1,42 The Twentieth General Meeting. 



The President then adverted to the following day's excursion to 

 Cirencester, and announced the conclusion of the evening meeting. 

 Before however the party separated, the Eev. A. C. Smith said as 

 this was the last opportunity of assembling at Swindon during this 

 meeting he begged to express the hearty thanks of the ArchsEological 

 Society to the inhabitants of Swindon for the kind reception, and 

 the generous hospitality which had been given them : a compliment 

 which the President acknowledged on behalf of the town. 



THIRD DAY, THURSDAY, Sept. 18th. 

 This day was devoted to an excursion to Cirencester, and though it 

 necessitated a second "venture o'er the border," the experiences of 

 the day undoubtedly afforded proof that the members were justified 

 in, and repaid for, the course adopted. Journeying to Cirencester 

 by a somewhat early train, the hour of ten o'clock found about forty 

 ladies and gentlemen wending their way through the grounds 

 attached to Lord Bathurst's residence and making their way towards 

 the Barton, under the able guidance of Professor Church, who, with 

 Mr, Mullings, Mr. Bravender, and other local antiquarians, joined the 

 party at the Railway Station. Crossing the Broad Ride, in Earl 

 Bathurst's park. Professor Church drew the attention of the company 

 to the straight stretch of avenue before them, which was noteworthy 

 as being five miles in length, with the pretty village of Sapperton 

 and a beautiful valley at its termination. 



The Pavement at the Barton, 



The tessellated pavement found at the Barton was the first point 

 of inspection ; to which Mr. Anderson heax-tily welcomed the visitors. 

 The learned Professor then proceeded to give a short and interesting 

 description of the tesserae, over which a room has been built by the 

 liberality of one of the former Earls Bathurst, 



Professor Church said the pavement remained in the same position 

 as when it was first discovered. An experiment had been made for 

 the purpose of seeing whether it would be possible to take up the 

 pavement and replace it on a bed of slate, in consequence of the rotten 

 state of the sub-stratum which was immediately under it, but owing 



