248 



The Sixth General Meeting. 



"Still, however, it must not be lost sight of, that our object being 

 to attract the assistance and sympathy of all who feel an interest 

 in the past history and natural productions of our county, and our 

 earnest desire being to embrace within our ranks all who have 

 these things at heart, and can aid us in their several localities, we 

 are most desirous of enlarging the list of our members to a yet 

 farther extent. We hope to induce many more to join us who at 

 present keep aloof from a most mistaken notion that our Society is 

 a very learned and scientific body, whereas it proposes nothing 

 more for its objects than the investigation of little-known facts, 

 the elucidation of half-forgotten occurrences, the collecting infor- 

 mation about past generations, and some insight into the Natural 

 History of the county in all its branches. In effecting this, such 

 a Society can only hope to be thoroughly successful through the 

 instrumentality of many scattered throughout the several parishes ; 

 and therefore it cordially invites the assistance of all who feel dis- 

 posed to combine for this worthy object — viz., investigation of the 

 past and natural History of Wilts. 



"Our finances claim your particular notice, for though apparently 

 — and in reality — in a very flourishing condition, they are much 

 hampered, and considerable inconvenience and loss caused, by many 

 members neglecting to pay their subscriptions regularly, the ar- 

 rears of which, for past years, still amount to a considerable sum, 

 notwithstanding the earnest appeal on this matter in the Eeport 

 of last year. 



" Your Committee would next direct your attention to our library 

 and museum at Devizes, both of which are daily available to mem- 

 bers of the Society ; and to the augmentation, and consequently 

 increased usefulness of which, we confidently look forward, by 

 donations of books and specimens, illustrating the two objects we 

 have in view — viz., the Archaeology and Natural History of the 

 county. Both the library and museum have been enriched by 

 many valuable contributions since last year. The Society has also 

 received additions to their collection of Wiltshire tokens from seve- 

 ral kind friends ; a complete catalogue of the coins issued by Wilt- 

 shire tradesmen has been printed in the Magazine, and the Com- 



