Preservation of Ancient Monuments sent a deputation to see the 

 building, the result of which was a strongly worded report in 

 favour of the retention of the old fabric ; but yet, in the face of 

 every protest, we learn that at a meeting of the parishioners, 

 presided over by the vicar, " a considerable majority expressed 

 themselves in favour of the chancel being pulled down and rebuilt." 

 It is disappointing, and very discreditable that the carefully given 

 advice of competent authorities can thus be over-ridden by the 

 voice of ignorance. Your Council has since that meeting sent a 

 further protest to the vicar, deprecating the demolition of the 

 chancel, but has received no reply. 



In November last, an idea which had before been mooted was 

 brought formally before your Council in the shape of a suggested 

 amalgamation between the Derby Natural History and Philo- 

 sophical Society and ourselves. The matter was fully discussed 

 at a particularly well attended meeting of your Council, with the 

 result of the general approval of the scheme, and the appointment 

 of sub-committees of the two Societies to arrange details. The 

 sub-committees joint report has been accepted by your Council, 

 and will be placed before this meeting immediately. Should this 

 apparently happily conceived conjunction of the two Societies 

 receive the assent of this meeting, and become an accomplished 

 fact, it will naturally bring about a few changes and modifications 

 in our Journal. One of the new members for instance, Mr. 

 George Fletcher, would like to devote a i'ew pages yearly to 

 reports and tables of the rain-fall of Derbyshire. Such tables 

 become of great value after years have gone by. Mention is 

 made of this project to-day, in order that those in the county who 

 take such observations may be induced to submit their readings 

 to Mr. Fletcher, or whoever may be appointed to receive them. 



The Editor desires, on behalf cf the Society, to express his 

 obligations to Mr. John Murray and to Mr. Edward Stanford for 

 their ready courtesy in lending blocks for the further illustration 

 of articles that appear in the current issue of this Journal. A 

 similar application was made to Messrs. Macmillan, which was as 

 curtly refused. The broad rule that the Editor has laid down for 



