Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/425

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ANNUAL MEETING. 307 process of Divination, or used like the die in a game of chance. It was formerly in tlie treasury of Tippoo Saib. The Indian horoscopes are always formed of silver ; they are calculated immediately after birth, and forthwith put on, being never removed from the person until after death. annual Mtttim, 1850. Held at Oxford, June I 8th to 25tii. The ancient city of Oxford having been selected as the scene of the Annual Assembly of the Institute, with the patronage of the Rev. the Vice- Chancellor, it appeared desirable that the proceedings should commence immediately after the festivities of the Commemoration. The inaugural meeting took place in the Sheldonian Theatre, on Tuesday, June 18. Shortly after twelve, the Marquis of Northampton, President Elect, entered the theatre, accompanied by the Vice-Chancellor and other dis- tinguished members of the Society. The Provost of Oriel then announced to the assembly that he had that morning received from the President, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, who had promised to become his guest during the meeting, the intimation that it had proved impracticable for him to quit home on the present occasion ; with the assurance of his regret to be unable, through causes of domestic anxiety, to keep his engagement, and formally resign the Presidential chair to his Noble successor. The ViCE-CnANCELLOR, Patron of the meeting, then rose and observed, that the duty appeared to devolve upon himself to present to them their new President. In inviting the Noble Marquis to take the Chair, he felt no ordinary gratification, having witnessed the proceedings of the Society under his auspices, at the meeting in Winchester, and being assured that many pi-esent would share with himself the grateful remembrance of the ability and kind consideration with which the Marquis of Northampton had conducted the interesting proceedings on that occasion. He adverted to the distinguished part which he had so ably sustained as President of another and very influential Society. He would take this occasion to offer to the Institute the assurance of most cordial welcome in the University, and of his high sense of the importance of such societies and such meetings, as that he now addressed, in encouraging an increased esteem for the memorials and monuments of the past, and cherishing the desire for their preservation. The Marquis of Northampton took the Chair : he expressed his thanks for the kindness and warm reception with which he had been repeatedly welcomed on such occasions, twice also previously in Oxford. He nnist hail such welcome with especial gratification, as shown by the members of that ancient University towards the son of another Alma Mater ; and as a striking assurance of that kindred friendliness and unanimity of purpose between the two Universities, so essential to the welfare of both. It would be an idle intrusion to advance any argument in favour of the claims of antiquarian studies, in a University which had been for centuries devoted to kindred pursuits. He rejoiced to feel assured that the Institute had become so established in the good opinion of the antiquaries of their country, that it were needless to speak in com- mendation of their puiposc, or of the results which had attended their