REPORT. XXV 



destroyed ; that it was plain and of no special design affords no 

 excuse ; it was the old font of the church, belonging to a certain 

 period of history, and, as such, ought to have been preserved. It 

 is impossible to speak too strongly against the principle of trying 

 to amend an old design into what may in itself seem to be a 

 prettier form. Landmarks of past history disappear all too quickly 

 from our midst, and, if this kind of improving process is to 

 obtain, there will soon be none left. It is due to our Hon. Sec. 

 of Finance to state that the destruction of the font at Spondon 

 was carried out without a word being said to him upon the 

 subject, and during his absence from home — so that our Vigilance 

 Committee only heard of this unhappy proceeding when the 

 mischief was irreparable. 



Several papers, sent in at the last moment for this year's journal, 

 are obliged for want of space to be held over until the next volume. 

 This, and the fact that our numbers have considerably increased 

 during the past year, is a pleasing proof of growing interest 

 in our society. The balance sheet does not look quite as satisfac- 

 tory as usual, but this is chiefly owing to the heavy cost of last 

 year's volume of the journal, and this heavy cost will not be main- 

 tained. On the whole your Council is satisfied with the result 

 of the society's eighth year of proceedings. 



ARTHUR COX, 



Hon. Sec. 

 Mill Hill, Derby, 



January 16th, 1886. 



