Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/478

 382 PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF means, to receive faithful representations of many valuable relics, which were becoming every day more dilapidated, and exposed to every kind of injury. This matter was well worthy of the attention of those gentlemen who may have had casts taken of monumental effigies, or other works of sculpture which admitted of several copies being taken, as there would be an opportunity for an advantageous exchange of models and casts between the two countries. The great object with antiquaries ought to be, as far as possible, to popularise, to use a barbarous word, objects of Archaeology. They lived in a practical age, and, at the same time, an age in which every subject, including Archaeology, had derived advantages from the scientific and systematic mode of conducting researches. It is intended, as far as possible, to make the Archaeological department of the Industrial Exhibition productive of advantage to the manufacturing interests of the country. High Art had gradually become so associated with the arts of Decoration, that such could hardly fail to be the result ; and it was well known that the Exhibition of Ancient and Mediaeval Art, in 1850, under the auspices of H. R. H. Prince Albert, and by the active co-operation of the Society of Arts and the Institute, had proved not only a very successful display, but highly advantageous in the cultivation of taste, and in presenting examples which had proved of much benefit to the manufacturer. It had done much to arouse public interest, and been productive of results to which he confidently hoped that extension would be given in the proposed collection in Dublin, the organisation of which he had undertaken at the request of the Committee of the Industrial Exhibition.^ Lord Talbot remarked that the treasures of ancient Art, which he had examined with great interest at the successive meetings of the Institute, had shown him how rich were the stores of Archaeological evidence in possession of the members and fi-iends of the Institute ; and he hoped that they would cordially give their co-operation on the occasion he had mentioned, by contributing to the series, which he was desirous to form, such ancient relics as might present characteristic types of each period, or prove of especial interest for the purpose of comparison with the antiquities of Ireland. The Hon. Richard Neville, V.P., said that he concurred warmly in the observations of their noble President regarding the difficult, but very important, question of Treasure-trove, which claimed most deliberate con- sideration. He would move that Lord Talbot be requested to communicate with the Earl of Derby, and solicit an interview, to receive a deputation from the Institute, with the object of ascertaining the views of Her Majesty's Government on the subject. This motion was seconded by the Viscount STRA>rGF0RD, DiR. See. Axt., and adopted unanimously. The Hon. Richard Neville gave an account of the results of his recent excavations at Ashdon, Essex, on the property of Lord Maynard, near the Bartlow Hills. He produced the ground-plan of a Roman Villa which had been brought to light, and several relics of the Roman period therein discovered. These notices are reserved for the next Journal. The Rev. H. Ivelke communicated an account of two monumental effigies, of the fourteenth century, found in a vault at Chenies, Bucks, and ^ See the further statements regarding this Exhibition of Antiquities, at the close of this volume, p. 396, 1