Report of the Council (continued). xcix 
Iron collection has been arranged ; the residue, with the exception of a 
few very large objects, is deposited in the drawers underneath. 
The surplus collection of bronze objects has been placed in Table 
cases 21 and 24, and the ecclesiastical objects in the case on Table 25. 
The latter table has also been adapted for the reception of the harps 
and ancient bronze caldrons. 
The objects in cloth and leather have been arranged in press 7, 
in the Long room. 
The Petrie Collection" has been transferred from the gallery of 
the Reading-room, and arranged, for the most part, on trays in the 
glazed presses 17 and 18 at the eastern end of the Long room. The gold 
objects of this collection will remain, as heretofore, deposited in the 
strong room, and placed, if possible, in a separate case together with 
the silver, and such other objects in the collection as may be deemed 
of sufficient importance to require the additional security afforded by 
that room. The catalogue is in process of revision, and will be 
provided with a key similar to that of the " Museum Catalogue." 
The cases will be furnished with labels bearing the word Petrie." 
In the strong room a considerable improvement has been effected 
by the erection of a wall-case on the side opposite to the door, glazed 
with plate glass and corresponding, externally, with the cases adjoining. 
The interior is lined with mirrors, and provided with bronze brackets 
sustaining slender horizontal bars of metal for the support of such 
objects as may be deposited thereon. To this case have been transferred 
the Cross of Cong and other objects previously exhibited on the mantel- 
piece, and in the small upright glazed case, so long and inconveniently 
occupying the centre of the room. 
A communication was once more addressed by the Council to the 
Irish Government, urging, in the strongest manner, the importance of 
acquiring the Ardagh Cup and Brooches for the Academy's Museum. 
Though we have not yet received any decisive reply, we have reason to 
hope that our continued efforts in this matter will, in the end, be 
crowned with success. 
Applications having been made to the Government several times in 
recent years for an increase of the public grant to the Academy, an 
additional sum of £400 was included in the estimates for 1873-4, and 
was voted by Parliament. Of this sum £200 were to be expended in the 
publication of materials prepared with the aid of the grant for researches 
on Celtic Manuscripts, and £200 applied to defraying the expense of 
opening the Academy in the evenings. The Council have had under con- 
sideration the measures which it would be desirable to take with a 
view to carry out the latter object as regards the Museum. It is in- 
tended that short descriptive labels should be as far as possible affixed 
to the articles, or groups of articles, in the museum ; and that, by a 
system of references, the visitor should be enabled to study the descrip- 
tions of the several objects given in the Catalogue. Proper provision 
must also be made for the security of the cases in the strong room. 
"When these arrangements have been completed, it is proposed to open 
the Academy to the Public, on two evenings in every week. 
