Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/477

 ililontljhj Honbon ilJltcting, November 5, 1852. Tun Lord Talbot de Malahide, President, in the Chair. The noble President, in opening the proceedings of another session, observed that it afforded him much pleasure to be able to attend the present meeting of the Archaeological Institute, being the first since their aimual assemblage at Newcastle. All those gentlemen who were fortunate enoutjli to be there, were well aware how successful and agreeable it had proved, and would remember with pleasure the numerous objects of interest — the noble castles, remarkable churches, and sites of historical interest wiiich had been visited, as also the highly instructive temporary museum displavcd on that occasion. The Duke of Northumberland most zealously gave further- ance to their views, and entertained the Society in a very princely manner at Alnwick Castle. His Grace had also presented to the Institute the valuable survey and plans, undertaken and executed at his suggestion and expense. The Institute had gratefully accepted this valuable donation, and had published them with an accompanying memoir by ^Ir. M'Lauchlan. He would advise any gentleman who did not already possess the work to add it to his library, as one of tlie most authentic and lasting monuments of our Archaeological literature. His Grace had also signified his intention of having a similar survey executed forthwith of the Roman AVall from the Tyne to the Solway, From other distinguished friends of the Institute in the Nortli great kindness and hospitality was experienced, but the good results of the meeting did not end there. A novel and practical object, which long had been the cause of complaint to Archaeologists, the state of the law of Treasure-trove, had been taken in hand, and a petition (which then lay on the table) had been agreed to, and received numerous signatures. There could be no doubt that at present the Crown, or those who derived a vested interest in Treasure-trove, through the Crown, were not benefited by it, and that many valuable relics of ancient Art were consigned, without remorse, to the crucible, in order to evade its provisions. It would be well that all members who felt interest in this subject should add their names to the document before them ; and it would be for the consideration of the meeting whether some step should not be forthwith taken to obtain an interview with the Earl of Derby, in order to ascertain the views of her Majesty's Government on the subject. There was another matter in which he (Lord Talbot) took much interest, and he hoped that he should meet with the cordial support and co-operation of his friends of the Institute. It had been dcterniiiicd to reserve a portion of the building constructed for the Industrial Jixhibition in Dublin next year, for a collection of antiquities, not only relating to Ireland, but to the whole United Kingdom, and whatever tended to illustrate them. It was also intended, as far as possible, to bring together a collection of casts and models of ancient works of Art, thus uniting the display of those monuments, of which the originals, either from their size or other causes, could not be there conveniently introduced. It was also hoped, by this