of fe 



f Head May Sth, 1900.) 



|NE of my duties as President, and an extremely 

 melancholy one, is to refer in this Anniversary 

 Address to the removal by death of a member, or 

 of an eminent scientist, with whom our Club has 

 been in touch. The first to refer to is that of one 

 of my oldest and dearest friends, Sir Talbot Baker, 

 whose death took place on the yth of last month, 

 with awful suddenness. His loss is keenly felt, not 

 only by the members, but the county at large. 

 His amiable character and genial bearing secured an attached 

 affection from everyone who came in contact with him. His 

 connection with the Dorset Field Club dates from its commence- 

 ment. From the first he took the liveliest interest in its welfare, 

 and he rarely absented himself from either the in-door or the 

 field meetings. Only a few days before his lamented death he 

 intimated to the Honorary Secretary his intention to attend this 

 our meeting to-day. Alas ! It has been otherwise ordained. 

 His cultured tastes, especially for archaeology, enabled him to 

 take a prominent part in the papers and discussions upon the 

 antiquities and architectural treasures ol the county. The 

 volumes of our " Proceedings " contain several contributions from 

 his pen. His hospitable reception of the members at Ranston a 



