General Account of Inaugural Meeting. 3 
retire from the duties assigned to them. But before doing so, they 
venture to offer a word of suggestion with respect to the future 
course and prospects of the Society. 
“Tt may first be desirable to point out more specifically its two- 
fold objects: to promote the study both of Antiquities and 
Natural History. These two may seem at first sight incompatible : 
but the success which has attended their union in the case of the 
Somersetshire Society, leads us to believe that both pursuits can 
be carried on under the same auspices: and even independently of 
this instance of success, it was considered advisable to adopt this 
course as being likely to increase the success of our Institution, 
and to make the contents of our Museum and Library as various 
and as interesting as possible to a larger number of our members. 
Besides which, as one of our chief purposes is to collect materials 
for a County History, it is obvious that so interesting a subject 
as its Natural History could not with propriety be omitted. 
“The success then of our Society under these two great heads, 
obviously depends not on the attendance at one or two large 
meetings, but on constant and earnest application to our work. In 
the department of Antiquities, how large a sphere of operations is 
open to us! Remains of almost every era are lying before us, 
presenting an unexampled field for research. The traces of British, 
Roman, and Saxon occupation require to be carefully studied and 
illustrated. The period prior to the Conquest has greater and 
more interesting remains in Wiltshire than in almost any other 
county. The theories which have been advocated respecting 
Avebury and Stonehenge demand investigation. And passing on 
to a later period, every parish has its own object of interest in its 
Church or baronial Castle, its domestic Mansion, its Traditions, its 
peculiar Superstitions, its family History, its Registers, and the 
very Monumental Inscriptions which, especially in our churchyards, 
are gradually crumbling to decay. We want a sufficient body of 
active coadjutors to observe and describe all these. And we may 
venture to hope that from the resident gentry and the parochial 
clergy we shall receive ready and valuable assistance. We would 
especially point out that great service may be conferred upon us 
by those who will contribute to our Portfolios any drawings of 
either present or previously existing buildings. 
“Tn the department of Natural History we may hope, also, that 
the Geologists of our county will assist not merely by communicating 
new facts, but by adding to the stores of our Museum. The 
Ornithologist, the Microscopist, the Entomologist, and the Botanist, 
may each in like manner furnish their stock of information. The 
smallest contributions, though in themselves of little value, acquire 
a higher importance when added to those of others. 
“To those who are residing in the neighbourhood of this town, 
the Museum will of course be more particularly useful; and it is 
B 2 
