Augusta." Appended to the kalendar is a prognostication of eclipses of sun and moon, with woodcuts showing the degree of obumbration. This table extends from 1475 to 1530. Then follow the ordinary tables for the Golden Number, Dominical Letter, &c.; and this curious volume closes with a treatise, "Del horologio orizontale," giving instructions for constructing a dial, with woodcuts, representing various chronometric instruments.
By D. B. Murphy, Esq.—A specimen of the singular little figures, or seals, of Oriental white porcelain, bearing characters in the old Chinese letter. These remarkable relics, frequently found in Ireland, have excited much interest, and form the subject of a dissertation recently published by Mr. Edmund Getty, M.R.I.A , in which the import of the characters is explained.[1] (See the Notice of this work, p. 407.)
They have been exhibited on several occasions at former meetings of the Institute. A well authenticated example, now in the possession of Lord Talbot of Malahide, was communicated by him to the Society: it was discovered in ploughing near the church at St. Doulough's, co. Dublin, but not within the precincts of the cemetery. No specimen, however, of these curious seals has, as we believe, been hitherto noticed or discovered in any other locality, except in the sister kingdom.
We are indebted to Mr. Thomas Kent, of Padstow, in Cornwall, for the intimation of the curious fact, that one of these porcelain seals, precisely similar in dimension and general form to those found in Ireland, was brought to light in that county. It is now in his possession. There are characters on the under side of the cube, resembling those presented by the Irish specimens. Mr. Kent states that it was found in digging near the site of an ancient mansion, situated on a cove in the harbour, into which the tide flows, adjacent to the town of Padstow. He observes that this port appears well suited to have been a place of resort for the ancient traders who visited this coast to obtain tin or other commodities. He had found various remains of fictile vessels of unusual fabrication on the shores, with vestiges of a settlement, which he is disposed to assign to the Roman period. Scoria, ornaments of bronze, fragments of antique glass, and Roman coins, had likewise been discovered in the sands opposite to Padstow.
Note on the figure of an Architect at St. Ouen. (See page 390.)
Professor Willis considers the instrument seen in the Architect's hand to be what is technically called a mitre square, a drawing instrument to lay down an angle of 45°, and also a right angle, if its rectangular edges are employed. The additional lines traced on the upper part will qualify it to act as a protractor for laying down other angles, possibly those that belong to the polygons, which the masons frequently required. Thus Matthew Roriczer begins by teaching how to set out pentagons, hexagons, &c. The instrument here seen appears to have been adapted for laying down the angles of polygons of five, six, seven, or eight sides. Professor Willis had seen no other representation of this instrument.
- ↑ Notices of Chinese Seals found in Ireland. London, Hodgson, Paternoster Row. 1850. 4to. plates.
