354 



Clje ^nniijcr^nTg ^mral gating of tljc^adetg 



Of 1885 



was held at the Society's Museum^ Devizes, on Wednesday, October 

 7th, at 3.30, p.m., for the purpose of receiving the report of the 

 Committee for the past year, electing the Committee and Officers 

 for the year ensuing, and transacting all other necessary business. 



The Rev. C. W. Hony occupied the chair, and called on the Rev. 

 A. C. Smith (one of the Honorary Secretaries) to read the 



REPORT. 



" The Committee of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural 

 History Society desires to put before the Members a short report 

 of the proceedings of the Society during the past twelvemonths, 

 and of its present condition. 



"The Committee has to deplore the loss of many Members; 

 among whom should be specially mentioned Mr. Locke (of Rowde- 

 ford), who has not only been a Member from the formation of the 

 Society in 1853, but also for many years past — and until the day of 

 his death — held the office of Treasurer of the Society. We have 

 lost another Original Member in Mr, Jacob Phillips, of Chippenham; 

 and Members of old standing in Mr. Darby Griffith, the Rev. 

 H. A. L. Grindle, the Rev. J. Baron, D.D., F.S.A., Rector of Upton 

 Scudamore, and the Rev. E. H. M. Sladen, the two latter accom- 

 plished archaeologists, and occasional contributors to the pages of 

 the Magazine. Amongst others we have also lost the late Bishop 

 of Salisbury, and Mr. George Morrison ; and, quite recently, Mr. 

 George Alexander, of Westrop House, Highworth, a Local Secretary 

 of the Society from its inauguration. 



" In addition to these and other losses by death, we have to 

 lament the resignation of several Members, but in this we are only 

 sharing the lot of almost all kindred societies, which are generally 

 suffering, more or less, from the depression of the times. The 



