26 Conversazione. 
under its soil, or in its past history, worthy of being described and 
illustrated. 
I sincerely trust that this effort may prosper, because if it does so 
in any ordinary degree, one may see new openings, made by it, to in- 
formation of an interesting kind. What will make that information 
interesting is, that it will concern, not distant countries which we 
have never seen, and perhaps may never see; but the researches 
and collections of a “Wiltshire Socicty,”’ will relate to our own 
homes and neighbourhood—to the homes and neighbourhood of our 
friends. The Natural History which we wish to learn more about 
is that of the country which we can see out of our own windows, 
or from the tops of our own hills; the antiquities are those which 
are familiar to our eyes and by name, but are by no means fully 
understood as to their origin and history. 
It may not be the largest or most important county in England, 
it may not be the most picturesque, it may not be able to boast the 
driest climate, nor the most elegant and harmonious language. 
Never mind: “ with all her faults, we love her still.”’ Whether 
we are strangers or born in the land, it is ours, whilst we live in it, 
“for better or for worse.” And those who have set this Society 
on foot desire to live in Wiltshire “ for better,” and not “for worse.” 
They desire to exert themselves on its behalf, by rescuing from local 
oblivion what deserves to be rescued, by bringing more forward 
whatever is less known, and by leaving behind them, when it is 
their turn to depart, more information upon these subjects than they 
found. There is much in the county to invite those who live in it 
to pay some attention to these things. It is as liberal in its natural 
productions as most of the other parts of England. With respect 
to marks and memorials of former ages and former men, it can show 
some things that are almost peculiar to it—things which speak with 
silent eloquence to cultivated minds, asking only for a little curi- 
osity and care; and when that is bestowed they reward us richly. 
Some perhaps may think that we do already know all that is to 
be known about the county, both naturally and archzeologically. 
It is clear that those who have formed this Society are not of 
that opinion. There may be, no doubt, individuals well informed 
upon all such points; but in the first place, such persons are not 
very common; and in the next, they do not live for ever. ‘“ Wise 
men die and perish together, as well as the ignorant and foolish, 
and leave their riches for others:” that is, they leave not only what 
they may happen to have had of the good things of life, but also 
what they have learned—the riches of the mind as well as of the 
pocket—the store of information which such wise men had collected 
by industry and inquiry. But there is this difference between the 
two sorts of riches, and the fates which await them ;—the wealth of 
the pocket is sure enough to be looked after; there is no fear of 
that being lost. But, unfortunately, it is not always so easy to 
