"Samian" ware, and containing a small vase, of rather unusual shape, in an inverted position amongst the ashes with which the large urn was filled.[1] In the "Museum Disneianum," there is a like example, as Mr. Disney stated to the meeting, of a large cinerary urn, enclosing a small one: these had proved, on anatomical observation, to contain the remains of an adult, and a very small child, respectively, supposed to have been a mother and her infant. These urns were found at Hanningfield Common, Essex.[2] Such deposits are not very usual; the Dean of Westminster is in possession of a large globular urn, or dolium, in which an olla of moderate dimensions was found enclosed. This discovery was lately made near Stratford-le-Bow. We hope to give a detailed account of Mr. Neville's discoveries in the next Journal.
A precious relic of ancient Irish art was brought before the Institute by the kindness of the Duke of Devonshire, being the enamelled pastoral staff, or rather the decorated metal case, enclosing a pastoral staff, supposed to have been used by St. Carthag, first Bishop of Lismore. Mr. Payne Collier, to whose charge this invaluable object had been entrusted by his Grace for this occasion, stated that it had been long preserved in connexion with the estates at Lismore, which had descended to him. Mr. Collier read the correspondence with the eminent Irish antiquaries. Dr. Todd and Mr. O'Donovan, expressive of the opinion that the date of the work, as indicated by inscriptions upon it, is A.D. 1112 or 1113, the year of the death of Nial Mac Mic Aeducain, Bishop of Lismore, for whom it appears to have been made. The name of the artist "Nectan fecit," is recorded in these inscriptions, which will form part of the Collections preparing for publication by Mr. Petrie. Some skilful antiquaries had been inclined to assign an earlier date to part of the decorations; this is not improbable, as relics of this nature in Ireland, long held in extreme veneration, were constantly encased in works of metal, which from time to time were renewed, or replaced by more costly coverings.
On a vote of thanks to the Duke of Devonshire being moved by Sir John Boileau, with the request that Mr. Payne Collier would convey to his Grace the assurance of the high gratification which his kind liberality had afforded to the Institute, Mr. Collier begged to express his conviction, by constant experience, that there is no possession of Literature or Art in his Grace's collections, which he is not most ready to render available for any object of public information, or for the advancement of science.
Mr. Westwood stated that there was much difficulty in determining the age of ancient objects of art, or MSS. executed in Ireland, owing to the isolation of that country, and the consequent long-continued prevalence there of conventional and traditional styles of ornament; thus, the triangular minuscule writing of the early ages has been continuous and is still used for writing the Irish language; whilst, in all the other nations of Western Europe, the early national styles were absorbed by the regular gothic. Still, however, slight modifications in the traditional styles of ornamentation were adopted, which, together with the inscriptions upon many of these ancient objects of art (in which occur the names of the parties by and for whom they were made), enable us to fix their date without any doubt, the ancient annals of Ireland (which have been in so many instances indirectly corroborated) affording very satisfactory means of identification of the
