80 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



The same remark applies to eight baluster-stem candlesticks, given at 

 different dates from 1694 to 1722, and by different donors, but which all 

 bear the same Dublin hall-marks for about 1745. 



The College possesses several pieces of plate with inscribed dates, given 

 late in the nineteenth century and early in the twentieth, but with hall- 

 marks of some fifty or sixty years earlier. If hall-marks are not to be relied 

 on, then why not say with analogous reasoning that these pieces were made 

 at the date Bel forth in the inscription ' These examples are, I think, sufficient, 

 although there are others among the < 'nllege plate, to show that the inscribed 

 ■ laics cannol be relied on for proving the date of manufacture. As 1 have 

 pointed out, many of the pieces could not have been made at the earlier 

 dates, as the form of the particular object was unknown at the period. None 

 of the pieces Bhows the slightest trace of any earlier hall- or makers'- marks. 

 With all dun deference to the Provost, I fail to see thai his theory shows that 

 the inscribed dates on the College plate, or on any other plate, prove the date 

 of manufacture. 



