Ixxiv. CONGRESS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES. 



formed by the local archaeological societies. Mr. Johnston described 

 the genesis and working of the committee, and mentioned cases in 

 which it had successfully intervened. Many small alterations and 

 refittings were often done without a faculty. The Bishop of Chichester 

 insisted on everything being submitted to him before a faculty was 

 granted. He was aware that in some dioceses the decision rested with 

 the Chancellor, and the consent of the Bishop was a mere formality. 

 The increasing archaeological spirit among the clergy would welcome 

 such an action as was proposed. 



Several other delegates having spoken, the following resolution, 

 proposed by Mr. Nevill, seconded by the Rev. P. H. Ditchfield, F.S.A., 

 and accepted by Mr. Johnston, was carried : 



" That this Congress approve the principle of Mr. Johnston's 

 proposal, and request the Council, in conjunction with Mr. 

 Johnston, to draw up a recommendation that may be circulated 

 by the Congress to the Bishops." 



Two other resolutions of some importance were passed by the 

 Congress : 



(a) " That H.M. Government be respectfully asked to direct that 

 arrangements shall be made by the authorities at Somerset 

 House that access for literary study may be given to all 

 documents, ecclesiastical as well as Probate Records, now in 

 their charge, in the same way as at the Public Record Office." 



(6) " That this meeting of the Congress of Archaeological Societies, in 

 recording its appreciation of the excellent work now being 

 done by the staff of the Public Record Office in the issuing 

 of Calendars and Indexes, expresses the hope that some 

 means may be found to increase and expedite the issue of 

 future volumes, and to that end requests the Council to com- 

 municate with the Master of the Rolls, the Deputy-Keeper of 

 Public Records, and H.M. Treasury to take such further steps 

 as may seem desirable." 



