was found in that neighbourhood about two years ago by a poor man who turned it up with his spade while tilling his garden. It is composed of bronze, and a small chain of the same metal, about 6 inches long, was attached to it by a ring which passed through a hole in the handle, which is vertical to the back of the seal, and in length about one-third of its diameter. The legend is 'SIGILLUM . CAPITULI. IMELACENSIS,' and the building represented was the Cathedral of Emly. The antique was for some time used as a plaything by the children of the family, and the ring and chain were lost, having probably been taken by some country woman to decorate her cloak, as the chain resembled those used for that purpose. The seal was brought to Mr. Morgan some months since by one of the family, and was offered to him for one shilling or anything he pleased to give."

This letter has no date, and was lent me by the Morgans of Old Abbey, county Limerick, along with some impressions and a lead cast of the seal. The original matrix is at present in the Collection of the Royal Irish Academy and has been figured by Mr. Caulfield in "Sigilla Ecclesiæ Hibernicæ," plate 2, as kindly pointed out to me by Mr. J. R. Garstin; it was found in 1848, which fixes the date of the letter to 1850. I may note that the building shown on the seal is quite conventional, and differs too much from Dinely's view of Emly to be considered (as it is by some antiquaries) an intended likeness.-T. J. W.

The Shamrock.-Dr. Frazer's Paper on the history of the shamrock has raised an interesting discussion regarding the antiquity and identity of our national emblem. According to some authorities the three-leaved clover was venerated as a sacred symbol by the ancient Germans, typifying the three grades of Druids, Bards, and Neophytes; and Vallancey tells us the mistletoe was sacred to the druids, because not only its berries, but also its leaves, grew in clusters of three united to one stock. St. Patrick, understanding the obstinate character of the Celt, changed, but did not eradicate, the cherished rites and observances of our pagan forefathers, and although O'Curry's statement that "there is not even a vestige of authority for the (modern) legend of the use made by St. Patrick of the shamrock, whether clover or wood-sorrel, in explaining the mystery of the Trinity to King Laeghaire," may be accepted as conclusive upon this point, still it must be admitted that many pagan customs have descended to us through unwritten tradition.

The assertion that wood-sorrel (oxalis) is the real shamrock may be set down as a genuine British blunder. Sourock, or sour-oge, is the name by which the sorrel plant is known in Ulster and the south of Scotland. Hence it came to be miscalled shamrock by writers ignorant of the language and habits of the Irish people.

It appears the unfortunate peasantry understood the medicinal

qualities of the wood-sorrel, for, according to the "British Flora Medica," "it has had the reputation of being refrigerant, &c., appeasing thirst, diminishing febrile heat. The infusion of the leaves is a pleasant drink in ardent fever."

As to the question whether Trifolium minus represents the true shamrock we must allow the botanists to argue it out; but ask an Irish peasant of ordinary intelligence and he will describe it as possessing a long, creeping stalk, with leaves of pure green, devoid of spot or stain. It is only in some sequestered nook, half hidden beneath the moss, that you are likely to find it.-PATRICK BARDAN.

A "Find" in Coolasluasty Lough, Co. Clare.-Mr. Arthur Gethin Creagh, of Fiaghmore, Member, reports that when the drainage works in the Carrahan district lowered Coolasluasty lake (Ordnance Survey Sheet 34) he made a curious discovery. Under 4 feet of good turf, which has been 6 feet under water, he found several planks. One was 5 feet long, and perfect, with a round hole in it; the edges worn as if by a rope. The other boards were in fragments, and all so soft that the hand sank into them. All round and under these planks were deers' bones, recalling the (alleged) meaning of the name Fiaghmore, "Great Deer," and directly beneath were found three human skulls (two female and one male), all the teeth sound, though worn, and with the lower jaws in the sockets; also arm bones and shoulder blades. Among these were two long oak poles, one neatly shaped with a sharp instrument, but no metal was found; perhaps weapons still remain deeper in the bog.

About 1000 yards farther on was found a fragment of a very neat gritstone quern, about 8 inch ring, and probably some 20 inches diameter. The central hole was surrounded by three concentric ridges, each 1 inch wide and rounded. A straight band crossed these and girdled a small handle-hole which did not go through the slab. The quern-stone was 1 inch thick at the ring, and came to an edge.

All round the margin of the lake were gritstone hearths, about 6 feet in width, some twenty in all, with wonderfully fresh charcoal, and pigs and goats' bones, the long ones broken for marrow. Great stems and roots of bog-deal lay everywhere; all had fallen towards the east; the tops of many had been burned, and those of a few had been cut and the roots burned.-T. J. W.

Irish Kingdom of Dublin.-In the Journal for June, 1894, Mr. Goddard Orpen says (p. 126) that "there is no record of Dublin ever having been the seat of an Irish king."

I should like to mention that in the life of St. Molagga, who

flourished in the seventh century, the saint is represented as crossing over from Wales to the Fort of Dublin (Dun Duibhlinne), where he cured the King of Dublin, transferring his illness to his crosier. This being before the arrival of the Danes, the king must have been Irish. The Danish stronghold afterwards erected is called by a different name, Longphort. (See Life of St. Molagga in the "Dictionary of National Biography.")-T. OLDEN, M.R.I.A.

"Find" in Co. Roscommon.-The following objects were recently found by me on a crannog at Cloonglasnymore, Parish of Clooncraff, Co. Roscommon: -A bone comb toothed on both sides, resembling that figured in Sir W. Wilde's "Catalogue" (fig. 178, No. 149) as found at Lagore, Co. Meath, but larger, being about 5 inches long and 12 wide, and of a more artistic construction and pattern, being entirely of bone, including the rivets, and decorated with a lattice pattern; the ends curved in outline, and bearing the dot and circle ornamentation.

A small portion of a double-toothed comb, which I believe to be of some very hard wood.

A whetstone of a reddish brown colour, about 4 inches long, square in section, about 1 inch on the side at centre, tapering to inch at the ends, one end bears some incised figures which may have been intended as a private mark by the owner or manufacturer.

A bone ornament quite unique in character, there being nothing like it in the National Museum, Kildare-street, Dublin. It is formed from a section of a hollow bone of deer or sheep, and measures about 1 inches long. In shape it resembles a barrel, having a projecting moulding at each end. The intervening surface is carved with the nodus Hibernicus in relief. It may have been a pendant to, or one of the beads of, a necklet, or have formed part of the hilt of a sword or dagger, or been used to tighten a girdle or cincture.-GEORGE A. P. KELLY, M.A., Fellow, Hon. Secretary for Co. Roscommon.

The Boyne Obelisk.-The Members of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland may be interested to hear of the work now in progress for preservation of this monument. For some years past the obelisk had been in a dangerous condition from want of pointing. There was a

serious crack running through several courses of the stones; grass was growing between the stones of the basement, and dislodging them; the monument had the appearance of having been struck by lightning, and had evidently suffered from the effects of frost. I had been assured by Sir T. Deane that if no steps were taken to preserve it, the monument would fall.

As the Board of Works were unable to undertake the charge of the obelisk, Col. Coddington and I made ourselves responsible for the work, which is being executed by Mr. Faulkiner, electrician, of Manchester, under the superintendence of Mr. Fuller.

We require a little over £100, and if any of our Members are disposed to assist in the preservation of this historical monument, I shall be happy to receive their contributions.

We have carefully avoided giving the matter a political or sectarian aspect.-B. R. BALFOUR, Townley Hall, Drogheda, June 22nd, 1895.