2 The Seventeenth General Meeting. 7 
where we obtained our information—we endeavour to give the in- 
formation im extenso, and with all those details which come so 
pleasantly home to our understanding. Without confining ourselves 
to the pre-historic age, or the latest medieval discovery, we endea- 
vour to place before the members of the Society, in a readable form, 
papers on every subject which may elucidate or render clear the 
ages which are not to come again. It has been thought by some 
that the labours of the Society ought soon to cease, and that its 
subjects are nearly exhausted ; but in answer to this I fearlessly say . 
—we are only beginning really to verify and complete the discoveries 
of ancient archeologists, and to open out further reserves of treasure, 
which have lain unapproached for centuries. A remark made to me 
many years ago, by my excellent friend Canon Jackson, is very 
applicable to the study of archeology—* omit to remember nothing, 
not even a Christian name, or obscure expression, in your labours, 
for by small means is the story produced.” It was rightly said by 
a noble president of the Society, Lord Herbert, that Macaulay, in 
his History of England, contrived from the ballads and trash of the 
day—materials mean and meagre in themselves—to group together 
such a picture as never was placed before us by any other writer, of 
the manners and customs of our forefathers, at a very interesting 
period of English history. By the unobtrusive labours of indivi- 
duals we become possessed, as a body, of a great and important 
mass of materials, which renders intelligible to us many things, 
which otherwise would remain obscure or traditionary. So we 
follow Macaulay’s plan, and seek everywhere for information, for 
the humblest individual can add to our store, while through the 
kindness and liberality of friends and members we have access to 
the most valuable documents and historical archives. It is a source 
of gratification that in a Society like ours, among whose members 
we have the honour to number the highest families in the county, 
whose patron, presidents, council, and secretaries, all take a warm 
interest in its welfare, we have admission to their archeological 
_treasures. That the desire for knowledge of a past age is on the 
increase is apparent to anyone who has observed the stream of people 
pouring into the Kensington Museum, or the numbers studying in 
