18 



The Tenth General Meeting. 



Dr. Thurnam was then called on ; — he said that he had not prepared 

 a paper, from his many engagements, but would offer some few re- 

 marks, which he hoped would be useful, on the subject of British 

 Pottery — calling attention chiefly to the difference of shape and 

 workmanship as proving the earlier or later date of the urns and 

 other pottery found. 



Mr. Matcham then rose to suggest that the Celts were not quite 

 such " Hottentots" as the Rev. A. C. Smith had described them. 

 He thought it was quite in the range of probability that they were 

 more polished than we generally gave them credit for, traces of 

 foundations of villages being sometimes found in more regular 

 order than the straggling pits or huts spoken of. He said we were 

 more indebted to Mr. Cunnington (grandfather of the present 

 Mr. W. Cunnington), than to any other man, for the knowledge we 

 possessed of the nature and formation of British villages. 



From Mr. Matcham's view of the case Mr. W, Cunnington differed 

 in toto. He said he was sorry to differ from Mr. Matcham as an 

 Archaeologist ; but looking at the state of the Esquimaux, he 

 did not see why we should accord to the Celts some 2000 years ago 

 more skill in the art of building than to the rude dwellers of the north 

 in the present time. He then proceeded to describe a barrow which 

 was opened at Beckhampton ; after which, the President thanked 

 those gentlemen who had addressed the meeting, and the company 

 then adjourned to the different rooms to inspect the curiosities of 

 Archseology and Natural History, and in this way brought a very 

 pleasant day to a conclusion at about half-past 10 o'clock. 



SECOND DAY. WEDNESDAY, August 19th. 



The weather was extremely unpropitious, and the number of 

 excursionists accordingly limited. The first place visited was 

 Bromham Church. 



This was inspected under the guidance of the Rev. Mr. Edgell. 

 The principal feature in the church is the Beauchamp chapel. The 

 manor before the 15th century belonged to the ancient family of 

 Roche, some of whom were buried in the parish Church. About 

 the year 1410 the estate passed by the marriage of a ct>-heiress ; 



