The Eighth General Meeting. 



sure, however, that no person present would be inclined to find fault 

 with the arrangement, because the death of Lord Herbert pressed 

 too heavily on the minds and hearts of all who lived in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Wilton to enable them to come to Shaftesbury and take 

 part in the ordinary business of the Association. He felt that he 

 could not let this occasion pass without a few remarks on the sad 

 cause which had occasioned that adjournment. He believed, that 

 within his own recollection, no event had occurred in England 

 which had called forth with so unanimous a voice such an unmis- 

 takeable proof of national sympathy as the withdrawal from among 

 us of that good and excellent man. They had no doubt read the 

 comments in the publications of the day, which had vied with each 

 other in pointing out particular parts of his extraordinary and 

 admirable career. He might appeal to all present whether the tone 

 of those remarks in pointing out the excellence of character of the 

 late Lord Herbert, was not the same in all the publications ; and 

 although the expressions of respect and esteem might vary, the spirit 

 of the remarks was the same. When we consider the manner in 

 which a man like Pitt was early cut off in the midst of a useful 

 public career, we cannot but feel some amount of regret ; and when, 

 as in the case of the late Duke of Wellington, we see a man of 

 great age taken from us who has reached the highest honours of 

 the State, our regret is somewhat diminished ; but in the case of 

 Lord Herbert, who was so universally beloved by his family and 

 friends, so respected by all who knew him, and so honoured b3 r the 

 kingdom at large, it is impossible not to feel the deepest cause for 

 sorrow at the termination of his useful and remarkable career. 

 Those, however, who were present on this occasion felt that the death 

 of Lord Herbert was more than a public loss. They knew him as 

 the President of the Wiltshire Archaeological Association, and he, 

 (the Chairman) felt that he was now addressing an audience made 

 up of neighbours who knew him personally. He had known Lord 

 Herbert for thirty years as a personal friend. He well recollected 

 the first time when he saw him, a boy of eight or nine years of age, 

 with his graceful form, his expressive eyes, and his elegant bearing. 



