20 The Seventeenth General Meeting. 
and excitement amongst the inhabitants of the numerous villages 
through which it passed. The bright rays of an autumn sun clothed 
with rainbow colours the already decaying foliage of hedge-row and 
copse, and although the days’s work was unusually heavy, the ex- 
cursionists had got the satisfaction of enjoying some of the finest 
park and woodland scenery in Wiltshire, as well as of inspecting 
many of the best paintings and works of art to be found in England. 
The first important “call” was at Ferne, in the parish of Don- 
head St. Andrew, the residence of Mr. T. F. Grove, M.P., for South 
Wilts, one of whose ancestors, Hugh Grove, was beheaded at Exeter, 
with Col. Penruddocke, in 1655. An interesting portrait of the 
devoted Royalist was to be seen in the dining-room. The mansion 
‘commands some extensive views of the surrounding country. Mr. 
Grove being in Scotland, the company were received by Mrs. and 
Miss* and the Rev. Charles Grove, and having inspected the paint- 
ings and other works of art in the house, they were invited to par- 
take of an elegant luncheon, which had been laid out in the dining 
room. When the time came for departure, the president expressed 
a hope that Mrs. Grove would convey to her husband the best 
thanks of the Society for the kindness and hospitality with which 
its members had been received. 
After crossing the Shaftesbury road, the party continued their 
progress through the finely-wooded park of Lord Arundell, of War- 
dour. His lordship received them at the entrance to the old castle, 
and some time was spent in an inspection of the ruin. Some of 
the principal architectural features were pointed out by Mr. 
J. E. Nightingale. The walls are now partially covered with moss 
and ivy, and the grounds contain some of the finest cedars in 
England. The scenery around is perhaps unsurpassed in Wiltshire, 
and the visitor may well adopt the words of the poet, 
‘¢ Time’s gradual touch 
Has moulder’d into beauty many a tower, 
Which when it frowned with all its battlements 
Was only terrible. 
The castle was built by John, Lord Lovel, a little before 1400, and 
it was a good deal injured during the wars of the 17th century, 
