| Fig. 1 / It would be endless to enumerate the Antiquities which at been at various times discovered in digging the Bogs – I shall only mention the two following, found in the Bog of Allen, not far from the river Sure. The first is a silver Crown, of no contemptible workmanship. The Six Arched Diadems are neatly chased, and the three Fleurs-de-lis engraven in a very artfull manner. It is surmounted with a small Globe, having a triangular plate at the top of all, perhaps in allusion to the Trinity. As the Drawing is of the real dimentions, we may suppose it had been placed by the Ancient Irish upon an Image of the Virgin Mary. / Fig. 2 / The other peice of Antiquity, is, a Sword, made of a mixed metal. Probably from the colour, which is a pale yellow, Copper and Tin. Its is exceedingly hard, and rung, when stuck upon, like Bell-metal. It would seem, that War-like Instruments made of such a composition, could be only used in a Country where Iron was unknown. But whether this Sword belonged to some Invader, or was such as the Natives themselves used, is very difficult to determine. The form of the Blade was very singular, being convex on both sides, with thin flat edges near half an inch broad, which were much hacked, or notched, as if done in Action, and those little indentings filled with a green Rust, like Verdigrease. The small perforations were probably to receive the Studs, which fastened the Handle, of wood of Ivory. The length of the Blade was one foot ten inches, and the place for the Handle four inches and a half. It was very thick, in proportion to its breadth, as may be seen by the Section, to a larger Scale. [pp. 7-8] |
