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Summary of Proceedings for the year 1883-4. 
Mr. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN, 
Our yearly proceedings conclude with an Anniversary 
Meeting on the 18th of February, that being the day on 
which in the year 1855 our President, the Rey. L. Blomefield 
(then Jenyns), together with a few other kindred spirits, founded 
the Club, for the especial purpose of investigating the Natural 
History and Geology of the neighbourhood of Bath. Since then 
the Antiquarian element has been added, and its ranks been 
opened to those whose tastes led them to the study of the remains 
of the past, rather than to the living and speaking records of the 
present, scattered so profusely around them on all sides. It is, 
however, a subject of much regret that the first objects and 
intentions of the promoters of the Club should well-nigh be lost 
sight of; the Naturalists and Geologists are very few, while the 
Archmologists are many and numerous. Can we do nothing to 
remedy this? Ithink we can. The proposers and seconders of 
new members might be more careful in their nomination, and 
impress upon their friends the necessity of showing some interest 
in sustaining the objects for which the Club was originally formed 
if they wish to join it. Then, again, 2 comparatively new element 
has crept in, represented by those who prefer the dinners and 
lunches to the more intellectual pursuits of the day’s work. Of 
course the social feature is by all means worthy of being cherished,. 
and it was with this object no doubt of cementing the bond of 
friendship that certain men of this sort set on foot the annual 
dinner, to take place after the more irksome business of the 
Anniversary Meeting, and to refresh and brace up the energies of 
their brother Naturalists and Antiquaries for the more arduous 
work of the coming year. It is rather a remarkable fact that 
at these dinners your Secretary has the pleasure of renewing his 
acquaintance with many members whose faces have been strange 
