Report for 1871. 



221 



Sir John Awdry opened the proceeding's by calling on the Rev. 

 A. C. Smith, (one of the general Secretaries,) to read the Report. 



REPORT FOR 1871. 

 "The Committee of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural 

 History Society must begin its annual report by lamenting the loss 

 of many members from their ranks by death, and removal from the 

 county. Amongst the former, we must especially mention as amongst 

 our earliest members, Mr. Conolly, of Cottles ; the Rev. Joseph 

 Medlicott, of Potterne ; Mr. John Noyes, of London; the Rev. 

 Edward Wilton, of Lavington, one of our earliest and most diligent 

 supporters ; and last but by no means least, Mr. F. C. Lukis, of 

 the Grange, Guernsey, the father of our late Secretary, and whose 

 antiquarian researches and knowledge, are too generally known to 

 need expression here. The number of names now on the books 

 amounts to 319. 



" Financially the Society's position is favourable, showing an in- 

 crease above last year of about £20. 



" With regard to the labours of the past year. The Committee 

 takes the earliest opportunity of assuring its members that though 

 from circumstances to which it will presently refer, it has not during 

 the past year been so prominently before the public as usual, it has 

 not been idle in regard to its duties. 



" The annual meeting had been for some time contemplated, and 

 arrangements were on the point of being made in an eligible centre 

 of North Wilts, when the fixtures for the autumn of 1871 of other 

 kindred societies in the neighbouring counties seemed to overpower 

 our local gathering, and to render its abandonment for the current 

 year advisable. 



"The issue of No. 37 of the Magazine, which should have been 

 published in the summer, was delayed by unavoidable circumstances; 

 but the succeeding number is now being pushed on as rapidly as 

 possible, and if no unforeseen hindrances occur, the editors expect 

 that it will within a very short time be in the hands of members. 



"The threatened profanation of the great circle at Avebury, by 

 the building of villas within the area, and the destruction ofsomoof 



