The Right Hon. Sidney Herbert's Address. 3 



yesterday that lie must be a most accomplished archaeologist to have 

 selected such an admirable style of architecture as that observable 

 in the splendid new church which he has erected in that town. 

 (Cheers). I will not attempt to notice his personal claims upon the 

 Society, or to allude for one moment to the high position he occupies 

 with respect to the south of the county, inasmuch as his character 

 is so well known, and in such high repute amongst all the inhab- 

 itants of the district. Apologising for trespassing upon you at this 

 length, I will now conclude by asking you to approve of the proposal 

 I have made, — namely that the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, be 

 requested to occupy this chair as President of the meeting. (Loud 

 cheers). 



The Rev. J". E. Jackson seconded the proposition, which was 

 agreed to unanimously. 



The Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, M.P., having taken the chair, 

 addressed the assembly to the following effect: — Ladies and 

 gentlemen — In taking the chair of this meeting I have to thank 

 my friends Mr. Poulett Scrope and Mr. Jackson, for their kindness 

 in introducing me to your notice ; and I must also ask you to excuse 

 my deficiences as an antiquary, in undertaking the task of presiding 

 over an antiquarian meeting. But although I cannot myself claim 

 any learned acquaintance with the subjects which we have met to 

 discuss, yet I have naturally, in common with every one in this room, 

 a great interest in those objects of antiquity with which we are 

 surrounded, and in which the Southern part of the county of Wilts 

 is especially rich. (Hear, hear). I am extremely glad that the 

 Society has migrated upon this occasion from the north to the south, 

 thereby giving us an opportunity of showing to our northern 

 brethren how rich are the records of some of the darkest as well as 

 some of the most enlightened and stirring periods of our history 

 which we possess in this neighbourhood. (Applause). Now I have 

 heard it stated that these Societies are of but very little use ; and 

 ridicule has often pointed at the somewhat trivial subjects upon 

 which a minute and microscopic attention is occasionally fixed by 

 archseologists ; but I must recall to the minds of those who are 

 disposed to cavil at our proceedings, that these things, however 



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