286 



Report for 1872. 



county, viz. : — published works, manuscripts, drawings, models, and 

 specimens ; ' and by the sixth Rule it was resolved that such 

 collections ' be deposited at Devizes/ as the most central town in 

 the County. From that time to this the Committee has never lost 

 sight of this desireable object, though it has waited the opportune 

 moment with patience, but from year to year has kept the subject 

 before the Society in the annual report, and expressed an earnest 

 desire for its realization. 



" It is therefore with no ordinary pleasure that the Committee 

 now congratulates the Society on its accomplishment, and desires to 

 express its hearty thanks to those who have been most forward in 

 the matter, amongst whom it would particularly mention the High 

 Sheriff of the County for last year (Mr. Spicer), who presided at the 

 special meeting called for the purpose, and threw himself heartily 

 into the scheme, and headed the subscription list with a munificent 

 donation : and also the Mayor of Devizes (Mr. Wittey) upon whom, 

 (in conjunction with Mr. Cunnington) has devolved the principal 

 labour of inviting the subscriptions of members, and collecting the 

 necessary funds, and to whose energy in the work our present success 

 is in great measure to be attributed. 



" To pass on to other matters : — The Committee has again the 

 pleasure of recording the general prosperity of the Society; the number 

 of names now on the books amounting to 321, or rather above the 

 number of last year ; the reduction by death, withdrawal, or removal 

 from the County being somewhat more than counterbalanced by the 

 enrolment of new members. 



" In regard to finance, your Committtee is also able to speak 

 encouragingly, inasmuch as our receipts for the past year have been 

 fully equal to our current expenditure. 



e - With respect to the Magazine, two more numbers have been 

 issued within the last twelvemonth, which we humbly venture to 

 think will bear comparision with similar publications of kindred 

 Societies : another number (the thirty-ninth, and completing the 

 thirteenth volume) is now in the press, and will, we hope, shortly be 

 in the hands of members. 



" Amongst the operations of the last twelvemonth, your Committee 



