THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 259 



A short journey on the tram took the party to the residence of Dr. Nicholson, 

 "by whose kindness and hospitality tea was partaken in the lovely rose garden, and 

 before leaving a vote of thanks, proposed by Air. Briscoe and seconded by Mr. 

 W. Cole, was accorded to Dr. Nicholson. 



The first Annual Meeting was held in the Masonic Hall under the Chairmanship 

 of Mr. Briscoe, who was supported by Mr. Victor Taylor (hon. sec.) and Mr. 

 Shenstone. Mr. Taylor read letters of apology for absence from Lord Rayleigh 

 (Patron of the Survey), Mr. J. Mcintosh (Secretary of the Royal Photographic 

 Society), Viscount Middleton (President of the Photographic Survey of Surrey), 

 Professor Meldola, F.R.S., Sir Benjamin Stone, Mr. F. W. Rudler, I.S.O., 

 F.G.S., Mr. G. Scammell (hon. sec. National Photographic Record Association), 

 and a number of other gentlemen. Mr. Taylor read the Annual Report for the 

 year ended December 31st, which was as follows : — 



" Considering that this Association has only recently completed the first 

 year of its existence, fair progress has to be recorded, although so far fewer con- 

 tributors have offered their assistance either in donations towards the expenses or 

 in kind than had been anticipated. Among those who have come forward to 

 assist in the important work, the thanks of the Council of the Survey are 

 especially due to the AVoodford Photographic Society, whose handsome 

 •contribution of a set of about 200 prints, comprising the survey of Woodford, is 

 as artistic as it is comprehensive. Fortunately this Society commenced the work 

 several years ago, and some of the prints record parts of the district the aspect of 

 which has since been completely changed in giving place to modern requirements. 

 This only emphasises the necessity of record work being proceeded with without 

 further delay, for our towns and villages are rapidly undergoing change, and relics 

 of bygone days and curious customs are fast disappearing, soon to become 

 merely a memory, unless a systematic record is now undertaken. Many good 

 prints, and also engravings of value, showing the old mansions and churches as 

 they were a century or more since, have been sent in by members of the Council 

 and by individual contributors ; the Essex Field Club has contributed towards 

 the requirements of its child, the Survey ; Mr. Miller Christy, the President, has 

 generously handed over about 200 rare and interesting engravings and process- 

 prints ; while numerous friends are engaged in surveying. The accounts made 

 up to the end of 1905 showed there were only 26 subscribers, and there was a 

 balance in hand (which has since been diminished) of £$ 10s. 9d." 



The Chairman said the report, on the whole, was a very satisfactory one, and 

 he hoped that at the end of next year, when the Survey had become better known, 

 ■they would have to record a larger number of gifts. In giving a short address on 

 the object and work of the Survey, Mr. Briscoe mentioned that the Town 

 Council of West Ham had agreed to house the prints and other contributions in 

 the Essex Museum of Natural History, and to provide cabinets and other 

 necessities for safe preservation, on the condition that the collection was a perma- 

 nent one. Should the Survey go out of existence at any future time the Cor- 

 poration would take up the control of it, so that permanency would be secured. 

 The Chairman appealed to the amateur photographers in Essex to give the 

 Survey as much help as possible. They could communicate with the Secretary, 

 who could suggest a particular district for their operations, so that every neigh- 

 bourhood in the county might be properly worked. From a neighbourhood like 

 Colchester they ought to have the assistance of 30 or 40 photographers, and they 

 \would be pleased to leceive contributions. He also appealed to all who had 



