284 Royal Irish Academy. 



"Whoever Lachtin may have been, there is no doubt that the con- 

 templation of this Eeliquary will afford pleasure and instruction to 

 many thousands of our countrymen, seen, as it will be, in the 

 National Museum in company with other objects of Irish metal-work 

 unequalled, I may affirm, in the productions of so early a post-Chris- 

 tian age in any other collection in the world. 



"When I consider the many proofs of consideration shown to the 

 Academy by the Queen's Grovernment of late years, as in the present 

 case, and recently in that of the Ashburnham MSS., as well as in the 

 compliment paid us by inviting us to superintend the publication, at 

 the cost of the State, of the Annals of Ulster, I am bound, on my 

 own part, to express my gratitude, and do not doubt that my feelings 

 will find an echo in the general voice of the Academy. I am not 

 insensible, however, of the fact, that during that time we have had two 

 Viceroys, both men of high culture and sagacity, who have had the 

 opportunity of observing how much the Irish people love to preserve 

 the memorials of the former civilization of this country, and who 

 must have noticed that every step taken by the Queen's advisers 

 towards gratifying that sentiment has been received with unanimous 

 approval. 



The following Resolution, proposed by the Secretary of the 

 Academy and seconded by Mr. E. J. Cruise, was adopted : — 



"That the thanks of the Academy are due and are hereby given to 

 the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury for their Lord- 

 ships' liberal and considerate action in enabling the Department of 

 Science and Art to send to the Academy the Reliquary called the 

 Shrine of Saint Lachtin." 



The following Resolution, proposed by Sir Robert Kane, ll.d., f.r.s., 

 and seconded by Sir Patrick Keenan, k.c.m.g., was adopted : — 



''That the grateful thanks of the Academy are due to the Lord 

 Lieutenant of Ireland, Earl Spencer, k.g., for His Excellency's effica- 

 cious aid in obtaining for the Academy's collection of antiquities, for 

 ultimate deposit in the new National Museum of Ireland, the Reliquary 

 called the Shrine of Saint Lachtin." 



Donations to the Library were announced, and thanks voted to the 

 respective Donors. 



The Transactions, Science, vol. xxviii., part 17 (Catalogue of the 

 Earthquakes occurring in Great Britain and Ireland during Historic 

 Times, by Professor O'Reilly), was laid on the table. 



