On the 23rd of August, at a special meeting of the Council, 

 after reading a letter from Earl Stanhope, giving his consent, 

 it was decided to commence the uncovering of the foundations 

 of Dale Abbey. A Committee of management was formed, 

 and ,£10 voted from the Society's funds to cover the preliminary 

 expenses. The excavations were commenced on the 9th of 

 September, and were continued until the 25th of October. The 

 work was carried out under the immediate supervision of Mr. 

 W. H. St. John Hope, and Captain Beamish, R.E., by whom a 

 full report has been prepared, and to whom the Society is beyond 

 measure indebted for their untiring zeal and care. It is much to 

 be hoped that funds will be forthcoming to carry on the excava- 

 tions, which it will be impossible to complete out of the ordinary 

 income of the Society. It is intended that the first summer 

 expedition shall be to the site of this most interesting Abbey. 



The first winter meeting of the Society was held on the 13th 

 of November. About forty members and friends were present. 

 The Rev. J. Magens Mello read a Paper on " Cave Man and his 

 Contemporaries in Derbyshire ; " and a Paper by Mr. W. H. St. 

 John Hope on the " Bells of All Saints', Derby," was also read. 



The second winter meeting was held on the nth of December. 

 A Paper by Mr. C. Springel Greaves, Q.C., upon the " Inscription 

 on the Font at Chelmorton," was read by the Hon. Secretary, and 

 Mr. J. Charles Cox read a Paper entitled " The Diary of a 

 Derbyshire Vicar, temp. 1715-49." 



Owing to various accounts being delayed at the last moment, 

 the Balance Sheet of the year's receipts and expenditure 

 was not able to be audited in time to be included in the Tran- 

 sactions, but will be issued to members in the course of a few days. 



The Council have pleasure in stating that the drawings of old 

 Derby, the fac-simile plates of the Croxall Slabs, and the wood- 

 cut of the Inscription on Chelmorton Font, have been presented 

 to the Society by the members contributing those papers, an 

 example which it is to be hoped may be followed in future 



