[From Manx Note Book vol 3]

ANTIQUARIAN DISCOVERIES

THE READINGS OF THE MANX RUNIC INSCRIPTIONS BY DR. VIGFUSSON, which we publish in this number, form one of the most valuable contributions to Runic Literature which have yet appeared ; and will be indispensable to future students. These inscriptions have never before been read on the Spot by a competent Scandinavian scholar. Professor Munch, and others, were entirely dependent on casts and transcriptions, which are sometimes very misleading.

OGAM INSCRIPTIONS AT BALLAQUEENEY, RUSHEN.-The reading of these inscriptions by Professor Rhys, given in our eighth issue, opens up a new chapter in early Manx history.

A FRAGMENT OF A RUNIC CROSS has been found by Mr. P. M. C. Kermode in the Churchyard at Andreas. He stated in a lecture on the Kirk Andreas Runic Crosses, given by him in the schoolroom of that parish, in November last, that the characters of the inscription "were utterly different to any hitherto met with in the Island, and seemed to be 'bind runes,' one stem being used for several runes, so as to save space." Copies of these runes had been sent to some of the leading experts, who had hitherto been unable to translate them.

WE congratulate the Parish of Andreas on being the first to protect its "Ancient Monuments," by placing the Runic Crosses in the vestibule of the church. Mr. P. M. C. Kermode's vigorous protest against the neglect of such valuable relics, which was published in June last, has already produced a wholesome effect.

THE "NIAL" OR " MAIEL-LOMCHON " CROSS.-The re-discovery of the inscription on the Nial-or, as it must now be called Mael-Lomchon-Cross at Kirk Michael by Messrs. Vigfusson and Savage, referred to in the paper at page 5, is most interesting.

A SMALL CINERARY URN has been dug out of the burial mound called Cronk Aust, in Lezayre. A description by Mr. P. M. C. Kermode, with an illustration, will appear in our next issue. The fragments of a second and much larger urn, of a curious shape and with a different style of ornamentation, were found within six feet of the other. Both the complete urn and the fragments have been deposited in the Government Office, Douglas, by Mr. James Moore, the proprietor.

A FINE HALF-CROWN OF CHARLES II. was found in a ploughed field on the estate of Orrysdale, near Ballasalla, in April last.

IT should be noted that Dr. Newton, in his paper published in our january issue. has been the first to elucidate the whole pedigree, meaning, and age of the MANX ARMORIAL BEARINGS on a scientific basis; and that Canon Taylor, in his paper published in our July issue, has been the first to point out the true epoch to which our RUNIC CROSSES collectively belong.

We may fairly note the restoration of ST. BRIDGET'S CHAPEL AT THE NUNNERY, by Mr. Leigh Goldie-Taubman, under the head of," Antiquarian Discoveries," as, though the coach-house was supposed to have been a chapel, no correct idea could have been formed of its proportions and interior arrangements before the present skilful and tasteful alterations had been carried out. A full description will be given in our next issue.