14 



The Twenty -Fifth Annual Meeting. 



his guests for the honour they had just done him, and for their 

 kindness in accepting his invitation to Savernake House, expressed 

 his best thanks for the great assistance which both Sir John and Lady 

 Lubbock and their daughters had rendered in promoting the success of 

 the Meeting. The band had done him the honour of playing " Scots 

 wha hae,"" and he only hoped a Bruce might often lead such an assem- 

 blage as this. He could only say that the assembling of the Members 

 of the Society at Savernake was a subject of great pride to him. He 

 was satisfied that meetings of that kind did a great deal of good, 

 for they brought friends together without regard to distinctions of 

 politics or party. The weather had been on the whole most fortu- 

 nate. It looked very alarming in the morning, and he was doubtful 

 whether archaeologists were sufficiently enthusiastic to brave all the 

 vicissitudes of this extraordinary climate. Of course they were 

 aware that there had been in the course of this world's experience 

 a good deal of rain, beginning with the flood, and perhaps the subject 

 of Noah's ark might not be an altogether unprofitable subject of 

 discussion. After some further humourous observations on this 

 point, His Lordship again intimated that he rejoiced to have the 

 honour of entertaining the Archaeological Society of Wilts. He had 

 already invited them to drink the health of the Queen, and he 

 might say he hoped Prince Leopold would soon become a Member 

 of the Society. Probably the matter had only got to be mentioned 

 to him, and he might then allow his name to be added to the list, 

 and they could not have a more distinguished Member. He only 

 wished His Royal Highness lived on this side of the county. Pie 

 believed the Society would last for years. His time would not be 

 long, but he hoped those who came after him would have the interest 

 and welfare of the Society as much at heart as he had, and have as 

 as great pleasure in entertaining the Members at Savernake House. 



After a pause, His Lordship again rose and said there was one 

 other toast which he wished to propose. He did not know for how 

 many years the Society had existed ; all he could say was that he 

 wished it every prosperity. He had now to ask them to drink the 

 health of the President, Sir John Lubbock, and to thank him for 

 the kind manner in which he had come amongst them. He was 



