President's Address. 53 
they are equally useless. I do not, of course, speak of all private col- 
lectors. A museum, in the hands of a Petrie, may be of the highest 
utility. But I do say without hesitation that an antiquarian museum, 
in the hands of a man who is not an archaeologist, is like a library in 
the hands of a man who cannot read. Let me ask, what should we 
think of his patriotism, who should occupy himself in purchasing and 
locking up unique works having an important bearing on the history 
of this country, unable to read them, and only delighting himself in 
contemplating the bindings? 
Yet this is precisely what the non-archseological collector does. For 
I cannot too frequently remind you that an antiquarian museum is not 
meant to be a collection of pretty baubles to look at. It is the library 
of the ethnologist — a collection of documents in which we read the 
description of a former race — of materials from which the history of a 
country must be written. And he is no true antiquarian, not even in 
spirit, who regards such a collection with a kind of miserly love — very 
anxious to preserve it, not at all anxious to use it — perhaps unable to 
use it — exerting himself, not to the benefit but to the injury of Archseo- 
logy, by hindering such articles from falling into hands, in which 
they might be made useful to mankind. 
Such a spirit might even creep in among the guardians of a ISTa- 
tional Museum. I hope and believe that it will never be found among 
us. Eor, bad anywhere, it would be wholly unpardonable here. 
We hold our archaeological treasures, not as owners, but in trust for 
Archaeology — in trust, not to hoard them unseen, but to use them, and 
to allow others to use them, for the benefit of archaeological science. 
And by whatever path we can best attain that end — by freely opening 
our Museum to the public — by multiplying and disseminating photo- 
graphs and casts and models, or even, if need be, by lending them under 
proper security for exhibition — by that path we are bound to walk. 
I believe that we are all actuated by this spirit ; and as one indication 
of its existence, I ask your attention to the beautiful series of photo- 
graphs of the principal articles in our Museum, which have been exe- 
cuted, and will shortly be published. 
■ We are not without hopes of adding to our collection two objects 
of the highest interest, but which, principally from want of funds, we 
have as yet been unable to secure. 
The Ardagh Cup, a beautiful sacramental chalice, dating probably 
not later than the tenth century, has been deposited in our Museum 
by the Earl of Dunraven, to whom it has been intrusted by the pro- 
prietors. 
It is an exquisite specimen of the best period of Irish art, and is 
further remarkable as being, with I believe one exception, the only 
instance discovered in these islands of the double-handled sacramental 
chalice. It is earnestly to be hoped that this beautiful cup may not 
be lost to the student of Irish Archaeology, but that the Museum of the 
Eoyal Irish Academy may be its final, as it is its most suitable, resting 
place. 
