346 



The Fifty -first General Meeting. 



observe that the accounts are cash accounts, and we only take 

 credit for money actually received. Though we rejoice in possessing 

 the moral support of all the Members on our books, it would render 

 our position less difficult, save the Society much postage, and the 

 Secretaries much correspondence, if Members would either give 

 their bankers an order to pay their subscriptions, or themselves 

 pay, at the beginning of the year. It may here perhaps be well to 

 add, because there seems to be some misapprehension on the 

 subject, that the rule of the Society is that the Magazine is supplied 

 at the time of issue to those only whose subscriptions are not in 

 arrear. 



" Members. — The number of Members on the books at the present 

 time (June, 1904), is three hundred and ninety- two, showing an 

 increase of twenty-five over last year. We have to regret the loss 

 by death of five Members, including that of Lord Heytesbury, whose 

 interest in our proceedings will be so well remembered by those 

 who took part in our last Warminster Meeting. On the other hand 

 we have to welcome forty-one new Members, which satisfactory 

 increase is, we hope, an earnest of the growing interest taken in 

 our Society and its proceedings. 



" The Enlargement of the Museum, — The Society recently acquired 

 the dwelling-house adjoining the Museum at Devizes. We regret 

 to report that the house has been vacant since January last, though 

 every effort has been made to secure a tenant, and the loss of rent 

 for, at all events, a considerable period of the year unfavourably 

 affects the financial position. The house was acquired with a view 

 to the enlargement of the Museum premises, which has become 

 almost absolutely necessary, and an appeal was made for funds 

 for this object. The response, so far, in cash and promises, has 

 amounted to about £350. 



" On this sum we have not thought it prudent to commence the 

 enlargement, but we venture to hope that further support will be 

 forthcoming. The policy of removing the Museum from Devizes 

 was fully considered and rejected before the purchase of the ad- 

 joining house, and, apart from other reasons, we were of opinion 

 that the financial responsibilities of such a removal were even 



