A rare George III Irish silver double snuff box, of rectangular form with two hinge lids revealing compartments, the top engraved with a crowned crest, the garter inscribed 'Royal South Downs IX', one end engraved with wreath framing a St Patrick's Cross and clover leaf, the other with a spinning wheel, the sides with four shuttles, Dublin 1810 by James England and William Law, length approx 8.8cm. Note: when the Irish militia was re-formed in 1793, the 9th or Downshire Regiment was placed under the command of Arthur, Lord Viscount Kilwarlin (later 2nd Marquis of Downshire). When Lord Downshire was dismissed from his command in 1800 for his opposition to the union, the regiment was divided in two, the South Downs retaining the old number '9', with Lord Annesley as commanding officer.