192 [Proc. B. N. F. C, 



Tour Jeanne d'Arc in Rouen, of which drawings were exhibited. 

 An interesting description of the original uses of the feudal 

 donjon next followed, showing that it was an outcome of the 

 state of the feudal system in which the Baron not merely had to 

 protect himself against his enemy, but also to preserve himself 

 from his treacherous friends, and from his own vassals. Typical 

 instances were illustrated of the great French donjons, and of 

 the English keeps, and the numerous instances of this form of 

 castle to be found in Wales. The other departments of the 

 fortress at Dnndrum were then described, such as the large 

 outer barbican, which masked the gateway, and its towers, whose 

 Temains we have to this day, evidencing how closely the Irish 

 castle followed the types of the Anglo-Norman. The original 

 fosse was traced, and there was shown the transformations which 

 the site underwent Avhen the Blundells, in 1636, erected on the 

 barbican plateau their mansion, whose ruin is more ruinous than 

 that of the old castle itself, the entire- buildings forming one of 

 the most effective groups in the county, and the most interesting. 

 Although now deserted of their owners, and gutted out of all but 

 the dry bones and skeletons of their archaeological interest, they 

 retain their picturesqueness and halo of antiquity, thanks to the 

 care of the noble owner, who conserves every portion of these 

 relics of various epochs in the history of Ireland. 



The annual meeting of the club was held in the Museum, 

 College-square, on Monday evening — the vice-president, W. 

 H. Patterson, Esq., M.R.I.A., in the chair. The Chairman 

 opened the meeting by a few preliminary remarks on the im- 

 portance of the meeting, and asked the members to give their 

 earnest attention to the business of the evening, by suggesting 

 such matters as they considered would be of advantage to the 

 working of the society. The secretaries were then called upon 

 to read their annual report, from which it appeared that the 

 past year had been one of quiet progress. Twenty-five new 

 members had been elected during the year, which, after allow- 



