something of a moral and a patriotic character. When we were called upon as we were at the present moment occasionally to make sacrifices for the sake of our country, for the sake of our homes and of our parishes, surely it was something to know that similar sacrifices had been required of those who had gone before-that similar stirring scenes had taken place-that there had been similar apprehensions of an invasion—and similar gatherings together of the people to defend their hearths and their homes. No man could walk over the plains of Marathon and Thermopyla—no man could tread the plains of Morgarten or Sempach, among the Swiss valleys -no man could cross the fields of Cressy and Poictiers, without having his soul stirred up to do and endure far more than he had previously been inclined to do. His blood boiled as much as if he had taken part in the strifes of those days. And so it was now. He contended that the Society was contributing a great deal towards keeping alive that which would be to ourselves and to those who came after, not only a record of the past, but an encouragement to do and act a part worthy of the name we bore. In this grand Volunteer movement which was now going on, there was an emulation. No doubt love of country was the principle which was at the bottom; but that which stirred us up and encouraged us to do our best was emulation between man and man. But there was also an emulation between generation and generation, and that was the business which had called them together on this occasion. They wanted to fill their minds with a knowledge, not merely of the general outline, but of the details of the suffering and work which took place in this country years and years ago, and having done so, he was sure that there was no man who would not be rather encouraged to do anything which might be required of him for the sake of his country. The traces of the Normans, the Saxons, and others long gone by, shewed us that our ancestors had to encounter foes, to endure numerous privations, and to make sacrifices for that one cause-the love of country; and therefore he did claim for the Society that besides its being in the highest degree a society of men desirous of cultivating a superior order of intellectual research, their work was not altogether thrown away

as moral beings, as Englishmen, and as Christians, and that it often afforded encouragement to us to proceed in the course which our duty pointed out as belonging to us.

The right hon. gentleman then called upon the Rev. A. C. SMITH (one of the Secretaries) to read the report.

REPORT FOR 1860.

"The Committee of the Wiltshire Archæological and Natural History Society has again the satisfaction of congratulating its members on the continued prosperity of the Society, the number of names now on its books, amounting to 391, being a slight increase since last year, and that notwithstanding our loss by death, withdrawal, or removal from the county of no less than 15 of our former members.

"Among these, the recent death of one of the most active of our body seems to call forth special regret on the part of the Society; indeed it would be impossible to pass over in silence the grievous loss we have sustained in Mr. Carrington: he was from the first a sincere and steady friend to the Society; he thoroughly enjoyed the pursuits and the researches connected with Wiltshire history, was very diligent in instituting them, and as invariably to be depended on, as ready even at personal inconvenience and sacrifice of time and trouble, to assist others. Those who were present at the Marlborough meeting last year, will not soon forget how greatly it was indebted to him for the lively and good-humoured spirit that prevailed throughout; and the readers of the Wiltshire Magazine will regret the discontinuance of the lighter and amusing articles by which he so often assisted the public in the digestion of its more solid contents.

"With regard to the financial position of the Society, your Committee must again, though with great reluctance, call your attention to the amount of subscriptions in arrear and unpaid, the former amounting to £85, the latter to £95; in all £180. It will readily be seen that this deficiency must operate to the serious injury of the Society, as well as to the embarrassment of your Committee, and they appeal earnestly to those now in arrear not to

injure the Society by their negligence. This is the more to be deplored, for if the Society were not hampered by these arrears, its receipts would be fully equal to its expenditure.

"We pass on now to the Wiltshire Magazine, of which the sixth volume is just completed, and which, we submit, contains articles on the topography, past and natural history of the county, which will bear comparison with similar publications of kindred County Societies; but whatever degree of merit it may have, is without doubt in great measure due to the able superintendence and unremitting exertions of the Rev. Canon Jackson, to whom the Society is most deeply indebted, for this the principal part of its labours.

