The Report. 



293 



series of MS. notes on the 17th Century Tokens of Wiltshire, in 

 illustration of the Society's collection at Devizes. The completeness 

 of this collection has been largely increased by the purchase of such 

 specimens as we wanted from the collection of Colonel Lowsley, 

 recently dispersed. The books, containing Mr. Willis' notes, have 

 been placed in the Library, and it is suggested that further notes 

 on tokens and their issuers should be added to them from time to 

 time by those who are specially interested in the matter. 



"Although not a matter directly connected with the Society— the 

 suggested re-publication of Hoare's Modern Wilts by Mr. Simpson, 

 of Devizes, is an important enterprise which demands mention here. 

 Mr. Simpson's proposal is to publish the work in parts at 5s. a part, 

 each part to contain 136 pp. super royal 8vo, and plates. The 

 project depends on the possibility of procuring two hundred sub- 

 scribers. Those who wish to be of that number should communicate 

 with Mr. Gr. Simpson, Grazette Office, Devizes. The catalogue of 

 Portraits in the county is slowly making progress. Those at Castle 

 Combe have been admirably catalogued with excellent sketches of 

 each one of them by their owner, Mr. E. C. Lowndes. The work 

 has been also done in three other houses, and is in hand in three 

 or four more. 



" We may unite with the county and diocese in congratulations 

 upon the completion on firm and fast foundations of the work 

 undertaken on the spire of Salisbury Cathedral. Another great 

 work is about to be commenced in the restoration of that part of 

 Malmesbury Abbey which is used as a Parish Church, and subse- 

 quently in the preservation of the ruins. Time, care, and skill 

 will be required, as well as much money, to bring this undertaking 

 to the satisfactory conclusion we may hope for. During the winter 

 excavations were undertaken at Lacock on the site of the Abbey 

 Church under the direction of Mr. Talbot and Mr. Brakspear, by 

 which the dimensions of this Church, previously unknown, wore 

 ascertained. The expense is shared equally by our Society and 

 the Society of Antiquaries. The Hall at Bradford-on-Avou lias 

 obtained an unexpected notoriety by its appearance in the illustrated 

 papers as the Prince of Wales' Pavilion at tho Paris Exhibition, 



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