242 The Fifth General Meeting. 



all quarters. At the same time, your Committee regard the rental 

 of this room as only a temporary measure, calculated to supply our 

 immediate requirements; but they trust the members and friends 

 of the Society,' by subscriptions and, perhaps, by taking shares in 

 the building, will enable us, at no distant period, to erect a Museum 

 and Library suited to our wants and worthy of the county. 



There is but one subject more on which your Committee would 

 touch, viz., the important question of Parochial Histories ; which, 

 originating from this Society, promoted by a most able and active 

 member, the Rev. J. Wilkinson, and under the guidance of the 

 Lord Bishop of Salisbury, is, we trust, gradually progressing to- 

 wards the proposed end. 



The subject was discussed at Salisbury last week, and it was pro- 

 posed that Wilts and Dorset should co-operate in the endeavour to 

 collect materials for the complete histories of both counties. A 

 committee was formed, consisting of the Lord Bishop of Salisbury, 

 the three Archdeacons of the Diocese, the Council, and the General 

 and Local Secretaries of the Wilts Archaeological and Natural His- 

 tory Society, and a number of scientific gentlemen, both clerical 

 and lay, of Wilts and Dorset, to carry out this scheme, and they 

 will shortly commence their labours. Their plan will be, in the 

 first instance, to collect information by means of questions circu- 

 lated through the entire counties. It is, however, very satisfactory 

 to know that, in several instances, histories of individual parishes 

 have already been commenced, and are fast advancing towards 

 completion. But your Committee cannot take leave of this sub- 

 ject without adverting to the very complete model of Parochial 

 History, presented by Canon Jackson's paper on the Parish of 

 Kington St. Michael, printed in the last niimber of our Magazine. 

 And here they would beg to tender their best thanks to Mr. Jack- 

 son, not only for that and other kindred papers from his pen, with 

 which the Magazine has been enriched, but for the diligence with 

 which he has conducted the editorship of that publication. Your 

 Committee are not unmindful of the time and talents which he has 

 devoted to the service of the Society, and they wish thus publicly 

 to record their sense of gratitude. 



