| At the Royal Irish Academy in Kildare Street, we were most fortunate in finding Mr. Clibborn, to whose kindness, and unwearied patience I owe a complete inspection of the innumerable treasures of Irish antiquity the museum contains. Old grinding-stones, with pots of mixed metal found in the bogs, without a seam, rivetted together by brass nails; shoes without a join, double soled, and double-leathered, one pair of which is supposed to be that <em>stood in</em> by the Kings at their coronation. Old rings and seals, some of porcelain, one the signet [p. 36] of Murtagh O'Neill. The Cross of Cong, the Crozier of Cashel so well described by Mr. Petrie as to require no repetition. <br>Besides these, quantities of celts, and swords, daggers, and fibbiae, in bronze and silver. Collars or <em>Torques</em> gracefully twisted; pledges, and fillets, of pure gold. The pledges are supposed to have been used in forming compacts, and vary in size from those small enough for an infant's wrist, to those suitable to the largest man's. The gold is so elastic, it easily expands, and the article is of this form, (I sketch from recollection) the upper parts hollow, and cymbal-shaped. Mr. Clibborn supposed this to be used as pledges between two or more parties. Also rings for ornament, or money as in present use in Africa. The head-ornaments, likewise of purest gold, exactly [p. 37] resemble the pictures of Egyptian head-gear with rosettes at the ears. Indeed, we ladies in the present day, are wearing similar coiffures in lace or flowers, covering the ears. <br>We saw the celebrated Book of Armagh with its embossed silver cover, and curious leathern case. [pp. 35-37] |
