545 



in it, and a horseshoe on one side of the cavity, and a broken glass 

 bottle on the other." Both horseshoe and bottle, I presume, found their 

 way there in modern times. 



The subject of our present notice was also doomed; but, on the 

 night preceding the day intended for commencing operations upon it, 

 Christy strolled out from his cottage, and, looking towards the scene 

 of his next day's projected labour, saw a light in the direction of " the 

 big stone," there being low marshy ground in the neighbourhood im- 

 mediately beyond. He returned to his home, and came to the wise 

 conclusion, from all that he had seen, that it would be dangerous to 

 interfere further with these "sacred stones." So, after oue of these 

 primitive monuments having been blasted, and another buried, to the 

 fortuitous appearance and the lucky intervention of the ignis fatuus 

 we are at the present day indebted for the preservation of the singular 

 vestige of our nation's early history which I have feebly endeavoured 

 to lay before the Academy. 



Several raths or forts are in the immediate vicinity; and tradition 

 states that there are also several subterranean caves, which I have not 

 had either the time or the opportunity to find out or to investi- 

 gate. 



The Secretary brought up the following recommendation of 

 Council : — 



" That the sum of £50 be granted for the purchase of Antiquities, 

 the arrangement and registration of articles in the Museum, and for 

 other matters connected with the department of Antiquities." 



The question having been put, it was moved as an amendment, by 

 Professor Haughton, and seconded by Professor Jellett — 



" That it be recommended to the Council to omit all the words fol- 

 lowing the word ' Museum' ". 



A division being called for, it was found that ten members voted for 

 the amendment, and twenty-three against it ; it was therefore declared 

 lost. 



The original motion was then put, and carried. 

 Eead — Letters of acknowledgment from Professor Clausius and Mr. 

 Albert Way, on their election as Honorary Members. 



The following presentations were made : — 



" Limerick, its History and Antiquities, Ecclesiastical, Civil, and 

 Military, from the Earliest Ages," by Maurice Lenihan : from the 

 Author. 



"Astronomical and Meteorological Observations made at the Kad- 

 cliffe Observatory, Oxford, in the Year 1863," Vol. XXIII. : from the 

 Eadcliffe Trustees. 



