44 Proceedings or the Royal Irish Academy. 



alone was added to older marks, I held this assertion of variations in the 

 main hall-mark very doubtful, as I for one cannot perceive any gradual 

 change or development, still less any new fashion in the crowned harp and 

 its shield. But I need not argue this matter now, as I think it more likely 

 that the objects post-assayed had originally no marks at all, or only the 

 maker's punch. It makes no difference, however, to my argument whether 

 they had or not. 



A- regards the objects, such as salt-cellars and candlesticks, of which we 

 have many with date and name of doner long before the Hib&rnia, but on 

 which no marks of post-assaying now appear, these are eases not of remaking 

 an older gift without changing its purpose, but rather of turning an older 

 piece into something wholly different, but more useful. Thus the Bursar 

 may have argued: we have too many cups and not enough salt-cellars; let us 

 turn some of the one into the other. I think we have a l>ig example of this 

 process in the long dinner-service still in use, of which almost all the plates 

 and many of the dishes are hall-marked completely and show the Gothic R 

 of 17:5:1 They have the College arms, and no other inscription, name, or 

 donor's arms on any 01 f them. 



There are many other interesting questions arising out of the Btudj of this 



• collection, with which I cannot now 1 rouble the Aeademy. But as I 



am preparing to write a detailed history of the College plate, those who are 



weary of the subject will, I hope, find the further material* I have 



1. and my estimate of them, in that volume. 



it fi mere archaeological interest, the subject has a practical value to 



all owners of, and dealers in, (date. Hitherto an earlier inscription than 



L730 "ii a piece of plate was supposed to be at once proved Ealse by the 



appearance on it of the H and bo fai the inscription was assumed to 



: a lat.-r date. If my argument be Bound, it is sometimes at least not 



inscription, but the Bibernia, which is the misleading evidence; and such 

 eases probably occur in other collections as well as in that of Trinity College. 



This discussion has been so intricate thai the Academy will gladly hear 

 from me a summary of the views which I have endeavoured to lay before it 

 in detail. 



From its very foundation the College had received a tax of plate, or of 

 money foi plate, fron -indent according to his rank. 



The plate so accumulated, especially before the existence of banks, was 



simply ref from its money value, without the smallest -'•ntiment. 



Bence, in one crisis L642-8) the College lived by Belling its plate, or having 



it made into coin. When another danger — that of confiscation — threatened 



1 great store of it was Bold to a goldsmith, and with the money an 



