Macalistkr — On a Hoard of Remarkable Gold Objects. 177 



and in the face of this judgment it was difficult for Count Plunkett to move 

 freely in the matter. But the generous patron above-named stepped in to 

 play the part of JDeus ex machina, and, thanks to him, the objects are now the 

 property of the National Museum, and are permanently housed in the 

 country to which they belong. Two or three other objects, said to belong to 

 the group, were afterwards forwarded by the dealer, and have also been 

 acquired through his public spirit. 



As soon as the purchase was effected, Count Plunkett requested 

 Mr. E. C. E. Armstrong and myself to carry the objects to England, and to 

 submit them to the judgment of experts there, in order to have the question 

 of their authenticity settled one way or another. We saw Sir Arthur Evans, 

 whose life-long experience in collecting and studying antiquities of all kinds 

 gives him a unique claim to authority in deciding such matters. We also 

 saw Sir Hercules Eead. Both of these gentlemen were emphatic in their 

 opinion that the objects are genuine, and gave us the fullest permission to 

 use their names in evidence of the character of the find. Some correspondence 

 that I have had with Canon Greenwell, to which reference will presently be 

 made, shows that that experienced collector also is assured that they are 

 genuine. It is necessary to adduce this evidence for the authenticity of the 

 objects for two reasons : first, that they are of so unusual a nature that a 

 suspicion might be aroused (as has actually been the case) of their being 

 forgeries ; and secondly, to vindicate Count Plunkett for having, in the face 

 of numerous difficulties, acquired the collection for the Museum under his 

 charge. 



The question of the genuineness of the objects being thus satisfactorily 

 settled, the next question that arises is that of the place and circumstances 

 of the find itself. Here, unfortunately, we are on less certain ground. The 

 pernicious working of the antiquated law of treasure trove was never so 

 completely demonstrated as by the present case ; and I am obliged to confess 

 that it has been impossible for me to obtain sufficient information as to the 

 provenance of the objects and the circumstances of the discovery. It is 

 lamentable that the value of the find, from a scientific point of view, is thus 

 depreciated. 



All I can tell is contained in two letters from Canon Greenwell, which I 

 shall quote. It may be convenient to state first that the hoard, as received 

 at the Museum, consists of a torque ; a bracelet of gold which had been 

 straightened out, and the ends of which have been looped and hooked into the 

 ends of the torque to widen it ; a long pin with cup-shaped head ; a flat disc 

 of -gold, cut into the shape of a shield; and five small models of bronze flat 

 flanged celts. There was also another pin, with the head coiled into the shape 



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