268 The Twenty-Fourth Annual Meeting. 
Society. So far from any diminution of interest in its proceedings 
evincing itself as time goes on, it is year by year attracting to itself 
more and more the goodwill and co-operation of the county. 
“As regards the number of names now on the books, there is a 
steady increase; in 1875 the figure stood at 340, in 1876 at 355, 
and at the present moment at 380. This, however, is far below the 
mark which the Committee confidently aspires to see the Society 
reach ; indeed, completely to work out the object which the Society 
has in view, (viz., elucidating the past history, as well as the natural 
history of the county) it will be necessary to gain, not only the 
countenance, but the active support of the more educated classes 
throughout the length and breadth of Wiltshire generally. | 
** Amongst the losses by death which the Society has experienced 
during the last twelvemonth, it has especially to deplore two of its 
original Members, each of whom has taken a lively part in our 
proceedings, whose assistance we shall sorely miss, and who were 
both present during our gathering last year at Salisbury. We allude 
to Mr. Matcham and the Rev. Prebendary Wilkinson, Rector of 
Broughton Gifford. 
“ Mr. Matcham (it need scarcely be said here) was a noted arche- 
ologist, long before the Society was formed. As one of the fellow- 
workers with Sir Richard Hoare at Stourhead, he was reverenced as 
the Nestor in our ranks, while his kindly genial nature endeared 
him no less to our hearts; and his presence at our annual meetings 
(and he seldom failed to attend) was always welcomed by us most 
cordially. For a record of what -he has done for archeology we 
must refer to the memoir we hope to publish in the forthcoming 
number of the magazine.'!. Enough on this occasion if we mention 
him with sincere regret at his loss, though few who saw his venerable 
form when he drove over to the Moot at Downton to welecme us 
last year, could expect at the very advanced age of eighty eight, 
that he would be able to join in many more of our excursions. 
“Far more untimely and unexpected was the death of the Rev. 
John Wilkinson ; who, within ten days of the meeting at Salisbury 
1 See in last No., pages 236—7. 
