124 The Tioentietk General Meeting. 



''Indeed it may perhaps be allowed to your Committee^ after 

 nearly twenty years existence (for it wants but one month to the 

 twentieth Anniversary of our Inauguration) to eall attention^ with 

 thankfulness and satisfaction, to the kindly feelings of general agree- 

 ment and unanimity which have pervaded their Councils from the 

 very commencement of the Society's existence ; and to the confidence 

 which has ever been shown by the Members in their exertions and 

 management. 



" It may also perhaps be not out of place at this period of the 

 Society's career to observe, that, as years roll by, there seems to be 

 no falling off either in the interest of our publications, or in the 

 success of those pleasant annual meetings which have been character- 

 istic of the Society. The presentation of two Numbers of the 

 Magazine every year has been a great element in the Society's pros- 

 perity ; and though the Rules make no pledge of such a return for 

 the very moderate subscription, it is intended to continue it, so long 

 as the Society's sources of pecuniary income, and literary contribu- 

 tions are available. 



" The Committee, in conclusion, entreats the continued co-operation 

 of its many Members in all parts of the County, each in his several 

 sphere and neighbourhood, to further the great work we all have 

 before us, in preserving the memorials of past ages, and in doing all 

 that lays in our power to elucidate the natural, as well as the ancient 

 history of Wiltshire." 



At the conclusion of the Report (which was adopted) the Officers 

 of the Society (Committee, General and Local Secretaries,) were 

 re-elected, with the addition of Mr. J. R. Shopland, as one of the 

 District-Secretaries for Swindon. 



The President of the Meeting then gave the following address : 



Ladies and gentlemen — In assuming the occupancy of this chair 

 as your President upon the present occasion, I feel it necessary to 

 ask you to excuse my many deficiencies and short-comings — not being 

 an antiquary — in attempting to undertake the task of presiding over 

 an archaeological and antiquarian meeting ; for although I naturally 

 take an interest in the many objects for which your Society was 

 founded, and have, moreover, visited at various times most of the 



