Society's Report. 



7 



liberty of making. Those who come after me will be able to do 

 much more than I can to teach and instruct you upon the subjects 

 into which we are met to enquire. I will not detain you any longer, 

 except to observe that before proceeding to discuss any points which 

 may be brought under our notice, there is some business of the Society 

 to be transacted ; and first of all I will call upon the Rev. Mr. Lukis, 

 one of the Secretaries, to read the annual report of the Society. 

 (The right hon. gentleman then resumed his seat amidst loud 

 applause) . 



The Eev. Mr. Lukis then read the following 

 ^REPORT. 



The Committee of the Wilts Archseological and Natural History 

 Society has great pleasure in laying before the members an account 

 of its progress during the past year, and in congratulating them on 

 its present position. 



It is a subject of great satisfaction that we have received a steady 

 increase in the number of our members. At our inaugural meeting 

 last year they amounted to 137; at the present moment they have 

 by gradual additions reached the number of 281. 



It is hardly to be expected, in a county more remarkable for the 

 interest attaching to its antiquarian remains than for the number 

 or wealth of its population, that such additions to our members 

 should be otherwise than gradual. And comparing our own pro- 

 gress with the efforts which had previously been made, almost in vain, 

 to promote the same object, we have certainly good reason to be 

 well satisfied with the position in which we stand. 



This progress may be in a measure attributed to the circulation 

 of our magazine among those classes who were unacquainted with 

 the Society, or indifferent to its success. The cheap form in which 

 it is put forth, renders it accessible to many who would be unable 

 to purchase a larger or more expensive volume. 



We trust that our members will not be unwilling to contribute 

 to its pages merely because they have not the leisure or the ability 

 to furnish lengthened papers; for almost every one may make use 



