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The Mount, Shrewsbury (where Darwin was born)

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Old Shrewsbury School (where Darwin was educated)...

Lagoon Island

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Down House (where Darwin lived for forty years)

The Greenhouse at Down

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Standard Brass Weight, dug up at Newport, Co. Salop

Autographs-Thomas Asheton. Oliver

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Mathews.

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Plan, &c., of the Chapel at Felton near Ludlow

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THE Council of the Shropshire Archeological and Natural History Society in presenting their Report for the past year congratulate the members on the highly satisfactory character of the Transactions, which, owing to the admirable papers that continue to be received and the able editorship of the Rev. W. A. Leighton, maintain their position as worthy of the Society.

Advantageous exchanges of Transactions have been made with the following Societies:

Cumberland and Westmoreland Archæological and Antiquarian
Society.

Essex Field Club.

London and Middlesex Archæological Society.

Powys-Land Club.

Society of Antiquaries of London.

Surrey Archæological Society.

Leicester Architectural and Archæological Society.

Somerset Archæological Society.

Royal Archæological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland.

Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

Sussex Archæological Society.

Yorkshire Archæological and Topographical Association.

As the time has nearly arrived for transferring our valuable museum to the Old School Buildings, purchased by the joint committee, comprising members of the Shrewsbury Town Council and members of this Society, with funds generously contributed by the Town and County, it may not be out of place to briefly recall its past history. By a happy coincidence next year will be the jubilee year of its foundation. In June, 1835, the first donation, consisting of several fine specimens of fossil plants, was presented by the late Dr. Du Gard, and in the following November the late Venerable Archdeacon Butler, D.D., F.R.S., &c., then Master of Shrewsbury School, and afterwards Lord Bishop of Lichfield, the first president, delivered the inaugural address. A code of rules was drawn up and the name, "The Shropshire and

North Wales Natural History and Antiquarian Society," was adopted. Contributions in all branches of Natural History and Archæology flowed freely in, as well as necessary funds, so that in one year from its commencement an excellent collection was formed, and the list of members contained 189 names, amongst which were to be found the most eminent men of the neighbourhood, the greater part of whom, alas! have passed away, while a few remain to afford us their help and counsel, notably our honorary editor, the Rev. W. A. Leighton and T. B. Barrett, Esq., of Welshpool, many of whose valuable gifts adorn the cases of our Museum. In 1876, by the energetic efforts of Mr. W. H. Adnitt, supported by several members of the old Society, a new Society was organized under the name of the "Shropshire Archæological Society," for the printing of the historical, ecclesiastical, genealo. gical, topographical, geological, and literary remains of Shropshire, and for other purposes, which, in a short time, numbered more than 200 members, at once proving the necessity for the existence of such a Society. It was found, however, that the objects and aims of these two Societies had so much in common that they effected an amalgamation in 1877, adopting the name of "The Shropshire Archæological and Natural History Society."

We are now about to enter upon a new era, during which the Society will confine itself exclusively to the publication of its Transactions, having handed over to the Corporation for public use the whole of its fine collections, the accumulation of nearly 50 years, together with the cases in which they are contained, and the Council would here express an earnest hope that as ample space will be available in the Old School Buildings for the display of Archæological and Natural History products of the county, those who possess any objects of interest in any of these departments will do what they can to enrich the collection. The following donations have been received during the past year :Askew Roberts, Esq.-Bye-gones relating to Oswestry, Wales, and the Border Counties, 1883.

T. B. Barrett, Esq.-Glass Models, illustrating some of the lower forms of marine zoology, some beautiful casts of rare fossils, some beautiful models, also casts of Assyrian gems.

H. Shaw, Esq.-Tooth of large Shark, Carcharadon angustidens.
Rev. M. J. Berkeley, F.L.S., F.R.S.-Numerous specimens of British

Mosses

W. Matthew, Esq.-Japanese Mirrors.

Geo. Grazebrook, Esq., F.S.A.--A curious Autotype of on ancient charter and etchings of Apley and Clent Church, Worcestershire.

Wm. Wilding, Esq.-A catalogue of an old chained library, with a paper describing some of the more remarkable of the books,

C. B. Price, Esq.-A nine-pounder cannon ball, found at the corner of Chester Street, supposed to have been shot from the Castle.

Rev. Canon Butler, Rev. T. A. Preston, and others.-Numerous dried plants for the herbarium, comprising about 1,500 species from Canada, New Zealand, Brazil, China, S. Europe, and elsewhere.

In consequence of the Transfer of the Museum to the Corporation of Shrewsbury, it becomes necessary to amend the Rules, and the following will be submitted for approval at the next Annual Meeting:

·

1.-This Society shall be called the "Shropshire Archæological and Natural History Society," and shall consist of not more than 300 members.

