20 



The Thirty- Fourth General Meeting. 



Of these we would first mention the late Lord Ailesbury, whose 

 generous hospitality shewn to the Society at Savernake will never 

 be forgotten by those who attended the Marlborough Meeting in 

 1879. Sir Alexander Malet, again, was one who showed constant 

 interest in the proceedings of our Society, and would, but for the 

 infirmities of age, have some years since occupied the President's 

 chair, which the Society invited him to fill. Mr. Henry Weaver, 

 of Devizes, was another old and valued Member whose decease we 

 are also called upon to lament. In addition to these there are but 

 five others, who, either on account of removal from the county or 

 from other causes, have withdrawn from the Society since the be- 

 ginning of this year. So that the number of names now on the 

 books (including, as usual, those of the Societies with which pub- 

 lications are exchanged) amounts to three hundred and fifty-three, 

 being an increase of fourteen since last year's report. 



"In regard to Finance, our balance in hand is about £150, as 

 against £99 3*. 6d. at the beginning of the year ; this increase is 

 mainly due to the sale of the volume entitled i British and .Roman 

 Antiquities of North Wilts/ 



" Of the Magazine, one number was published in December last, 

 and the second number of this year would, it was hoped, be issued 

 before this time, but unforseen delays have occurred. It is the 

 sixty-ninth number, being the concluding part of the twenty-third 

 volume, and will very shortly be in the hands of Members. Both 

 numbers, we confidently believe, are not behind their predecessors 

 in local interest and value. 



" The Museum and Library have been enriched by many additions, 

 both in the Archaeological and Natural History Departments — thanks 

 to the kindness of several contributors, among whom we are especially 

 indebted to Lord Heytesbury for the gift of an interesting collection 

 of skulls and bones obtained from Bowles' barrow, and to the Rev. 

 H. C. Tomkins for some very valuable fossil specimens from the 

 Portland beds at Swindon. 



" The Committee desires to conclude this report by once more 

 thanking all who had helped to further the work of the Society, 

 whether by contributing to the pages of the Magazine or by donations 



