415 



Members; and secondly, to divide them into sections corresponding 

 to the threefold objects of the Academy, so that the respective 

 branches of Science, Polite Literature, and Antiquities, may be 

 fairly represented among the Honorary Members. 



During the past year an opportunity presented itself, from the 

 visit of an intelligent Danish antiquary to this city, of opening a 

 communication between the Academy and the Eoyal Museum of 

 Northern Antiquities of Copenhagen, from which we may reasonably 

 expect the most beneficial consequences. From the connexion 

 which subsisted in ancient times between the Norsemen and this 

 country, a comparison of Scandinavian and Irish antiquities has long 

 been a great desideratum. The Academy, therefore, in accordance 

 with the recommendation of Council, requested Mr. Worsaae to be 

 the bearer of some drawings of the objects which seemed most 

 likely to be interesting to Northern antiquarians in our Collection, 

 to be presented, in the name of the Academy, to the Eoyal Museum 

 of Copenhagen. They selected also, for the same purpose, under 

 the superintendence of the Committee of Antiquities, a few dupli- 

 cates from the Museum, which, it is- hoped, may be regarded at 

 Copenhagen as worthy of a place in the Royal Museum. They will, 

 at all events, serve as a testimony of our good-will, and as an ex- 

 pression of our desire to establish a friendly intercourse between 

 the learned men of two countries, whose early history was once so 

 closely and so singularly united. 



During the past year the Academy has to lament the death of 

 the following Members : 



Abraham Palmer, Esq., elected 1838. 



George Digges La Touche, Esq., . • ,, 1838. 



Goddard Richards, Esq., .... „ 1843. 



Maxwell M'Master, Esq., .... „ 1844. 



The death of George Downes, Esq., also occurred during the year. 

 He died on Sunday, August 23, 1846 ; and although, from the state 

 of his health, he had, a short time before, ceased to be a Member 

 of the Academy, the Council cannot refrain from paying this brief 

 tribute to his memory. His attainments in Polite Literature were 

 of a high order ; and his extensive knowledge of the northern Ian- 



