Society's Report. 



9 



Marquis of Lansdowne, and the large accession of new members, 

 we may venture to estimate our receipts for the ensuing year at 

 about £250. As the property of the Society has been thus increased, 

 it becomes necessary to appoint trustees in accordance with Rule 

 VI. of the Society, and a resolution to that effect will be laid before 

 the meeting. 



While thus referring in terms of congratulation to our past pro- 

 ceedings, we cannot but deeply regret the loss which the Society 

 has sustained by the death of several of its members. We may be 

 permitted to specify Mr. Bucknall Estcourt, whose family has been 

 for so many generations connected with this county, and who was 

 ever most forward in encouraging every object of local and county 

 interest. But while assembled in this city, and under the shade of 

 its venerable Cathedral, we cannot but refer in terms of the deepest 

 sorrow to the great loss which both the Society and Diocese 

 have sustained in the death of our late venerated Diocesan. It is 

 not for us in this place to speak of his many virtues as a Bishop of 

 the Church, but we cannot but regard with affectionate remembrance 

 not merely the interest which he expressed in the first establish- 

 ment of this Society, but also the many and various ways in which 

 he promoted practically one of its great objects. Our Parish 

 Churches, considered merely as architectural ornaments of our 

 county, are objects of interest to all of us ; and these our late 

 Bishop took under his especial care in instituting the Church 

 Building Society, and earnestly promoting its interests year by 

 year. To this may be added his munificent contribution to the 

 adornment of the Cathedral, by his restoration of a large part of 

 the cloisters, which were in a lamentable state of neglect and 

 decay; and the very anxious desire which he always expressed to 

 restore to its original beauty that singular specimen of the skill 

 and taste of our forefathers, our graceful Chapter House. He has 

 gone from us ; but the work on which he set his heart will be ac- 

 complished, and every one who has contributed to that, will feel 

 that he is not merely helping to restore a most exquisite work of 

 ancient art, but also to rear a memorial to one of singular piety, 

 simplicity, and disinterestedness; and one moreover who endeared 



