Wednesday, July 11th. 125 
This part of the proceedings, however, appears to have been omitted 
_ of late years. 
A little distance beyond this the line followed by the old town 
walls along the crest of the declivity te the hollow way is very 
clear. On the way, those interested in botany had an opportunity 
of seeing the remarkable way in which the yellow Mimulus, said 
to be an escape from a garden adj oining, has established itself in 
masses in all the waters round. 
.THE ANNIVERSARY DINNER, at the Bell Hotel, was more 
largely attended than has been the case at the corresponding 
function for some years—some forty-five being present, the only 
toast proposed being that of the Queen. 
THE CONVERSAZIONE held afterwards at the Town Hall was 
also well attended, the company numbering over seventy. The 
hall itself had been most tastefully decorated and prepared for the 
occasion by a committee of ladies—who had also thoughtfully 
provided tea and coffee to sustain the members in the interval 
between the papers. Amongst the decorations hung on the walls 
were several Dervish flags from the Soudan. ‘The first item on the 
programme was THE Presrpenr’s interesting addresss on 
_“MALMESBURY,” which will appear. in a later number of the 
— Magazine. For this a vote of thanks was proposed by the Vicar, 
the Rev. G. Windsor Tucker, and seconded by the Rev. Canon 
Livingstone, of Brinkworth. 
Tur Rev. E. H. Gopparp afterwards gave an address on the 
-MALMESBURY BOROUGH MACES,' which were most kindly 
exhibited for the occasion by the old Corporation—a rare privilege, 
for the four maces are jealously guarded in a chest with three locks 
by the burgesses, who look on them as the insignia of their ancient 
dignity, a dignity that they have entirely declined to hand over to 
the new-fangled Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors, established in 
1886, who now govern the town, but do not govern the lands given 
by King Athelstan. Mr. Goddard described the evolution of the 
mace as we know it now, as a symbol of office, from the ancient 
1 See Wilts Arch. Mag., vol. xxviii., p. 30. 
