20 



Second General Meeting. 



drawing, and complex sentences in words, and these so excited his 

 curiosity, that he was determined to master the greatest antiquities 

 in the country; and a periodical publication that came out in 

 Paternoster Row, under the superintendance of Mr. Hogg, and 

 was circulated in sixpenny folio numbers, was the only running 

 fountain to which he could resort for refreshment. He alluded to 

 these things to show the difficulties that the student at that time 

 had to meet, as compared with his opportunities now. At the 

 present day, wherever he went — and he sometimes travelled as far 

 as Plymouth or the Land's End, — he met with an abundance of 

 old and young clergymen, of young men and maidens, with their 

 sketch-books, and archaeological vade mecums, full of information 

 and curiosities, which afforded him great delight. He was much 

 gratified to find that the young as well as the old could reap infor- 

 mation, amusement, and excitement, from the abbeys, the churches, 

 the mansions, and the monuments of the land. They had now, 

 not only in the metropolis, but almost all over the country, arch- 

 aeological and natural history societies; and he was glad to find 

 that the latter subject was blended with the former, inasmuch as 

 it went to the very foundation of archaeology. He was glad to 

 find Salisbury honoured by such a society as the one whose objects 

 they were now endeavouring to promote, and he was also glad to 

 see such assemblies as those he had witnessed on this occasion. 

 After passing some high eulogiums upon the Mayor and the Bishop 

 Mr. Britton concluded by saying — Allow me to make one more 

 remark, and that is to exhort you all zealously to promote the 

 popularity of the "Wiltshire Archaeological Society. I am myself 

 a native of the county; I was born in it in the year 1771, and 

 therefore you may tell pretty nearly what my age is. But although 

 I am an ancient Brit (t) on, I am not yet disinterred from a tumulus. 



The Chairman then proposed the health of the local Secretary, 

 Mr. Swayne, who returned thanks, and expressed himself much 

 indebted for the assistance which he had received from Mr. James 

 Nightingale. 



This terminated the proceedings of the dinner ; and it being now 

 eight o'clock the company adjourned to the council chamber, where 



