The Eighth General Meeting. 241 



ought to be glad of it — as country gentlemen, too, they ought to 

 be glad of it, because they knew that it diffused a refined, a literary, 

 and a superior feeling and taste among their neighbours. It was 

 pleasing to make for themselves such opportunities as the present, 

 of meeting in social intercourse for a rational and intellectual object 

 — to pass an evening pleasantly, and to receive a certain amount of 

 fresh information. 



Mr. Estcourt then left the chair, and the company separated. 



THE CONVERSAZIONE. 



In the evening there was a Conversazione at the Market House, 

 which was numerously attended. 



Mr. Alfred Seymour read a paper on Wardour. 



The Rev. W. H. Jones, of Bradford-on-Avon, next read a paper 

 on " the Wiltshire possessions of the Abbess of Shaftesbury." 



THURSDAY. 

 Under the guidance of the Local Secretaries, the Rev. H. J. Glyn 

 and Mr. Bennett, a large party of excursionists, having on their 

 way visited King's Settle Hill, and Castle Rings, inspected the 

 Church of Donhead St. Mary's, where their attention was especially 

 directed to the remarkable and (as is supposed) unique telescope- 

 altar-table, which was at a former period moved into the centre of 

 the chancel at the time of celebration of the Holy Communion, 

 placed east and west, and then lengthened by means of drawing 

 out the top, after the manner of modern telescope dining tables : 

 other objects of interest were the ancient font and the capitals of 

 the pillars. Hence to Donhead St. Andrew where the Church, 

 lately restored, elicited much commendation : and then to the ruins 

 of Old Wardour Castle. Here the company remained a considerable 

 time, examining the massive walls, the ruined staircases and 

 chamibers, the bold architecture, groined roofs, and elegant window 

 traoery still apparent amidst the ivy which encircled them. Nor 

 did they omit to mark the impressions in the outer walls left by' the 

 cannon directed against the Castle when it sustained its memorable 



