196 



presented by the Rev. James Spencer Knox ; the valuable collection of an- 

 cient Swords, and other antiquities, found in the works of the Dublin and 

 Cashel Railway, near Kilmainham, presented by Colonel J. E. Napier 

 and the directors of that railway ; and the donation of ancient weapons, 

 by the Shannon Commissioners, which are also of very great interest 

 and value. The importance of this class of donations, possessing * 

 peculiar value from their authenticity, can scarcely be too highly estima- 

 ted; and the Council therefore thought it right to address a circular to 

 the Directors of the railways new in progress in Ireland, calling their 

 attention to this subject, and requesting their co-operation with the 

 Academy in the attempt that has been made to establish here a 

 public museum of Irish Antiquities. 



The increase of our collection of MSS. has made it necessary to 

 provide for their security; the Council have therefore made rules pre- 

 scribing the conditions upon which access to the MSS. is to be hence- 

 forth permitted, with a view to the exclusion of such persons as would 

 be likely to injure them, or to make an improper or dishonest use of 

 their contents. Under this head should be noticed the recovery of two 

 of the missing leaves of the Leabhar Breac, which were presented to 

 the Academy by Messrs. Hodges and Smith, having been purchased by 

 them, along with some other volumes in MS. which they have also 

 presented to our library.* 



During the past year friendly communications have been opened 

 with the Literary and Scientific Society of Toronto, the Irish Society of 

 London, the Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, and 

 the Belfast Library and Society for promoting knowledge. 



The Council have now to notice, with regret, the retirement from 

 the office of President, of the distinguished gentleman who has for the 

 last eight years presided over the Academy. Sir William Hamilton's 

 determination to resign a place whose duties he has so long discharged 

 with honour to himself and to the Academy, is already well known to 

 every member; it was communicated to the Council by a letter received 

 by them on the 1 7th of November, which contained also a suggestion 

 that the voluntary resignation of the President afforded a favourable 

 opportunity for considering, without the infringement of delicacy 



* See their letter in the Pi-oceedings, vol. iii. p. 73. 



