Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/467

 THE AUCPIAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 403 were informed, had been coninienced for its purchase on behalf of a foreign museum, and a much larger price than had been named might readily have been obtained. The " Faussett Collection" had, however, not quitted England, having been rescued through the spirited liberality of Mr. Mayer of Liverpool, where it is gratifying to feel assured that its value will be fully appreciated. Meanwhile, the disappointed visitor of the " British Room " and its unfurnished cases, must seek in vain for that desired information regarding one of the most interesting periods of Arcliacological investigation, ■which the rejected Kentish Collections were admirably suited to supply. - It is pleasant to tnrn from the disappointed hopes of English archaeolo- gists to the success and earnestness with which the exertions of many local societies, mostly in friendly relations with the Institute, have been prosecuted. Amongst the numerous provincial institutions, those in Wilts, in Surrey, and in Somersetshire, have made vigorous advance during the past year ; the East Anglian archaeologists also have sustained their fair fame in the field of our common labours ; contributions to Archaeological literature have been published in various cpiarters. The establishment of a Diocesan Architectural Society in Worcester has been carried out under very favour- able auspices. It becomes again the painful duty of the Conmnttee to allude to the losses sustained by the Institute since the last annual assembly, and to pay a last tribute of regard and respect to many whose friendly co-operation or encou- ragement had cheered our progress. W^ith great regret must be named first, amongst the patrons whose memory will be held in grateful estimation, the noble president of our meeting at Lincoln, Viscount Brownlow, whose kind- ness and courtesy augmented the general gratification of proceedings which, under his favourable auspices and influence, proved so successful. Amongst our earliest supporters, whose lives have terminated during the past year, we number with sorrow several distinguished names in the sister University, — the late President of Brasenose, Dr. Harington, the Dean of Wells, the Rector of Exeter, Dr. Richards, all of whom were horiorary members of the Central Committee. We must record also with sincere regret, the loss of our kind patron at the meeting in Wiltshire, the late Bishop of Salisbury ; — of the patron of another meeting, the Bishop of Bath aiul W^ells ; — and of the lamented Lord Colborne, a nobleman of remarkable attainments and cultivated taste, whose friendly encouragement on the occasion of the meeting at Norwich must be remembered with gratification. There is none, however, whose untimely removal from a sphere of useful and intellectual exertions is more heartily to be deplored, than the late Mr. Holmes, of the British Museum, a member of our Central Committee ; a loss severely felt by many friends, who appreciated his valuable and kindly qualities not less than the extent of his information in - The subject of this inexjilieahle dcci- and thoir ultimate resolution to insert in sion by tlie Trustees was brought before the Parliamentary Estimate for jmrchases Parliament, and Copies of Reports and of aniiquities the sum of 3o00^. in lieu of Communications were ordered to be 4000/. proposed by the Viscount Mahon, pi'inted, June 9, on the motion of Mr. and doubtless intended by the noble Pre- Kwart. The Memorials adih'cssed by sident of the Society of Antiquaries to the Institute will there be found at length, comprise the acquisition of the Faussett as also the strong reconmiendation of the Collection. This Parliamentary Paper purchase by Mr. Hawkins, Keeper of (British Museum, No. ^.'l?), is well-destrv- the Antiquities, the alleged excuse that ii)g of perusal by those « ho arc interested their Trustees had " no sufficient funds^" in this extraordinary transaction. VOL. XI. 3 (i