2 PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. 
members how desirable it is, that they should foster an interest 
in the relics of our ancestors, and of the early inhabitants of our 
country; subjects of the deepest moment and of the most 
enticing character, which relate to the social condition, the know- 
ledge of art and manufacture, the habits and religion of the 
different races, which have occupied this district, and whose 
remains are found so abundantly when once our attention is drawn 
towards them. Had societies like our own been in existence 
some years ago, what treasures of architecture, of sculpture, of 
painting, and of various arts might have been preserved, which 
are now for ever lost tous! And it is one great use of a Club 
like ours, that a taste for such pursuits is generated, and that a 
knowledge is acquired, which, whilst it gives ourselves great 
pleasure, leads us to preserve for others, and for future ages, 
those most valuable records which time has stiil left us. And 
indeed, on subjects like these, almost unlimited opportunities 
are afforded us, for the district, over which our Club extends its 
visits and researches, is rich beyond measure in ancient remains. 
Of the works of those tribes which occupied the land before the 
Roman invasion, there are found most perfect examples in their 
fortified places, and in their dwellings, in their peculiar mode of 
terraced cultivation, and in their manner of sepulture, as shown 
in the numerous tumuli which still exist untouched by the 
plough. Of the same people we have the mysterious circular 
markings on rocks and stones to be more fully considered later on, 
and great numbers of weapons and implements of stone, bronze 
and iron, as well as specimens of fictile manufacture and of personal 
ornaments. 
Of Roman civilization and power we have relics unsur- 
passed by any other part of England, for though we have 
no large and wealthy city to excavate like Wroxeter ( Uriconium), 
we have, besides numerous military stations and ways, that 
gigantic work of Roman skill and energy, the wall of Hadrian, 
with its several adjunctive forts, so learnedly, and at the same 
time so popularly illustrated by our fellow-member Dr. Bruce. 
And here I cannot but most cordially thank him for that work, 
than which I know none more ably, none more completely 
