The Conversazione at the Town Tall. 179 
he carried off one of the combs used for beating down the threads, 
which he declared from its shape, had it not been of iron, he should 
have at once pronounced to be pre-Roman and Celtic. 
The party then proceeded to a reception at the residence of THE 
Mayor, Mr. Pardoe Yates, where they were most hospitably enter- 
tained by their host and hostess, a programme of instrumental music 
and glees being performed by the Wilton Band, whilst the members 
were enjoying the refreshments provided for them. In another 
room the singularly interesting series of Wilton Charters were laid 
out, ranging in date from 1100 to 1885—that bearing the autograph 
of King John in 1207 being in wonderful preservation. Here, too, 
were the very handsome silver-gilt maces of 1639 and 1681, with 
the seal and other insignia belonging to the Corporation. 
The Anniversary Dinner was held at the Pembroke Arms, at 6 
o'clock, some twenty-six guests sitting down to it, with the President 
of the Society in the Chair, supported by the Mayor of Wilton and 
the Bishop of Salisbury. 
The toasts after dinner were cut short, and the party adjourned to 
the Conversazione to be held in the Town Hall at 8 o’clock. Here 
Tue PREsIDENT commenced by reading a very interesting paper on 
his excavations in Wansdyke and the conclusions to which they led. 
He regarded it as conclusively-established that the work was not earlier 
than Roman times—very possibly it was later, but there was nothing 
to fix the exact period. The few relics found during the diggings 
—including the small bits of Samian ware and the iron sandal cleat 
and nails which General Pitt-Rivers relies on as proving it not to 
_ be pre-Roman were exhibited, and, as usual, when General Pitt- 
_ Rivers has to explain anything, the walls were covered with plans and 
diagrams in which the position of each object found was accurately 
marked in the cutting. The General explained that he was only 
giving the general results of his work that evening, as the whole 
matter would be dealt with in great detail in the third volume of 
his accounts of excavations. 
After the interval, during which tea and ices were discussed at 
the invitation of the Mayor and Mayoress, an excellent address on 
the formation of the Vale of Wardour was given by the Rey. 
