainly was in use, though not the commonest. Mr. 

 Graves abstained from offering any conjectures as to the 

 reading of the inscription ; hoping that, if it should prove de- 

 serving of their attention, some of the English or Northern 

 antiquaries, who have made Runes their special study, might 

 be induced to exercise their deciphering powers upon it. 



A note was read from the Rev. Mr. Armstrong, of Kil- 

 muckridge, County Wexford, describing an ancient earthen- 

 ware urn or crucible, found in his neighbourhood, containing 

 several specimens of bronze articles, such as celts, rings, and 

 a gouge, all in a state of advanced oxidation ; and also a por- 

 tion of an instrument, composed apparently of an alloy resem- 

 bling speculum metal, which was not oxidated on the surface. 

 The hardness of the composition of this article was so great, a 

 penknife would not cut it. 



" The urn was discovered about three feet below the sur- 

 face, with a flag placed over it ; but no other stone, of any size 

 or description, was found near it. The soil in which it was 

 imbedded is a stiff, yellow clay, but the urn was filled with a 

 dark-coloured earth, similar to that of the upper stratum. 

 The urn contained no remains of bone, &c., or any other ar- 

 ticles of antiquity than those now in your possession. 



