2 The Twenty -Seventh Annual Meeting. 



explaining these circumstances, and added that though disappointed 

 at the absence of the President of the Society, they had been happy 

 in finding an excellent substitute as President of the Meeting in 

 Sir Charles Hobhouse. No sooner was the dilemma in which the 

 Society found itself explained to Sir Charles, when he at once — 

 though at very short notice indeed — most kindly acceded to their 

 request, and consented to occupy the chair and deliver an address : 

 and consequently they were all very deeply indebted to him. 



Sib. Charles Hobhouse then took the chair, and at once called 

 upon the Secretary to read the Report for the past year. 



REPORT. 



"The Committee of the Wiltshire Archseological and Natural 

 History Society, in presenting a brief report of last year's pro- 

 ceedings, desires again to congratulate the Members on the continued 

 prosperity of the Society, and on the general interest evinced 

 throughout the county in its work. 



" The Committee at the same time regrets to add that the past 

 twelvemonth has been a year of heavy loss in old and valued Members 

 of the Society. Of original Members we have to deplore the deaths 

 of Mr. John Noyes, of Chippenham, who was a most constant at- 

 tendant at our annual gatherings, and always took a lively interest 

 in the proceedings ; of Mr. John Spencer, of Buckhill, who was 

 also an active supporter, and a contributor to the pages of the 

 Magazine; of Mr. Stephen Moulton, the owner of the beautiful 

 Kingston House, in this town; and very recently, of Mr. George 

 Brown, of Abury, who has from the first shown a warm interest 

 in the work of the Society, and in accordance with a promise to 

 that efi'ect which he made to the Dean of Hereford in 1849, has 

 had a watchful eye for the preservation of the remaining stones in 

 the great circle at Abury.^ Of other old, though not original 

 Members, whose loss within the past twelvemonths we regret, special 

 mention should be made of Mr. Brackstone, of Bath, Mr. Joseph 

 Parry, of AUington, Mr. Charles Phipps, of Chalcot, and the Rev. 



^ See Proceedings of the Royal Archaeological Institute of Great Britain, Salis- 

 bury, 1849. 



