xlviii. THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING. 



gentlemen have very kindly given their aid, but more help is wanted, and, if 

 there is any member present, gentleman or lady, who might be willing to give 

 his or her services, but before doing so would like to know more of what is 

 required, I have some papers of instructions here which will give the necessary 

 information. A lady who is skilful in pen and ink dramng might give valuable 

 assistance. 



I hope your Treasurer will give us £.5 towards expenses if we want it, and that 

 you will approve of his doing so. 



The Curator of the County Museum (Mr. H. Moule) 

 then read his report : — 



This report can begm only in one way. Its first words must be words of 

 heartfelt grief at the loss to the Dorset County Museum caused by the death of 

 Mr. Mansel-Pleydell. His name stands in the first list of subscribers in the year 

 1845 and of members of the CouncU in 1846. Ever since, to the last day of his life, 

 he upheld it by gifts both in kind and in money with a generosity that cannot be 

 praised enough. To the Curator his loss is irreparable. For an " all round " 

 knowledge of natural science Mr. Mansel-Pleydell was, probably, unsurpassed. 

 And this wealth of knowledge could at all times be drawn on by the Curator. 

 Not merely ungrudgingly, but with eager enthusiasm, he advised the latter 

 whenever asked for help; and "whenever" meant very often indeed. At 

 every turn in his work he misses Mr. Mansel-Pleydell. 



Another good friend to the Museum was lost in 1902— Mr. T. B. Groves — 

 whose interest in its well-beiug was untiring. 



"We now turn to a record of the chief gifts to the Dorset Museum during 1902, 

 beginning with Dorset natural science specimens, taken for the most part as they 

 arrived. The Eev. W. E. Waugh gave a very fine ammonite and several small 

 f ossU fishes from near Lyme Regis and a pair of shells of Ostrea deltoidea from 

 Portland. Mr. F. J. Beckford gave a pair of oyster shells from Poole. This 

 specimen is curious from the oyster having established its footing in an old 

 tobacco pipe. A long-tailed tit and its nest were given by Mr. W. Dunning. 

 Lastly, but chiefly, we must record the bequest of Mr. Mansel-Pleydell of his 

 large and most valuable herbarium. Although containing specimens from various 

 countries, it is mentioned in this Dorset section because it contains a number of 

 plants collected in the county. These are of special iuterest to local botanists, 

 inasmuch as they afford a means of verifying the list of plants given in 

 Mr. Mansel-Pleydell's "Flora of Dorset." Passing to Dorset antiquities, we 

 have to report the gifts as very few. Begiuniug with "modern antiques," and 

 taking them roughly as they come, we first name a curious old kitchen range, 

 given by Colonel Williams, M.P., per the Rev. S. E. V. Filleul. Like many 

 other of our possessions, it cannot be properly displayed for want of room. Miss 

 F. Scott gave a brass token, or weight; Mr. G. Legg, several tokens found at 

 Dewlish ; Mr. F. Osmond, an interesting bronze and iron mcditcval key found at 

 the Gas Works ; Mrs. Boatswain, an 18th century wine flagon fragment bearing 



