The Opening Meeting. 241 
parochial history, on geology, on natural history, and kindred 
subjects. 
“Union is strength, active co-operation, all working together, 
will give us the power, vigour, and means to accomplish yet the 
vast work that still lies before the Society.” 
The report having been adopted, ArcapEacon BucHaNan next 
proposed the following resolution :—“ The Members of the Wiltshire 
Archxological and Natural History Society, in General Meeting 
assembled at Devizes, having heard with the greatest possible regret 
the announcement of the resignation by the Rev. Alfred Charles 
Smith of the post of Honorary Secretary and Editor of the Magazine, 
desire to record their grateful thanks to him for his valuable services 
to the Society from its commencement, but more especially as Hono- 
rary Secretary since 1857, and Editor of the Magazine since 1864. 
They feel most deeply the loss the Society sustains by Mr. Smith’s 
resignation, and desire to express a hope that he may long be spared 
to render the valuable help which he has been so good as to promise 
if health permit.” He said Mr. Smith had always placed his 
literary ability and great capacity for business alike at the service 
of the Society, and he was endeared to its Members by the unfailing 
kindness and courtesy which marked him in everything that he did. 
He had from the very beginning been the life of the Society, and 
had infused his own enthusiasm into their Meetings. He trusted 
that Mr. Smith might live to watch over the interests of the Society 
for very many years to come. 
The Rev. W. C. PLenpErteatH having seconded the resolution, 
_ Tue Presitpent said he should like to add a word or two to what 
had been said. He deeply regretted that almost the first aet of his 
presidency should have been to receive Mr. Smith’s resignation. 
Mr. Smith had long been a hard-working archzologist, and his 
_ great work on the British and Roman antiquities of North Wilts 
_ was not only of great interest in itself, but was of the utmost im- 
_ portance as a basis for future research. For if ever the antiquities 
_ of North Wilts came to be properly explored and excavated whoever 
undertook that work would find Mr. Smith’s book an invaluable 
foundation for it. 
