The Annual Dinner. 



17 



THE ANNUAL DINNER, 

 took place at the King's Arms Hotel, the President in the chair, 

 when the usual loyal and complimentary toasts were given. 



In returning thanks for the Bishops and Clergy of the two 

 Dioceses of Salisbury, and Gloucester and Bristol, the Vicar of 

 Malmesbury, the Rev. G. Windsor Tucker, said, " there was a 

 time in which the Bishops of Salisbury and Gloucester and Bristol, 

 were not quite so amicable as they now were. Or rather he might 

 say there was a time in which the Bishop of Salisbury was a very 

 troublesome man in Malmesbury. He was speaking in the presence 

 of those who were acquainted with the History of the town of 

 Malmesbury, and there were many years in which the Bishop of Salis- 

 bury endeavoured to merge the Abbey in the see of Salisbury. 

 Happily, those days of contention had long since passed, and now 

 they were able to sleep under their own vines and fig trees in Malmes- 

 bury, without any fear of the terrible Roger of Salisbury. On behalf 

 of the town and district he repeated his welcome to the Society, and 

 assured them that the clergy of the district regarded their visit with 

 great interest, and would have great pleasure in enabling the Society 

 to see what was worth seeing in the Churches of that neighbourhood." 



The Rev. C. Soames, after returning thanks for the Lord Lieu- 

 tenant and Magistrates of the County, proposed the health of the 

 President. As a legislator in the House of Commons, Lord Edmond 

 had gained a distinguished place and made a great mark, while as 

 a person taking a great interest in the public affairs of the county 

 he was so well known and so much respected, that it was a matter of 

 no surprise but of great satisfaction to everyone to find that he was 

 likely to make as distinguished a mark as an archaeologist. 



Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice said, speaking in a Wiltshire town, 

 to a Wiltshire audience, at a Wiltshire Archaeological Meeting, he 

 would dwell upon none but home topics. It had given him the 

 greatest pleasure to be able to come there that day. Last year he 

 was prevented from performing his duties as president of the Society, 

 because last year, by an unfortunate coincidence that sometimes 

 would occur, the Lords' amendments to the Irish Land Bill came 

 down to the House of Commons on the very day fixed for their 

 vol. xxi. — no. lxi. c 