"Another very important and indeed primary object of the Society has occupied a great deal of the attention of your Committee since last year, viz.: the erection of a Museum and Library suited to the requirements and worthy of so important a Society. Hitherto our Archæological and Natural History Collections have been deposited in a room temporarily hired for the purpose at Devizes, where they have been open to the daily inspection of members: but it will be in your recollection that one of the principal objects which the Society had in view from the first, was (by Rule I.) ' to preserve by the formation of a Library and Museum, illustrations of the history of the county, viz., published works, MSS., drawings, models and specimens," and (by Rule VI.) it was resolved that such collections "be deposited at Devizes," as the most central town in the county. The importance of carrying out that object was early impressed upon us by one who has from the first, most kindly and perseveringly encouraged us and guided our career, and whose advice we of this Society especially value, our excellent first President (Mr. P. Scrope), in his Inaugural Address: and from that time to this, the permanent establishment of a central county Library and Museum of Antiquities and Specimens of Natural History has been continually under the consideration of your Committee, as may be seen by the Annual Reports of past years. Those who take the trouble to examine those Reports will have seen how steadily the Society has advanced year by year from its formation, continuing to attract within its ranks the more intelligent gentlemen of the

county, as it presented itself more prominently to the notice of those residing near any of the localities it has hitherto visited in its Annual Congress: they will also see on what grounds your Committee promulgate their opinion, that the Society having proved itself to be no ephemeral development of a passing fancy, but to be firmly rooted in the county, the time has now arrived when efforts may be made for securing its permanence, strengthening its powers, and accomplishing one of its principal intentions, by building such a Museum and Library as shall be adequate for the Collections already rapidly accumulating, and which your Committee have confident expectations will be considerably enriched, when a more permanent as well as more suitable place of deposit is provided. Fully impressed with this conviction your Committee has been engaged in considering the best means of accomplishing their object, and though they are not prepared at the present moment to lay any distinct proposal before you, yet they are happy to state that the scheme which has been suggested to some of the more influential gentlemen of the county has met with the warmest encouragement, and with offers of very liberal donations towards its completion, which your Committee trust will be met with like liberality on the part of members generally, and for which they would beseech your co-operation and support when the time comes.

It remains only to thank those who have during the past year contributed to our collections; among whom we would especially mention Mr. Blackwell and Captain Gladstone, each of whom has presented above seventy bird skins to the Museum: the Bishop of Brisbane, who has largely added to our Geological collections: and Mr. Darby Griffith, who has added sundry volumes to the Library: besides others who in a smaller way have enriched our Museum with many valuable additions.

And here again we may congratulate ourselves that the intention of the Society seems now to be thoroughly understood; and as its object is now known to be solely the collection of information relating to the Archæology and Natural History of Wiltshire, with a view to the completion of a history of the County, it has met with universal support, sympathy and good will on all sides, pro

voking neither jealousy on the one hand, nor apathy on the other, (the day for ridicule of such pursuits as it has in view being happily gone by); and the Committee desires here once for all to express its hearty thanks for the cordial co-operation and the ready attention and liberality it has so universally met with, not only from those already enrolled among its adherents, but also from others of all ranks and classes hitherto unconnected with the Society."

The Rev. CANON JACKSON, at the invitation of the Right Hon. Chairman, then proceeded to read a paper on the History of Swindon and its neighbourhood.

At the close of the paper, there being still some little time to spare before the hour appointed for the dinner, the company separated into two parties; one, under the direction of Mr. Moore F.G.S. and Mr. W. Cunnington, proceeded to explore the Swindon quarries, and the other to inspect the various articles of interest composing the temporary Museum, formed in the room in which the meeting had been held.

THE DINNER.

The Society's Dinner took place at the Goddard Arms Hotel. Two haunches of venison were presented by the Marquis of Ailesbury, and Mr. Westmacott seemed to have spared neither trouble nor expense to provide for his guests. Seventy-five ladies and gentlemen sat down, including the majority of those who attended the general meeting. The chair was occupied by the Right Hon. T. H. S. Estcourt.

After the usual loyal toasts; in the course of a reply to that of the Bishops and Clergy, the Rev. Prebendary Fane said that he happened to be the Treasurer of the Diocesan Church Building Society, and he would make bold to say that the interests of the Church and the interests of this Archæological Society were absolutely synonymous terms, the great field of inquiry and research for archeologists being, in reality, among our churches. There were, at this moment, in the Diocese of Salisbury, as many as 40 churches either under restoration or requiring immediate attention; and when he mentioned that many others might be added to the