Report for 1868. 345 



History Society has once more the pleasure of recording the con- 

 tinued well-being of the Society, which has pursued its investiga- 

 tions a-field, as well as by its publications, since the last Annual 

 Meeting. The number of Members on the Society's books some- 

 what exceeds the general average, and amounts to 313. 



" As regards its more active operations the Society has prosecuted 

 its researches by explorations on the site of the Roman road near 

 Silbury, as well as by excavation at the foot of that famous earth- 

 work, to which it was urged by discussions in the Afhenceum 

 between Mr. Fergusson on the one side, and Sir John Lubbock 

 and Professor Tyndal on the other. The details of these investiga- 

 tions and their results have already been published by the Society, 

 and need not be repeated. In reference to the General Meeting, 

 it was fully intended, and preliminary steps had already been 

 taken, to hold a three days congress at Chippenham in September 

 of the present year ; but the unexpected announcement that one 

 of the parent societies, viz., the British Archaeological Association, 

 intended to hold its annual meeting at Cirencester, on the northern 

 borders of the county at the same time, appeared to your Council 

 sufficient cause to render it advisable to postpone our local 

 gathering till next year, inasmuch as the presence in the same 

 neighbourhood of the larger and more influential body must have 

 had the efi'ect of diminishing the interest, and thinning the atten- 

 dance of members at our more local meeting. 



" During the past 3'ear two more numbers of the magazine have 

 been published, and another, forming the 33rd number and com- 

 pleting the eleventh volume, will (it is confidently expected) be in 

 the hands of members before the close of the present year. More- 

 over, in addition to its regular journal, the Society has undertaken, 

 and is now busily engaged in the publication of a record of the 

 opening of the Blackmore Museum at Salisbury, and a general 

 account of that most valuable collection. This is a separate work ; 

 and, while it does not supersede the magazine, which is in progress 

 at the same time, will be presented to the members of the Society 

 as soon as it shall be completed. 



"In regard to finance, the Council is enabled to make the 



