288 Royal Irish Academij. 



valuable Eelics of Antiquity have been saved from destruction and 

 placed in a safe and accessible position for the gratification and 

 instruction of the lovers of ancient art, that this collection is 

 admitted to be now one of the most important in Europe, and is all but 

 unique in the department of prehistoric gold objects. 



4. In 1859 and following years the special attention of the Govern- 

 ment was called, both in Parliament and otherwise, to the importance 

 of improved methods being adopted for the j)reservation of objects of 

 antiquity — especially those coming under the denomination of Treasure 

 Trove — and in 1861 the President of the Academy received a letter 

 (2812), dated 20th April, in which Sir Thomas Larcom, Under 

 Secretary, said : — 



' ' Eef erring to the correspondence with the Royal Irish Academy, 

 and the Eeport of the Council of that body on the subject of Treasui'e 

 Trove in Ireland, I am directed by the Lord Lieutenant to state 

 that the Lords Commissioners of Her llajesty's Treasury have been 

 pleased to sanction the expenditiu'e of one hundred pounds a year in 

 the recovery of Eelics of Antiquity, to be carried on upon a plan 

 submitted by His Excellency, through the instrumentality of the 

 Constabulary of the several counties. And I am directed to transmit 

 for the information of the Academy a copy of the Instructions which 

 have been issued for the purpose. 



"His Excellency feels assui'ed he may count upon the assistance and 

 co-operation of the Academy in a measure so useful to the public, 

 and calculated to add to the valuable collection already deposited in 

 the Museum of the Academy." 



[The printed documents referred to in the above letter were 

 Circular JSTo. 35, headed " Treasure Trove," and signed 

 "H. J. Brownrigg." jS'otice dated, Dublin Castle, 20th 

 March, 1861, and signed " T. A. Larcom" — also the Eorms 

 of receipt and Certificate of finding.] 



5. The Academy willingly agreed to assist to the utmost of its 

 power in carrying out the wishes of His Excellency, and since that 

 time a large number of antiquities, including many torques, rings, 

 and other gold ornaments, have been collected together ; the Academy 

 on various occasions having by special private subscriptions supple- 

 mented the funds granted by Pai'liament. 