2.-The objects of the Society shall be carried out with the honorary assistance of the Members, and the funds of the Society shall be disbursed in printing and illustrating such papers as shall be contributed by the members and others; searching for and transcribing public records; the promotion of the study of the Natural and General History of the District; and for the necessary expenses of the Society.

3.-The members shall have the entire management and control of the affairs of the Society; and the Council, as delegated by them, shall transact all its ordinary business.

4.-The Council shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Society, and shall consist of a President, Vice-Presidents, Editor, Treasurer, Secretary, and other officers, and not less than twelve other Members, all or any of whom shall be eligible for re-election. Should any vacancy occur in the Council, it may be provisionally filled up by the Council.

5. The Subscription of each Member shall be paid in advance on the 26th June in each year to the Secretary or Treasurer, and shall be the annual sum of One Guinea,

6.-A General Meeting of the Members shall be held annually in October, at such place as the Council shall appoint. The Council shall have power to call Special General Meetings, of which the Secretary shall give a week's notice to the Members.

7.-Contributors of papers shall be entitled to twelve separate copies of such papers if printed in the volumes of the Society.

8. Every member will be entitled to one copy of the annual volume issued by the Society for that year.

9.-The property of the Museum shall be considered to be vested in the Trustees appointed from time to time by the Society.

10.The Council shall be authorised to give orders on the Treasurer for all payments, and, with the consent of the Free Library Committee, to make exchanges of specimens with other Societies or individual collectors.

11.-The Council may appoint Honorary Curators, who shall have the charge of the several departments of the Museum.

12. The Council may elect as an Honorary Member any person eminent in Archæological or Natural Science.

13. No alteration shall be made in the rules of the Society except at the Annual Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose,

Since the foregoing Report was presented to the General Meeting, the Museum has been transferred to the Corporation of Shrewsbury, and located in the Old Free Grammar School Buildings under the following conditions sealed with the Corporate Seal.

Conditions on which the Shropshire Archæological and Natural History Society propose to place the contents of its Museum in the hands of the Corporation of Shrewsbury, for public use, agreed to at the Annual General Meeting of Members, The Right Hon. the Earl of Bradford, in the Chair.

1.-The Corporation shall provide in the Old Grammar School Buildings for the display of the Collection, and bear the expense of lighting, warming, cleaning, and keeping in repair the rooms allotted for this purpose, and also bear the expense of the removal of the Collection.

2.-Free Admission to be afforded to the public to view the Collection, at such time as shall be hereafter determined by the Managers appointed by the Corporation under the Free Libraries' Act.

3.-The classification and arrangement of the Collection to be made by Honorary Curators appointed to the several departments of which it consists, by the Council of the Archæological and Natural History Society for the time being, but should the Council neglect or refuse to appoint such Honorary Curators, the Corporation may take upon itself the duty of appointing competent persons to do the work.

4.-The Corporation to appoint an Attendant or Custodian to be in charge of the Collection.

5.-The Collection to be vested in the following Trustees, viz-The Right, Hon, the Earl of Bradford, Stanley Leighton, Esq., M.P., Rev, Canon Butler, Rev. W. A. Leighton, Rev. T. Auden, J. R. Humphreys, Esq., Mr. William Phillips, and Mr. Adnitt, appointed by and for the Archæological and Natural History Society, but these Trustees shall not have power to remove the Collection under any pretence whatever, so long as it is properly cared for by the Corporation, and the herein-named Conditions are complied with.

6. Should the Shropshire Archæological and Natural History Society become insolvent, or be unable to carry out the objects for which it was established, or cease to exist, the whole Collection shall pass into the absolute possession of the Corporation, for the use of the public.

7.-The Collections herein-named shall be understood to comprise all objects of Archæology, Natural History and Art, together with the cases in which they are kept, contained in the Shrewsbury Museum, now at College Hill, except the printed and written Books, with the cases containing them. These printed and written Books shall, however, be handed over to the Corporation on similar conditions, provided a Library of Reference (ie., Books not removable) be established in the same building by the Corporation, of which such Books shall then form a part.

ANNUAL EXCURSION OF THE SHROPSHIRE ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

THE annual excursion of the Shropshire Archæological Society took place on Wednesday, June 25th, 1884, and was a very great success. The weather was most suitable, and on no previous occasion was it so very enjoyable, and nothing occurred to mar in the slightest degree the pleasure of those who took part in it. The place of meeting was Montgomery Station, at which carriages, with ample accommodation, were found awaiting the train at 11.44 a.m. The first historic site noted was the ancient tumulus, called Hên Domen, on the left-hand side of the road, and Ffridd Faldwin, a British fortification on the right; the remains of the ancient walls of Montgomery were also seen near the row dismantled gaol. On leaving the carriages the party ascended by a sloping path to the Castle, where the few remaining walls and towers excited much interest. Here a splendid view was obtained of the

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