Beschreibung:

Archaeological Records of a Distinguished Ulster ScholarPorter (Rev. John Scott A large Folder containing Records of early Irish history and artefacts, including some exquisite pencil sketches, compiled in the mid-19th century by the Rev. John Scott Porter.John Scott Porter (1801-1880) was a native of Limavady, Co. Londonderry, a non-subscribing Presbyterian minister, and a divinity professor in Belfast. He was an authority on biblical criticism and theology and on Hebrew and Greek scriptural texts; a prolific writer, he was the author of nearly forty books, besides many articles in periodicals. “Porter was as inspiring a teacher as he was an effective preacher and faithful pastor. He played an active role in the literary, educational, musical, and charitable life of Belfast, where he became a familiar and respected figure, tall and handsome, distinguished in his later years by his snow-white hair and beard.” (Finlay Holmes in ODNB).He also had a strong interest in the early history of Ireland, on which he contributed learned papers to several distinguished journals.This Archive comprises:ú”Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis”, running to 193 pages in several fascicules and apparently unfinishedú”Index”; this is not an index to the “Collectanea” per se but a list of different types of artefact, arranged by period (from Premetallic to Anglo-Norman), with occasional page references to mentions in the “Collectanea”úA collection of fine pencil drawings of early Irish artefacts, arranged in several fascicules, with cross-references to their appearance in the “Collectanea”. Some are reproductions of sketches already published (in, e.g., E.P. Shirley’s Dominion of Farney, 1845) but most appear to be original.ú”Lecture on the State of Society Arts and Manners among the Primeval Inhabitants of Ireland” (44 pp), a paper read before several literary societies (listed), 1853-59ú “Historical account of the Life and Labours of St Patrick” (42 pp)ú”Life and Labours of Columb Kille” (66 pp), a paper read to several literary societies (listed)úArchaeological Antiquities, 31 pp, unfinished and lacks pp 1-2While Irish scholarship has made considerable progress since Scott Porter’s day, the sheer extent of his labours, his meticulous recordings, his fine illustrations, and above all the extent to which he disseminated his knowledge through lectures to learned and local societies, gives this archive a significant role in the dissemination of knowledge of Ireland’s ancient civilisations. As a m/ss., w.a.f. (1)