Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions

The Lia Fail, or the Stone of Destiny. 317
in this Abbey, since the most ancient document in which
it was thus described appears to have been a tablet that
was formerly suspended above the chair, but which has
long ago partaken of the same fate as all the other written
memorials that were in this chapel."
As to the nature of that one in our Abbey, Neale, in his
Westmifister Abbey, describes it as "chiefly quartz, with
light and red-coloured felspar, light and dark mica, with
probably some green hornblende, intermixed ; some fragments
of a reddish-grey clay slate or schist are likewise
included in its composition ; and, on the upper side, there
is also a dark, brownish, red-coloured, flint pebble." Dean
Stanley thought the stone certainly from Scotland. Scone
is of Old Red Sandstone formation. The Dean had a piece
of it tested in Percy's laboratory, when it was found to be
slightly calcareous. Examined under the microscope, grains
of quartz and small scales of mica were detected. Prof.
Ramsay, 1865, had the like opinion of its geology.
Keepe's Momtmenta Westmonasteriensia, in 1681, tells
us— " Here is likewise on the west side the Feretory (shrine)
of St. Edward, hard by the screan that separates the High
Altar from the Chappel, the chair or seat whereon our
Kings are accustomed to be inaugurated and crowned. It
appears extreamly antient both in its fashion and materials,
being made of solid, hard, firm wood, with a back and sides
of the same, under whose seat, supported by four lions
curiously carved, instead of feet, lies that so much famed
Stone, whereon the patriarch Jacob is said to have reposed.
—The mines of this chair itself shows that heretofore it hath
been fairly painted, and gilt with gold." The cost of the
labours of carpenters, painters, and gilders upon the same,
nearly seven hundred years ago, was £1 \gs. yd.
The chair itself is 6 ft. 9 in. by 3 ft. 2 in. The scat
is 2 ft. 3 in. from the ground. There appears a groove in