Minutes of the Acaderny. 
ix 
important results in the promotion of Celtic studies. The first Manu- 
script selected for lithographing was the Leabhar na h-Uidhri, the most 
ancient and valuable Irish text (not ecclesiastical) now extant in these 
countries. An accurate and elegant lithographic copy — line for line — 
of this volume has been made by Mr. O'Longan ; and it is with great 
satisfaction that we are able to announce that the entire is now on 
stones in proof, and will be printed off as rapidly as is consistent with 
careful final revision. The volume will be issued to subscribers at as 
moderate a rate as possible, to bring it within the reach of Celtic 
students at home and abroad. 
The formation of a Museum on the first floor of the Academy 
House has been proceeded with, under the supervision of a Special 
Committee in communication with the architect of the Board of 
"Works. The arrangements include the construction of a fire-proof room. 
The front drawing room (formerly the Council Eoom) has been rendered 
fire-proof by the introduction of a concrete floor and ceiling. This work 
will effectually protect the objects deposited in the room from all risk 
of fire. The fittings, consisting of iron presses, have been set up, and 
will afford space for the more precious objects of the Academy's Col- 
lections. In the long drawing room (formerly the tea room) the 
fitting-up of mahogany presses has been completed throughout the 
several wall spaces, and the trays and objects displaced from the old 
Museum have been re-arranged, as nearly as possible, in their former 
condition. When the glazing and internal fittings of the iron presses 
shall have been completed, and the gold ornaments, and rarer objects 
of the Collection, placed in a state of permanent security, the Museum 
will be in a proper state to be fully opened to the public. But this 
most desirable end cannot be attained without a large outlay for an 
increased number of attendants, and other expenses necessarily involved 
in the measure. Accordingly, in submitting to the Government the 
usual estimate of the " sum required to be voted for the Academy for 
the next financial year, the Council included in the amount a sum of 
£200 to meet the cost of thus fully opening the Museum. We regret 
to say, that the reply received was to the effect, that the Lords Com- 
missioners of Her Majesty's Treasury are not prepared to propose to 
Parliament an increase in the Academy's grant for the purpose above- 
mentioned. 
A suggestion having been made to the Council by the Committee 
of Antiquities, that it would be desirable to have a selection of the 
articles in the Museum photographed, steps were taken to secure 
the services of a skilful artist. A number of admirable photographs of 
the most important objects in our Collection have been executed by 
Mr. Mercer. They will be published in a series of fasciculi, and will, 
it is believed, be most useful in supplying accurate representations of 
our antiquities to students at a distance, and in facilitating the com- 
parison of Irish works of art with those of other countries. 
The Members of the Academy have been enabled by the kindness 
of the Most Eev. Dr. Butler, and of Lord Dunraven, to examine the 
E. I. A. PEOC. VOL. I., SEE, n. I 
