( cy ) 



Tou will 160161111)61 that in the year 1869 a recommendation was 

 made that this "Academy should be invited to sui'render some por- 

 tion of its chartered independence, and to place its Museum under a 

 Director to be appointed by the Government." This recommendation 

 "was based on the allegation, " That the Museum was a very unsafe 

 building, not fii-e-proof, and that the prendses, 19, Dawson-street, 

 were insecure, and unsuitable for the Academy's purposes." Since 

 this statement was made, the whole condition of the Museum has been 

 materially changed. Objects of chief value have been placed in a 

 fire-proof room. The old fittings have been removed from the former 

 Museum, and reconstructed on improved principles. The Curator has 

 completed the new deposit of all the bronze objects, and had the 

 strong room arranged siibstantially as we now see it. At the same 

 time the great crypt under the Library was cleared out and converted 

 into a lapidary museum. By the space thus gained, ample room is 

 provided for the sui-plus collections ia bronze and iron, and the larger 

 objects in stone and wood. A vestibule measuring upwards of 150 

 feet in length by forty feet in breadth has been thrown into one suite 

 of rooms, where the inscribed stones are mounted on proper supports, 

 and the lighting of this great suite of apartments has been provided 

 for by the introduction of gas. In all these arrangements, whether 

 they be regarded in the way of security or of adequate exposition, or 

 sufficiency for the purposes of a great and growing Institution, the 

 Eeport of 1869 should, if made at this present time, differ in a very 

 marked manner and in almost every material particular fi'om the 

 former one. And here let me observe, that the arrangement of the 

 apartments and of the objects to be exhibited therein has been directed 

 by one of omv distinguished Yice-Presidents, Dr. Ferguson, to whom, 

 in the name of the Academy, I have to offer our siacere thanks. 



Our Museum differs from ordinary collections by its having a spe-^ 

 cial scientific object. It is to the material evidences of Irish history 

 what our great manuscript library is to its literary evidences — it is 

 the antiquary's Libraiy of Reference. Let its shelves be examined, 

 and any one can see that it is no mere fancy collection of objects of 

 what is called " vertu," belonging to various times, countries, peoples, 

 and races. It may be said to belong to the Irish people, and iUuS' 

 trates their history, and therefore is indispensable for one of the chief 

 objects of an Irish Academy; truly as much so as our precious collect' 



R. I. A. MIXXJTES, SESSION 1874-5. P 



