COUNCIL FOR 1855. 
9 
was not furnished with any printed Guide, to explain its 
general arrangement, and to point out those objects of special 
interest with which it abounds. A Catalogue of a collection so 
extensive and so varied, however valuable for scientific pur¬ 
poses, would be too bulky for general use; but the Council 
believe that it is practicable to include within the compass of a 
Manual, a large amount of valuable information. Such a 
Manual the Keeper of the Museum has kindly undertaken to 
prepare, in conjunction with the Curators of the different 
departments, and the Council hope that it will be printed when 
that season of the year arrives, which usually brings an increase 
of visitors to the Museum. 
To the department of Antiquities few additions have been 
made during the past year. Some coins have been added to 
the cabinet by Members of the Society, but none of such a 
character as to require particular notice. From Lawrence 
Williams, Esq., of Pule Hill Hall, have been received the 
mummy of an ibis and some portions of a human mummy. 
From Lady Frankland Kussell and the Yorkshire Antiquarian 
Club, the umbo of a shield and the head of a lance, with some 
remains of Roman and Saxon pottery, found in a tumulus at 
Sowerhy, near Thirsk. To Mr. Thomas, of York, the Society 
is indebted for the donation of a Roman leaden coffin, lately 
discovered in his brickyard in Layerthorpe, near the spot in 
which, a few years ago, a Roman stone coffin was found, now 
in the possession of the Society, with other Roman remains. 
It lay seven feet below the surface, and from the nails and 
fragments of wood found with it, appears to have been enclosed 
in a coffin of that material. It is 5 feet 6 inches long and very 
narrow, containing a skeleton, at present enveloped in mud, 
supposed to he that of a young person. It has a leaden lid, 
but there is no soldering nor any inscription or ornament in 
any part of it. • 
In compliance with the request presented to him by the 
Council of the Society, George J. Jarratt, Esq., of Doncaster, 
has deposited in the Museum the Roman altar, dedicated to 
the Dese Matres, found at that place in 1781. It bears an 
inscription which may be read without difficulty, but the 
