Third General Meeting. 7 
The Rev. J. Wiikiyson, of Broughton Gifford, then read a 
paper on “Parochial Iistorics,” the purport of which was to recom- 
mend that (under the sanction and direction of the Bishop), a 
history of each parish should be compiled by its clergyman, the 
whole, when finished, forming a complete county history. Asa 
precedent for this, he referred largely to a “History of Scotland,” 
that had been compiled in this way, under the supervision of the 
Kirk Session. The thing was perfectly practicable, the clergy 
were the best, and indeed the only qualified persons to write such 
parochial histories; the scheme had the sanction of the Bishop; 
and he (Mr. Wilkinson) hoped to see it speedily carried out. 
This paper which will also be found in ezfenso, in the present 
number, closed the morning’s proceedings. After inspecting the 
articles in the Museum, the company dined together at the Angel Inn. 
About 150 ladies and gentlemen assembled under the lively presi- 
dency of H. A. Merewether, Esq., Recorder of Devizes. At the 
evening meeting in the Town Hall, Mr. Scrope having again taken 
the chair, the Rev. Prebendary Fane read a paper on Edington 
Church, and Mr. Merewether another on the Abbeys of Lacock 
and Stanley, and the Priory of Lockswell. 
SECOND DAY—WEDNESDAY. 
It had been doubted whether Chippenham would be a favorable 
spot to be selected for the meeting of an Archeological Association, 
the town itself being certainly not rich in objects of curious interest. 
But the experiment proved successful beyond all anticipation. As 
a central position, easily accessible by railways, with a neighbour- 
hood abounding in resident influential gentry, and by no means 
destitute of antiquities of various kinds; the result showed, that, 
perhaps no better place of meeting could have been selected. The 
time was limited to three days, whereas, it turned out that a week 
would scarcely have sufficed for visiting, in detail, all that the bill 
of fare presented for the entertainment of the company. 
Perhaps no holiday was ever more thoroughly enjoyed than 
Wednesday. The noble owner of Bowood had announced his in- 
tention of receiving the Society, of which he is Patron; and never 
was intention more hospitably fulfilled, 
