12 Second General Meeting. 



unceasing diligence which so marked the labours of our ancestors. 

 Perhaps we are not aware what hours the archaeologists of old spent 

 in every monastery in this country in writing those valuable books 

 which now contain, it may be, the records of all our past history. 

 We are often tempted, in these days, to think only lightly of the 

 labour which our forefathers devoted to such subjects ; but we have 

 only to read the works of the great archaeologists — such for example 

 as Dr. Maitland — to see how the presumptuous ignorance of 

 these times must wither under the scorn of a great man like 

 him. We shall find that the former times and seasons of which 

 people are apt to speak so contemptuously were marked by the 

 greatest intellects — the most persevering labours — and the greatest 

 discoveries. But surely we must also look upon the operations of 

 societies like this in reference to their moral results. It is a most 

 admirable thing to bind ourselves more and more closely with the 

 labours of past generations, in order that we may think less of our 

 own endeavours, and feel more indebted to the labours of others. 

 Perhaps it is a striking fault of the present generation that we are 

 led to value ourselves too highly ; and nothing will tend more, I 

 believe, to bring us into due order upon this point than to study 

 with care and exactness what was accomplished by our forefathers. 

 At any rate the thoughts which moved and actuated the people of 

 the 16th century, should be an inducement, in an age when these 

 things are nearly forgotten, to restore a taste for them by establishing 

 a Society of Antiquaries on a permanent footing. An endeavour 

 to accomplish this end was made by Archbishop Parker, about 1572, 

 when he — fearing lest history itself should perish under the careless 

 disregard of former generations — was led to inaugurate a society 

 for the express purpose of preserving the sacred records. That 

 endeavour was for a considerable time marked with great success — 

 and on looking at the list of those who were members of that society 

 you will find two names, one of which is well known in this city, 

 and the other in the northern part of the county — I mean the names 

 of Mr. Lambert, and Mr. Heneage. The labours of Archbishop 

 Parker were soon foiled, for he was suspected of having secret objects 

 and designs quite distinct from archaeological pursuits; but never- 



