I876-77-] 249 



in lunatic asylums in the United States of America who had fallen 

 victims to this delusion. The lecturer proceeded to give a highly 

 satisfactory account of the state of the Club, and to the work done 

 during the past year by some of its members— by Mr. Joseph 

 Wright in his researches connected with the Foraminifera ; by 

 Mr. W. Swanston in the Silurian deposits ; by Mr. William Gray 

 in the archaelogical department, and by others. After referring to 

 some other interesting details, the President concluded his address, 

 and the meeting proceeded to the election of new members, with 

 which the proceedings closed. 



On 24th January— Rev. William Macllwaine, D.D., M.R.I.A., 

 President, in the chair — a paper was read by Mr. John Browne, 

 on " The Origin and Progress of Coinage." 



After some introductory remarks, the essayist went on to say 

 that he had seen it stated " that much had been well and eloquently 

 written on the interest and study of coins, from the time of 

 Petrarch to the present day, and yet the number who have sought 

 amusement and instruction in that pursuit has been, and still 

 continues small." He then pointed out that, as historic records, 

 coins have proved themselves of the highest importance ; and, 

 even from the very infancy of the art of coinage, their valuable 

 testimony commences, and that to the Greeks we owe, if not the 

 invention, at all events the very early general extension of a 

 circulating medium in this form. And, on the coins of the very 

 earliest period, we find the migrations, and the manners, and the 

 mythology, and state of civilization of this great and interesting 

 people. But the Roman series, which rose, as it were, on the 

 ruins of that of Greece, is, perhaps, more generally interesting than 

 any other 5 at all events, it has been more studied, and, putting 

 the question of art all together on one side, it may fairly, from the 



