Minutes of the Academy, 
Ixvii 
a considerable time deposited in the Museum, have been returned by 
the Council, at the request of the persons authorized to receive them. 
In expressing our satisfaction at their having been allowed to remain 
so long in our collection, we took occasion to express the hope that, at 
some future time, an opportunity might be afforded to the Academy of 
acquiring permanently for its Museum those beautiful specimens of 
ancient Irish Art. 
A Reliquary, the property of the Eight Hon. "William Monsell, 
M. P., which had been deposited in the Museum, has also been returned 
to that gentleman at his request. 
The Bell and Bell- shrine of St. Patrick, the price of which was 
originally fixed at £700, having been liberally offered by its owner, Dr. 
Charles H. Todd, for the reduced price of £500, provided they were 
bought by, or for, the Academy, it was resolved by the Academy, on 
the recommendation of the Council, to purchase them. The Council 
were, at the same time, authorized to make such arrangements as they 
should deem expedient for providing the required amount. The Bell 
and Bell-shrine were accordingly obtained, and placed in the Museum ; 
and, of the purchase- money, a sum of £307 145. Id. has been paid to 
Dr. Todd out of the funds of the Academy. 
In submitting to Her Majesty's Grovernment the usual statement of 
the requirements of the Academy for the year 1872-3, we thought it 
right to append to the ordinary estimate several supplementary items, 
together with a statement explanatory of the grounds on which we 
applied for these additional sums. First, in order to meet the cost of 
attendance and general expenses which would necessarily be incurred 
in opening the Museum fully to the public, we asked for an additional 
annual grant of £200. We also applied for a grant of £200, to 
enable us to publish materials prepared by the aid of the sum placed 
at our disposal for the furtherance of Researches in connexion with 
Irish Manuscripts. Thirdly, we asked that the Government should 
supply the amount required to complete the price of the Bell and Bell- 
shrine above spoken of. And, lastly. Dr. Aquilla Smith's valuable 
collection of Irish Coins and Tokens being offered to us for the sum of 
£350, we requested that it should be purchased for the Academy, and 
that thus a body of materials so important for the study of Irish 
Numismatics should be kept in this country, and find its only appro- 
priate place in our National Museum. It has been intimated to us that 
the Government have decided to provide in the estimates for the year 
the sum required to complete the price of the Bell and Bell-shrine; but 
we regret to say that they decline to accede to the other portions of 
our application. The Smith Collection of Coins must, however, not be 
lost to Ireland, and we therefore propose that the Academy should 
purchase the collection, and — as in the case of the Bell and Bell- 
shrine — should authorize the Council to make the necessary financial 
arrangements for the purpose. 
The Notice to Finders of Antiquities, which has been extensively 
circulated in English, has, in accordance with a recommendation of the 
