xxviii 



The small amount of funds available for the Library Department 

 precluded any extensive progress in it during the year. We received, 

 however, some valuable presentations. We have to acknowledge, in par- 

 ticular, two donations of a highly interesting character, by Mr. G. V. 

 Du Noyer, in addition to those for which the Academy is already so 

 much indebted to that gentleman. One of these consisted of 100 

 original water-colour drawings of Irish Architectural Antiquities, in 

 continuation of those previously presented; and the other of 101 

 drawings of coats of arms, from original sketches from tombstones. 

 We received from the President of the Academy, besides other 

 gifts, seventeen volumes of the Publications of the Surtees Society. 

 We are also indebted to the Master of the Soils, England, for a num- 

 ber of volumes, in continuation of those already presented by him, of 

 the Series of Calendars and other Historical Works published under his 

 superintendence. 



A large amount of work has been executed by Professor Connellan 

 and Mr. Joseph O'Longan, in connexion with the department of Irish 

 MSS. and Catalogues. 



Professor Connellan has been occupied in preparing for the press 

 a portion of the Irish text of the important work, known as the 

 " Book of Conquests," the publication of which, accompanied by the 

 translation, will, it is believed, be hailed with satisfaction by students 

 of Celtic literature both in this and other countries. 



Mr. O'Longan has continued to be engaged in preparing elaborate 

 Indexes of Names, Words, and Matters, to Mr. 0' Curry's Catalogues of 

 the Academy's Irish MSS. 



Many additional articles of antiquarian interest have been obtained 

 for the Museum. Under the Treasure-trove regulations we have ac- 

 quired a great number of valuable gold articles from the north, south, 

 and west of Ireland, one of them being amongst the heaviest pieces of 

 antique manufactured gold known to have ever been discovered in this 

 country. Yery few antiquities were offered for sale to the Academy ; 

 but we have obtained by presentation a considerable number of objects 

 illustrative of ancient Irish art. The Registration has been continued, 

 and will be completed when the Museum arrangements are in a more 

 advanced state. 



In reply to an application of the President made in April last, the 

 Secretary of the Treasury wrote to his lordship on the 1st of June, 

 stating that the Lords of the Treasury had ''issued their authority 

 to the Board of Works, Ireland, for the fitting up of a Museum on the 

 drawing-room floor of the Academy, as applied for, at an expenditure 

 not exceeding £250." 



A special meeting of the Council was called during the summer 

 recess, and thereat the plans for the said Museum prepared by the Archi- 

 tect of the Board of Works were examined, approved, and signed by the 

 President. The works were forthwith commenced under the supervision 

 of the Committee of Antiquities. 



