2 eae we eee 
The Twenty-third General Meeting. 7 
vacancies, to propose a few names for their acceptance as Vice- 
Presidents ‘of the Society. He would first mention Mr. Goldney, 
M.P. for Chippenham, who had presided over them for the last three 
years, and in recognition of his services the least they could do was 
to elect him a Vice-President. The second name on his list was 
that of Mr. William Blackmore, the munificent founder of the 
splendid Museum hard by, to whom the Society felt a special debt 
of gratitude ; and the third name was that of his friend and colleague 
for so many years—Mr. Cunnington. The loss of Mr. Cunnington 
to the Society as Secretary was no common loss: it was not too 
much to say that he was one of the chief founders of the Society, 
and but for his exertions, the Society would perhaps never have 
éome into existence: it was certainly the case that but for his energy 
and perseverance a museum in connection with the Society would never 
have been estublished at Devizes. But to himself individually the loss 
of Mr. Cannington as a colleague was a most severe blow : they had 
worked together in great harmony and with the greatest cordiality 
for above twenty years, and he (Mr. Smith) could ill spare his ser- 
vices. Not however that his work in connection with the Society 
was ended: Mr. Cunnington would still, he felt sure, do work for 
the Society in London, and by electing him a Vice-President, they 
secured him as a member of the Committee. In proposing these 
gentlemen to be added to the list of Vice-Presidents Mr. Smith 
begged to move a special and most hearty vote of thanks to Mr. 
Cunnington for the valuable services which he had rendered to the 
Society from the day of its inauguration to the present time. 
- The Rev. Presenpary Writxinson! seconded the proposition 
most cordially, and spoke in the highest terms of praise of the im- 
portant work which Mr. Cunnington had done for so many years 
for the Society ; and he added that he had the authority of Mr. 
Prestwich for saying that no geologist knew more of the strata of 
1 Within ten days of the Salisbury Meeting, throughout which he accompanied 
the Members, apparently in his usual health, and with his customary vivacity, 
and the interest he always took in the proceedings, the Rey. John Wilkinson 
breathed his last, to the great loss and regret of the Society, whose constant 
friend and supporter he had been from the very first. 
