286 Boyal Irish Academy. 



The principal feature in the Danish Ecclesiastical Collection is St. 

 Olaf' s Shrine, for many centuries placed upon the high altar of Trondh- 

 jem Cathedral, and removed at the time of the Eeformation. This 

 shrine is the representation of a hand and forearm in silver gilt, and is 

 about life-size. Our recently acquired Shrine of St. Lachteen has a 

 ■wooden core, and rests horLzontally ; that of St. Olaf stands perpen- 

 dicularly •with the hand up and the elbovr below. It is hollow, and 

 formerly contained the relics of St. Olaf, and can be opened by a rude 

 silver key, which is still in the lock. St. Olaf was the introducer of 

 Chiistianity into Norway, but appears to have been a warrior as well 

 as a bishop, if one may judge by the fact that he was killed at the 

 battle of Sticklestad in a. d. 1030, and that he was buried in his 

 helmet and spurs in. Trondhjem Cathedral. The spurs and helmet are 

 still preserved in Stockholm; but on inquiry as to the reKcs, it appeared 

 that the Danish Government had, with much liberality, returned 

 them to CathoKc hands, and that they have been placed in a new 

 shrine, a fac-simile of the original. The Dagmar Cross is a very beauti- 

 ful example of Byzantine gold-work with Cloisonne enamel, and was 

 presented to the Danish Eoyal Family by one of the Greek Emperors. 

 In A. D. 1212, when Queen Dagmar died, it "was already an antiquity ; 

 and was, at her dying request, buried in her grave, where it remained 

 for 400 years. Beside it is another cross which has a curious history. 

 For many centuries an unknown and neglected oak figure had been 

 lying in the lumber-room of the Cathedral at Eoeskilde, and was sold 

 with, some other lumber. Its purchaser proceeded to break it up for 

 firewood ; and on dividing the head found this beautiful ornament. 

 It is a doubled-barred cross, and is exquisitely set in rubies. Dr. 

 F. J. B. Quinlan gave a detailed account of many other of the magni- 

 ficent gold ornaments in the collection. 



Dr. Frazer read Some ]S"otes on a Set of Playing Cards relating to 

 Dr. Sacheverel. 



The following scientific grants, recommended by the Council, were 

 confiimed by the Academy : — 



£15 to Professor O'Eeilly, to aid in researches regarding the Dis- 

 tribution of Earthquakes in Great Britain and Ii'eland. 



£10 to Dr. Frazer, for the purchase of the standard instruments 

 for the correct measui'emeut of Crania, 



'V 



