110 The Seventh General Meeting. 



injure the Society by their negligence. This is the more to be 

 deplored, for if the Society were not hampered by these arrears, its 

 receipts would be fully equal to its expenditure. 



" We pass on now to the Wiltshire Magazine, of which the sixth 

 volume is just completed, and which, we submit, contains articles 

 on the topography, past and natural history of the county, which 

 will bear comparison with similar publications of kindred County 

 Societies ; but whatever degree of merit it may have, is without 

 doubt in great measure due to the able superintendence and unre- 

 mitting exertions of the Rev. Canon Jackson, to whom the Society 

 is most deeply indebted, for this the principal part of its labours. 



"Another very important and indeed primary object of the 

 Society has occupied a great deal of the attention of your Committee 

 since last year, viz. : the erection of a Museum and Library suited 

 to the requirements and worthy of so important a Society. Hitherto 

 our Archaeological and Natural History Collections have been 

 deposited in a room temporarily hired for the purpose at Devizes, 

 where they have been open to the daily inspection of members : but 

 it will be in your recollection that one of the principal objects which 

 the Society had in view from the first, was (by Rule I.) 'to preserve 

 by the formation of a Library and Museum, illustrations of the 

 history of the county, viz., published works, MSS., drawings, models 

 and specimens," and (by Rule YI.) it was resolved that such col- 

 lections " be deposited at Devizes," as the most central town in the 

 county. The importance of carrying out that object was early 

 impressed upon us by one who has from the first, most kindly and 

 perseveringly encouraged us and guided our career, and whose 

 advice we of this Society especially value, our excellent first Presi- 

 dent (Mr. P. Scrope), in his Inaugural Address: and from that time 

 to this, the permanent establishment of a central county Library 

 and Museum of Antiquities and Specimens of Natural History has 

 been continually under the consideration of your Committee, as may 

 be seen by the Annual Reports of past years. Those who take the 

 trouble to examine those Reports will have seen how steadily the 

 Society has advanced year by year from its formation, continuing 

 to attract within its ranks the more intelligent gentlemen of the 



