The Report. 3938 
longer the same expectation of a considerable annual increase in the number 
of Members, as when the Society was in its infancy. 
Owing to a particular circumstance, such increase was still less to be expected 
during the year 1858.. The principal addition of new Members has always 
hitherto been made at the General Annual Meeting. But, it will be recollected 
that in consequence of the Two great National Archeological Societies having 
each held its Congress this summer, within or close upon our own peculiar 
district, (The Institute, at Bath, and the Association, at Salisbury), it was con- 
sidered desirable that the General Meeting of our own Society should be for this 
once, abandoned. The usual opportunity of recruiting our strength has accord- 
ingly not occurred. 
We have also to regret the loss, by death, withdrawal, or removal from the 
county, of no less than Ten of our former Members. 
Notwithstanding thesé drawbacks, our Society has continued to increase; the 
number of the names on our books now amounting to 380, being a slight addi- 
tion since last year. . 
The next point to which your Committee would call particular attention is a 
very important one: the Financial position of the Society. 
The funds would be in a very prosperous condition, if the Members would 
only have the goodness to pay up their subscription regularly. But your Com- 
mittee regrets to say that the amount of subscriptions in arrear and unpaid, is 
at this present moment, no less than the sum of £130. 
Your Committee, in discharge of its duty, ventures very respectfully to 
point out to the observation of those who have neglected payment, not only the 
great inconvenience occasioned by such irregularity, but (with all deference they 
add,) its unfairness. For it should be recollected that every registered Member, 
whether he had paid his subscription or not, has been duly supplied, from the 
date of his enrolment to the present time, with the Numbers of the Magazine as 
they have issued from the Press. In the next place; whatever expense has 
been and continues to be incurred, either in the publication of the Magazine or 
in any other of the Society’s proceedings, is incurred entirely upon the faith of 
the subscriptions promised. If the payment is neglected, not only are the 
accounts deranged and the expenditure crippled; but the necessity must very 
soon arise, of encroaching upon the Capital of the Society, now invested in 
Exchequer Bills and bearing interest. Your Committee has referred to this 
subject with very great reluctance. 
The next point is more agreeable: the opening of a Museum and Library in 
Devizes. This has been happily carried into effect since-last year. A complete 
and accurate catalogue of the contents, prepared by the Assistant Secretary, 
together with such Rules for the circulation of Books as may be settled by 
the Library sub-committee, will shortly be distributed among the Members. 
Whilst returning their best thanks to those gentlemen who have already depo- 
sited many valuable and interesting objects, your Committee again solicit 
continued Donations of Books and specimens in illustration of the Archmology 
and Natural History of Wiltshire. 
With regard to the Wiltshire Magazine, your Committee ventures to express 
a hope that the Volume for this year has not been found inferior to those that 
have preceded it. They rejoice to sce that the number of Topographical essay- 
