XXVlll. THE FIRST WINTER MEETING. 



By Lieut. -Colonel Mainwaeing: 

 A Collection of Remarkable Buddhist Figures, carved in a kiud of chert, 

 and found ou the north-west frontiers of India. He quoted a recognised 

 authority who expressed the opinion that the date of the figui'es was from 

 A.D. 50 to 350. (See paper ou Gandhara Sculptures.) 



After the declaration of the ballot the following papers were 

 read : — 



I. By A. Pope, Esq., on the topography and chartology of 

 Old Dorset, illustrated by a valuable collection of histories, 

 maps, and engravings, as follows : — 



"TOPOGRAPHY OF OLD DORSET." 



Wheu, at the invitation of your Honorary Secretary, I consented, in a weak 

 moment, to take charge of the Topographical, or, as he in his circular describes 

 it, the Palwochartological section of the Dorset Field Club, I little thought 

 what a wide subject, or subjects, would be embraced in these two words, or in 

 either of them. 



Topography, I apprehend, means the description of a particular jslace, i)arish, 

 or tract of land, and this description may be either written, or by means of 

 drawings, or by means of maps, or may consist of all three. 



I have recently had sent me a copy of the prospectus of the London Topo- 

 graphical Society, founded only a few years since, from which I gather that such 

 society has for its object, amongst other things, "The preservation for the 

 instruction of future generations, of pictures of fast-vanishing London, as it was, 

 and the publication of matei'ial illustrating the history and topography of the 

 City and County of London from the earliest times to the present day." Follow- 

 ing the example of this larger and more important societ\', I trust that our Club 

 may not only seek to preserve the many ancient monuments of antiquity with 

 which this county abounds, but will also encourage among its members the 

 collection and preservation of the old drawings, maps, and plans of those 

 buildings and places which have long since been destroyed or allowed to fall into 

 decay, or have been so altered and restored (?) as to have hardly a feature of 

 their former beauty left to them ; and this, I am sure, will appeal to all those who 

 are interested in the past history of this fair county. 



I propose, therefore, with your approval, to use the word Topography in 

 connection with this section of the work of the Club, and I trust that I may have 

 your sympathy and assistance in the many and varied researches which will 

 become necessary in order to carry the work to a successful issue. 



Rusldn says, even of the present day, that " Tlie feudal and monastic buildings 

 of Europe, and still more, the streets of her ancient cities, are vanishing like 

 di-eams ; and it is difficult to imagine the mingled envy and contempt with which 



