o62 PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF
- ' Occupied as we are in the pursuits of commerce, we are at the same
time sensible of the value of those of literature and science, in which men of all parties and of all opinions can unite with one common object to civilise and instruct mankind ; and we can appreciate the labours of your learned body in the illustration of the history of the past, and in the application of the lessons it affords.
- ' The position of this town on the frontiers of the kingdom has
exposed it, in times past, to the ravages of Border warfare, and has tended to limit the number of objects of interest which an antiquarian might reasonably expect to find in the archives of a town dating its existence from an early period of the Roman rule in Britain. But, however limited may be our means of presenting objects worthy of your attention, we offer you at least a cordial welcome. " Signed in the name of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors, " James Hodgson, Mayor. Lord Talbot de Malahide desired to assure the Mayor and Corporation of the gratification which he had received from the cordial assurance of friendly welcome, expressed with so much kindness towards the Institution of which he had the honour to be President. The pursuits of commerce, far from disqualifying those embarked in them from feeling interest in Archaeology, ought to give it greater interest ; in former times — and he saw no reason why the present time should be an exception to the rule — there had been no more liberal patrons of the arts than the municipal institutions of Britain. In ancient times the communities of Greece, which might not inappropriately be styled corporations, had encouraged and patronised the arts. In the Middle Ages every small community in Italy, and the republics of Venice, Florence, and Genoa, dispensed their patronage of the arts ; and many others had stimulated by their encouragement the striking development of artistic taste which had diffused itself throughout Europe. Municipal corporations at the present day did well to follow the example set them by past ages. If they did not hold out their hand to welcome the arts, and encourage the productions of modern artists, at least they ought — and Newcastle had set a good example — to preserve the vestiges of past times which they possessed. He could assure the Mayor that the address just read came from him with peculiar force, as all knew the distinguished part which his late respected brother had taken in Archaeological studies. Many now present could appreciate the value of the collections, to which he had devoted so many years of industrious research, in preparing an extended edition of the Britannia Romana. He had inadequately conveyed the sentiments, with which every member of the Institute must esteem the welcome, which they had the gratifica- tion to receive from the Corporation of that ancient town, where the Society had now assembled ; and he returned cordial thanks on their behalf. Mr. Blaauw then moved a vote of thanks to the retiring President, Mr. Harford, under whose auspices their meeting at Bristol in the previous year had been attended with such gratifying success. In proposing this motion, seconded by Mr. Octavius Morgan, M.P., The Noble President expressed the satisfaction with which he recalled the interesting results of their proceedings in the West, at the last assembly of the Society. On the present occasion, however, a field of more varied research and deeper interest, probably, than had hitherto been presented to
