The Opening Meeting. 5 



to record that most of these works have been carried out under the 

 superintendence of Mr. Pouting, a native of the county, and a 

 Member of the Society, to whose assistance in making the Annual 

 Excursions of real interest, and in many other ways, they are greatly 

 indebted. 



" In looking forward to the future we feel that a vast deal yet 

 remains to be done before the subjects dealt with by the Society 

 can be said to be exhausted. 



" New lights are constantly being cast on old material, whilst 

 the shadows of doubt sometimes thrown on old sources of information 

 need constant investigation. 



" One by one our founders and supporters are removed from our 

 midst, but it is hoped new hands and new minds may be found to 

 take up the work so carefully and fondly dealt with in the past. 



" We feel certain that we may look forward to an increase of 

 prosperity for our Society, to an increase of its Members, of its 

 means, and of its value and importance in the eyes of all intelligent 

 and patriotic Wiltshiremen." 



The Gloucestershire Society having in the meantime concluded 

 their business meeting, the Members of the "Wiltshire Society 

 joined them in the Town Hall at 12 o'clock, where Mr. Wilfred 

 Cripps, C.B.,as Chairman of the Local Committee, gave the Members 

 of both Societies a very hearty welcome to Cirencester. 



Sir John Dorrington, Bart., then expressed the very great 

 regret of the Gloucestershire Society that General Pitt- Rivers, 

 F.R.S., F.S.A., the President of the Wiltshire Society, was pre- 

 vented by the state of his health from presiding over both the 

 Societies at the Meeting, and proposed that in his absence Mr. 

 Wilfred Cripps, C.B., the well-known author of " Old English 

 Plate," should be invited to act as President of the Meeting, a 

 proposal which Mr. Medlicott, on behalf of our own Society, 

 cordially seconded. 



Mr, Cripps then took the chair, and after referring in a few 

 words to the great work accomplished by General Pitt- Rivers in 

 many ways for the advancement of archaeology, proceeded to give 

 an interesting address on the early history of Cirencester, stating 



