Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/345

 ^rcf)nEologital Intdli'gmte. The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland have recently circulated the following appeal for contributions to their museum, already well stored with objects of great interest, and of which, in great part, a catalogue has been published : " The council, being exceedingly desirous of completing a systematic arrangement of the society's collection of antiquities, earnestly invite the clergy, landed proprietors, gentlemen in the direction of Scottish railways, and all who are friendly to tlie object of estabhshing a national museum of Archaeology in the Scottish capital, to contribute such objects as are best calculated to forward this desirable end. The museum is open to the public without any charge, and has been visited during the past year by 5330 persons. The first aim of the society is to render its collection as complete as possible in examples of British, and more especially of Scottish antiquities of all periods." The general enumeration of desiderata com- prises — 1. Celtic period. Stone celts, arrow-heads, and hammers ; objects of bronze and bone ; of amber, t^'c,, moulds of bronze celts, and cinerary' uins. 2. Romano-British period. Altars and inscriptions ; potteiy and glass ; tessellated pavements, &c. ; ornaments and weapons. 3. Anglo- Saxon period. Pottery and glass vessels ; ornaments found in tumuh ; bi-onze and iron implements. 4. Medieval period. Pottery and domestic utensils ; arms and armour ; wood carvings ; furniture ; painted glass ; ornamental tiles, and i-ubbings of sepulchral brasses, &c. 5. Miscellaneous. Objects illustrative of obsolete manners, including domestic and personal apphances, with ornaments of every kind ; topographical illustrations ; por- traits ; coins and medals ; rare books, unpublished poetr' and music, autographs and historical MSS. We hope that many who possess objects, trivial as single curiosities, invaluable as links in a chain of evidence, will contribute them for so good a purpose ; that many also, in these times of discovery and excavation, will keep careful watch, and preserve what may be brought to light for national instruction. In Ireland, it is satisfactory to learn that the precious collection of the Royal Academy, so speedily brought together and arranged by the efforts of a few energetic antiquaries, has received an accession which will greatly augment its value, for the pm-poses of scientific comparison. An arrange- ment of friendly exchange and correspondence has been very advan- tageously effected rith the society of Northern antiquaries, and a series of examples, duplicates from the valuable collection at Copenhagen, have been transferred to Dublin, a collection of Irish antiquities being sent in return to the Danish Museum. The advantages of such facihties afforded to science are most important : the only means of attaining to sure conclu- sions in regard to the obscure vestiges of the earlier periods, is through careful comparison of numerous approximate types. The antiquarians of Newcastle have projected a pilgrimage of no ordinary interest to the friends of Archaeolog}-. They have arranged an VOL. VI. F F