17 



read this evening, by Messrs. Lysons and Jones, may be looked upon 

 as the first-fruits of the good resolutions then entered into. 



The high reputation which the Cotteswold Club has secured among 

 kindred societies is one which should not be Ughtly regarded by us, nor 

 imperilled for lack of efforts to maintain it, and we owe it no less to our 

 character as men of science, than to the ostabHshed reputation of our 

 society, that we should employ all our efforts for the maintenance of 

 our position as a body of scientific naturaUsts, and for the fulfilment of the 

 really usefal and important mission which we have accepted as our own. 



It wUl be my duty now to detail the proceedings of the Club during 



the past year. . ^ , , i. 



On Thursday, 23rd February, 1860, the Annual Meeting took place at 

 the Ram Inn, Gloucester, where the usual official business was transacted, 

 and Captain Guise and Mr. John Jones were unanimously elected to fill 

 the posts of President and Secretary. After breakfast the party proceeded 

 under the guidance of the "Rev. S. Lysons to examine the ancient 

 earthworks on the hiU at Newark, which had heretofore been supposed to 

 owe their origin to the operation of the royalist forces during the siege of 

 Gloucester. The discovery, however, of Eoman remains on the site, no less 

 than the plan and position of the entrenchments, have led Mr. Lysons 

 to refer the occupation of this military position to the Eomans, whose 

 nova arx, though altered by time, is still thought to be recognisable under 

 the present name of Newark. 



After luncheon at Hempstead House, the treasures of antiquity and 

 art in the possession of Mr. Lysons were thrown open to the inspection of 

 the Club, and eUcited general expressions of admiration. An interesting 

 discussion arose respecting some bones, which had been discovered m a 

 leaden coffin in a field adjoining the site of the camp at Newark, which 

 from the use of metal in their sepulture had been supposed to be those of 

 a youn- man of rank. In the judgment, however, of those best qualified 

 to form an opinion, the relics were held to be attributable rather to an 

 individual of the other sex; and the son of the Roman General-for no 

 less a rank was assigned to the deceased-became the wife, or daughter, 

 or something dearer stiU of that iUustrious functionary. 



From Hempstead many of the party adjourned to the inspection of the 

 Museum lately established in Gloucester, which owes its existence, and the 

 larger portion of its valuable and instructive contents, to the talents 

 and energy of our indefatigable Secretary, Mr. Jones. 



And here I would say a few words in connection with the subject, 

 on the establishment of local museums, as being a matter of great 

 educational importance, and one with wHch our society may worthily and 

 usefully occupy itself. There are few circumstances which have a more 



