Antiquarian Collections in Ulster. 65 



the good feeling of the contributors, many of them gentlemen 

 altogether strangers to Belfast. The result has been the 

 assemblage of such a collection of Irish antiquities, as has 

 perhaps never been brought together before, and such as may 

 hardly be seen again in one place. It comprises specimens of 

 nearly every class of antique objects ; some of extreme rarity." 

 The catalogue extends to 59 pages, and the exhibitors from 

 Ulster alone numbered some 40 persons. The finest and most 

 extensive collection was shown by Mr. John Bell, of Dungannon. 

 There were three other exhibitors from the same town, the 

 Countess of Ranfurly, Mr. M'Clelland, and Mr. Barton. To 

 give a slight idea of Mr. Bell's collection I may give a few items 

 from the catalogue as follows : — 250 stone Celts, 486 flint arrow 

 heads, 200 bronze Celts, 22 bronze swords, 22 bronze skeans, 87 

 bronze spear heads, 9 ancient square bells, 17 querns, 24 square 

 methers, besides bronze cauldrons, bronze pins and fibula, 

 smoking pipes, and the seal of Turlough Lynough O'Neill. 

 County Monaghan was well represented by Mr. Anketell. of 

 Anketell Grove, who showed a fine collection ; Mr. Shirley, of 

 Carrickmacross ; Doctors M'Dowell, and Young, of Monaghan. 

 Dr. Young, afterwards on the death of Dr. M'Dowell, secured 

 his collection, and on the death of Dr. Young, the collection 

 was acquired by Sir John Leslie, of Glasslough Castle, where it 

 is at present. There are a few very interesting objects in this 

 collection — one, the bell of Cappagh, and the other a bronze 

 sword, with a part of the original bone handle attached. Belfast 

 was well represented by the fine collections of Mr. Carruthers 

 and Miss Getty, as well as by those of Canon M'llwaine, Dr. 

 Bryson, Dr. Stephenson, Sir Robert Bateson, and the collection 

 of this society. A large collection was shown by Mr. Welsh, 

 Dromore ; Mr. Bloomfield, Castlecaulfield, County Fermanagh ; 

 and Mr. Harvey, Mai in Hall, County Donegal. Almost every 

 county in Ulster was represented on this occasion. Nearly all 

 these collections have been scattered since. Mr. Welsh's was 

 acquired by the Royal Irish Academy, Mr. Bell's by the National 

 Museum, Edinburgh. The British and other English museums 

 were enriched by several of the others. 



