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President's Address. 



all in our turn become archaeologists, and try to unravel the web 

 which inexorable time has thrown over the history of the past : and 

 though we may not succeed in our labours to the extent of those 

 gTeat antiquaries who have secured so much for us, yet we may even 

 aspire to assist them by our efforts. And here I should like to pause 

 a .moment, and pay a tribute of respect to the memory of three of our 

 members who have died since our last meeting. I cannot mention 

 the name of Sir Thomas Phillips without saying that to him we owe 

 the possession of one of the greatest collections of manuscripts which 

 any one man at his own cost ever made. (Hear, hear.) To the wit, 

 intellect and urbanity of the Rev. Prebendary Fane all who knew 

 him can well testify. (Applause.) We shall find a charming paper 

 written by him for the Wilts Awe Magazine, (vol. iii. p. 47) on 

 Edington Church which we hope to visit in our itinerary. The 

 assistance which the Rev. E. Wilton has given to this Society will 

 cause him to be remembered as an able archaeologist, while his gentle, 

 loving kindness shall keep his memory fresh in our hearts. (Applause.) 

 We do not forget the labours of existing antiquaries and are very 

 thankful for their contributions to our Magazine. To the assistance 

 of our excellent Secretaries with their untiring zeal, displayed in all 

 they do, and for all the excellent local as well as county support, do we 

 owe our chief success. I might here perhaps allude to the Government 

 Historical Commission, which has for its object the elucidation of 

 history by a careful examination of papers and documents, which for 

 the most part have remained until now shut up in the muniment 

 rooms of our great county families, and to which, very rightly, access 

 could never have been had, except through responsible persons. The 

 Commission has visited Wiltshire, and Lord Arundell of Wardour 

 has most kindly thrown his store open to them. In their report 

 No. 2 is given a list of the principal papers at Wardour. The 

 Marquis of Bath has also allowed his fine collection of manuscripts 

 and historical documents to be examined, and without a doubt a 

 summary of them will be given in their next report. Through the 

 energy of Mr. Layard, when first Commissioner of Works, a special 

 committee was appointed to draw up and submit to Parliament " a 

 list of such regal and other historical tombs or monuments existing 



