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 THE AKCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 21)9 May 2, 1851. The Lord Talbot de Malaiiide, rrcsident, in the Clmir. Lord Talbot, on taking the chair on the first occasion since he had been chosen President of the Institute, desired to express his gratification in acknowledging the coniplinjcnt paid to himself, and the painful rceollectiims with which he entered upon the functions of the (tftice conferred upon him. Every member of the Institute must cordially unite with him, in the heart- felt sorrow and deep sense of the loss they had sustained, by the decease of the Marquis of Northampton. Lord Talbot regretted that his present occupations in Ireland had hitherto prevented his participation in the Pro- ceedings of the Society, since the melancholy event which had deprived them of their most valued friend and patron. He was liighly gratified now to perceive the abundant evidence of the vitality and cordial spirit whieh continued to pervade the meetings of the Institute. He rejoiced to mark their advantageous effects, in bringing to view so freely numerous treasures of antiquity and art : and afl'ording opportunities for comparison of tlie productions of various periods. These meetings, moreover, tended essen- tially to advance the scientific character of Archaeology, by promoting an intelligent discussion and appreciation of the varied vestiges of all ages, brought under review on these occasions ; and they appeared, with each succeeding session, to stimulate an increasing interest in the investigation of all those subjects to which the attention of the society was properly addressed. Lord Talbot then adverted to some information of an Archaeological nature, whieh had lately come under his notice in the sister kingdom. As an evidence of what had been achieved in later times in Ireland, not- withstanding the recent suflfering and calamities which had affected all classes, he had brought for presentation to the library of the Institute, a complete series of the publications of the li-ish Archaeological Society. Never had there been a time of greater active interest in the investigation of national history and antiquities, than in the late sad times of popular distress ; and these publications formed a memorable proof of the successful struggle against difficulties in adverse times, and of the determination of the Irish Society' to give to their publications the highest possible character, lie alluded to the profusion of ancient relics daily brought to light in Ireland ; and especially to some whieh of late had attracted the notiee of many anti(iuaries — the seals of Oriental porcelain, frequently discovered iu tiiat country. Great difficulty has been found in assigning a period to their introduction: the character inscribed upon them is certainly of an archaic jnature, but, like black-letter in our own country, the ancient Chinese [Character had certainly continued to be used for a long period, and its loccurrence cannot be regarded as a sufiicient indication of any particular age. This curious subject had. however, received considerable light from 'the recent publication of Mr. Getty, of Belfast. One of these porcelain iseals had recently come into Lord Talbot's possession ; it was found iu a [pasture in the parish of Kinsaly, with, or near, spears and other relics of bronze. lie had made a visit to the spot, and made careful inquiries, which had confirmed the belief that tiiis specimen had actually been found near the field of a memorable conflict between the Irish and the Danes, of whieh