Proposed excavation of Verulamium : — Dr. Martin then gave an account 

 of negotiations between the South-Eastern Union of Scientific Societies and 

 the Earl of Verulam, as to the proposed thorough exploration of the site of 

 Verulamium. Proposals made by the Society of Antiquaries of London 

 two or three years ago had fallen through, the Earl and the Treasury not 

 being in agreement as to the disposal of such treasure-trove as might be 

 exhumed. Dr. William Martin, with Sir David Gill, K.C.B., F.R.S., 

 the late President of the South-Eastern Union of Scientific Societies, Mr. 

 Dale (Hants.) and others, had been in negotiation with the Earl, and were, 

 together with Mr. Dale, in hope that some arrangement might yet be effected 

 by means of which the excavations could proceed ; but the President and 

 others appeared unable to share this hope. 



Congratulations ; vote of thanks : — On the proposal of Dr. Gaster (Folk- 

 Lore Society) the congratulations of Congress were tendered to the President, 

 Sir Hercules Read, on the honour recently conferred upon him by His 

 Majesty, and the thanks of the Congress were voted to him for presiding, 

 and to the Society of Antiquaries for the loan of their rooms. 



SPECIAL CONGRESS, JULY 22nd, 1912. 



A Special Meeting of Congress was held on July 22nd at the rooms of the 

 Royal Anthropological Institute, 50, Great Russell Street, W.C. ; Sir 

 Hercules Read, President of the Society of Antiquaries in the Chair. 



The President explained that the meeting was called in consequence of a 

 request or suggestion made by the Joint Committee of the Houses of 

 Parliament upon the Ancient Monuments Preservation Bills now before 

 Parliament. Dr. Martin had attended and given evidence on behalf of the 

 Congress ; he was listened to with attention and interest. The Committee 

 desired the views of the Congress on the subject of the inclusion of 

 Ecclesiastical buildings in the Bill, and had also asked questions con- 

 cerning the desirability of compiling an Inventory of moveable articles of 

 value and interest in Churches. In these circumstances, he considered it 

 incumbent on the Congress to respond to the desire and he had accordingly 

 summoned the present meeting. He regretted that owing to the advanced 

 state of the season, it was impossible to give longer notice ; by reason of 

 an exhibition, the Society of Antiquaries was unable to lend their rooms for 

 the meeting. 



The Hon. Secretary then made a statement as to the evidence he had 

 given and bore testimony to the great and enlightened interest that was 

 being taken in the question by the Committee. The Committee pointed out 

 to him that they looked to archaeologists to make recommendations to them 

 of everything that they thought desirable and it was for the Committee 

 to determine eventually how much they might think it wise to include in 

 the Bill. 



The Committee apparently thought that it would be desirable to extend 

 the scope of the protection beyond the buildings of "National " importance 

 specified in the Bill and they seemed also desirous of receiving instances of 

 damage caused to church buildings through want of proper archaeological 

 supervision, 



C. H. Woodward, Printer and Publisher, Exchange Buildinss. Station Road, Devizes. 



