4 General Account of Inaugural Meeting. 
hoped that no unworthy jealousy of this, or that locality, will 
preclude our friends in every part of Wiltshire, from adding to the 
Collection which will be gathered within these walls. 
“But in a county in which intercommunication is, from various 
causes, by no means easy, it appears desirable that the interest of our 
members should be kept up by some cheap periodical publication. 
“The Naturalist,” and “Notes and Queries” will furnish an example 
of what we would suggest. Almost every day is adding to the 
stock of local information, which if contributed and embodied in a 
permanent form, might thus become useful to others. 
“Tt may seem to be urging what would be only of special use to 
the neighbourhood of Devizes, but which we yet trust may not be 
without its value to the county at large, if we lay stress on the 
formation of a Library, in connection with our Museum. It is plain 
that such an addition is necessary to the completeness of our plan. 
Topographical, Antiquarian, and scientific pursuits require above all 
others very expensive books for their prosecution. County Histories 
and works on Natural History are notoriously of the most costly 
kind. And many persons are checked at their very first entrance 
on these branches of study, by being unable to purchase the books 
requisite for carrying them on successfully. In this case, also, we 
may venture to hope for contributions from our friends. Many a 
volume is now lying comparatively useless on the shelves of the 
owner, which would become of general utility if merely deposited in 
our Library, without being permanently presented to it. It may 
be added, in confirmation of this remark, that this system was 
adopted with respect to some of the most valuable works in the 
Library of the Bath Institution. 
“It need hardly be pressed on your notice, that, for the 
prosecution of your designs, some subdivision of labour is impera- 
tively required. It is suggested, therefore, that sub-committees 
should be formed in each respective department, Antiquarian, 
Scientific, and Literary. And with the view of obtaining definite 
local information, we would propose the circulation of a series of 
questions according to a form to be laid before the meeting, subject, 
of course, to such additions and corrections as may appear desirable. 
“Tn setting forth this plan for the future proceedings of the 
Society, we must apologise for its brevity and defects, and express 
an earnest hope that what is now but faintly delineated may be 
more boldly drawn out by those who will be deputed in our stead 
to carry on the design which we have begun. The Provisional 
Committee here terminate their labours. They have felt many 
anxieties in carrying on their work to the present point: they hope 
the meeting will pardon the imperfect manner in which they have 
fulfilled this trust, and they commend the future welfare of the 
Society to the good feeling of the county at large.” 
