The Tenth General Meeting. 



9 



also materials may be found in abundance both in 'Aubrey,' and 

 in the various numbers of the ' Wiltshire Magazine.' By reference 

 to Mr. Poulett Scrope's first Inaugural Address, I find tlat a com- 

 plete County History was suggested as the special work of the 

 Society, and I cannot help thinking that every year we seem to be 

 getting nearer to the realization of this great object. Indeed, 

 without the Society, even the Parochial History scheme can have 

 but partial success, inasmuch as the Diocese of Sarum is not now 

 co-extensive with the county of Wilts. And a special advantage 

 that the Society presents is this, that any amendments, or additions, 

 which fresh matter may render necessary, may be first printed in 

 its Magazine, and there discussed or verified. 



" I ought not to pass over without a remark the diligence 

 sh'ewn by the Society in the branch of Natural History. The 

 Papers printed in the Magazine by Mr. Bruges Flower, on the 

 ? Flora of Wilts,' — by Mr. Poulett Scrope on its ' Geology,' — and by 

 one of the Secretaries, Mr. A. C. Smith on its ' Ornithology,' — are 

 worthy of much commendation. In fact I see work enough in 

 hand in both of the branches of study for the cultivation of which 

 the Society was formed, to last for many a long day. Each fresh 

 help in elucidating the history of the past, opening up again the 

 whole subject, and obliging the student to retrace the path he may 

 have trodden, and to correct, modify, or strengthen, by new matter 

 that from time to time is brought in, any foregone conclusions at 

 which he may have arrived. 



"This brings me to the share of work which we, the 'small fry ' 

 may accomplish, and which can hardly be done without our aid. 

 In the first place, there are many charters, referring to various 

 families or localities, which may be made available, but it is only 

 those who are interested in a given family or neighbourhood that 

 can perform the great work of bringing these evidences together, 

 and I would therefore designate as the principal of our works the 

 collecting all we can in reference to those places or families in 

 which we may have such an interest. Take, for example, Hardy's 

 ' Calendar of the Patent Rolls,' of the date of King John, and that 

 King's ' Itinerary,' worked out upon the dates of those Rolls. You 



