Council hope before the end of October that it will be in the hands of the members.

In conclusion, your Council will again urge the necessity of paying up all arrears of subscription, as the delay not only entails much trouble and expense on the Society and its officers, but greatly fetters its operations.

By order, (signed) H. W. SASS, Hon. Secretary.

The officers for the ensuing year were elected.

Several new members were elected.

Thanks were voted to the officers for their past year's services.

The following Papers were then read:

1. On Flint Implements found in the Drift. By J. Evans, Esq., F.S.A.

(This Paper gave rise to some discussion, in which the Rev. Thomas Hugo, M.A., F.S.A., and R. A. C. Godwin-Austen, Esq., F.G.S., took part.)

2. On the Loseley Manuscripts and Estate. By W. H. Hart, Esq., F.S.A.

Upon the Table in the Hall several of the more popularly interesting volumes of this celebrated MS. Collection were exhibited. Some Curious Pedigrees of the Families of More, or Moore, were also displayed on the walls.

Thanks were voted to the authors of the Papers read, and to the Chairman for his able conduct in the Chair.

After a brief reply from the Chairman, the Meeting adjourned.

Luncheon was provided in the grounds by the kindness of the President of the day.

The company then proceeded to Compton Church, and from thence to the Almshouses and Chapel belonging to the Carpenters' Company at Godalming; and to Godalming Church, a Paper on which was read by Alfred Heales, Esq., F.S.A.

Dinner was provided at the Town Hall, Godalming, at which Mr. More Molyneux presided. About 120 members and their friends sat down.

LINGFIELD.

THE NINTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Society was held at Lingfield, on Thursday, October 16th, 1862, under the presidency of GRANVILLE LEVESON GOWER, Esq.

The members and their friends assembled at the Godstone Road Station, and from thence proceeded to Crowhurst Church, which, by the permission of the Rev. George Wheelwright, M.A., was thrown open. A Paper was read on Crowhurst Church and Monuments, by George Russell French, Esq.

The company then proceeded, by permission of William Borrer, Esq., to Crowhurst Place, where a Paper was read by Charles Baily, Esq., on

Ancient Timber Houses, as illustrated by Crowhurst Place and other Houses in the neighbourhood.

From thence to New Place, by permission of J. Hall, Esq.

To Sterborough Castle, by the kind permission of Mr. Tonge, the interesting features of which were pointed out by J. W. Flower, Esq., and G. R. Corner, Esq.

To Lingfield Church, by permission of the Rev. James Fry, M.A., where the monuments of the Cobhams were pointed out by J. W. Flower, Esq., and a Paper was read by G, R. Corner, Esq., on Sterborough Castle and Lingfield Church.

After which the company proceeded to Lingfield School, where the Chair was taken by GRANVILLE LEVESON GOWER, Esq.

It was resolved that the operation of Rule XIII. should be suspended for this year.

After an Address from the Chairman,

The Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting, held at Loseley Park, on August 6th, 1861, were read and confirmed.

The following Report of the Council was then read :

In presenting the Report of the past year to the Ninth Annual General Meeting of the Society, the Council feel it incumbent on them to explain the cause of the Meeting being held so late in the year.

They were anxious, in accordance with a wish expressed by his Grace the late Archbishop of Canterbury, the lamented Patron of the Society, to hold a Meeting at Lambeth Palace; but, owing to his Grace's longcontinued illness and ultimate death, the Meeting was obliged to be postponed, although the tickets and programmes were printed ready for distribution. The Council then felt that it was desirable to hold a Meeting previously contemplated at Lingfield. Here, however, another unexpected delay occurred, for they were unwilling to have a Meeting until the next part of the Collections, which has been recently distributed, was in the hands of the members. Owing, however, to the unavoidable delay of artists and engravers, the part has been delayed much longer than was anticipated. They confidently hope, however, that now it is in the hands of the members, they will consider it worthy of the delay. They considered that it was essential to the interest of the Meeting that the valuable contribution by one of their body on the History of the Cobhams should be in the hands of members as a guidebook in visiting Lingfield Church.

Your Council lament sincerely the death of the Patron of the Society, His Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, and hope that they shall be able to interest the sympathies of the Primate, so that he may occupy the same position in the Society so long and so worthily filled by his predecessor.

They regret that they are unable to present the balance-sheet of the Society, owing to its not having been audited.

On the last occasion that the Society assembled, your Council reported the establishment of Monthly Evening Meetings, held at the rooms of the Society jointly with the London and Middlesex Society. They are happy to be able now to report to you that the scheme is working well,

and is self-supporting-the parent Society not having had in any way to assist in defraying the expenses. The attendance at them is on the increase, and although it can hardly be expected that a large number of Surrey members will be able to attend, they hope that for the purpose of seeing what is being done they will subscribe, and thus be enabled to receive copies of the Reports now in course of preparation.

They have only to add that they have taken an unusual course in publishing a second part of their volume without the index, title-page, &c.; but they propose to place these in a third part, which they hope will be in the hands of the members shortly, including the balance-sheet before mentioned.

They cannot conclude without alluding to the change of Collector.

Their late Collector having accepted a situation at the International Exhibition, they found it necessary to appoint Mr. Brittain instead-for this reason, many of the most punctual members of the Society have not yet paid their subscriptions. Your Council will therefore urge on all persons in arrear to pay at once, either to the Local Honorary Secretary, or at the Office of the Society.

By order, (signed) H. W. SASS, Hon. Secretary.

This Report was adopted.

The officers for the ensuing year and several new members were elected.

Thanks were voted to the officers of the past year, to the gentlemen who had read Papers at the Meeting, and to the Chairman for his kindness in presiding.

The Chairman returned thanks, and the Meeting adjourned.

ST. MILDRED'S COURT, POULTRY.

THE TENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Society was held at their ROOMS, ST. MILDRED'S COURT, on Wednesday, the 22nd July, 1863, at One P.M. for 1.30.

J. W. BUTTERWORTH, Esq., F.S.A., in the Chair.

The Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting, held at Lingfield, on October 16th, 1862, were read and confirmed.

The Honorary Secretary read the Report of the Council:

In presenting their Report to the tenth Annual General Meeting of the Surrey Archæological Society, the Council wish, in the first place, to say a few words in explanation of the course they have thought proper to adopt in summoning you to-day to this place, instead of following the practice which has been more usual-of combining the business meeting with one of the archæological excursions. It has seemed to your Council that the practice of other Societies afforded a precedent which it would be well on this occasion to follow, and that by relieving the members and visitors at the County Meeting to-morrow from the discussion of the dry details of business, more time could be devoted to the

reading of Papers, and the examination of the various interesting objects which it is intended to view.

The Council hope that the Society at large will concur with them as to the propriety of this alteration.

Your Council have to announce that Mr. Sass, the Honorary Secretary, has intimated his intention of retiring from that post, the duties of which, from the pressure of private and professional engagements, he feels no longer in a position to perform with satisfaction to himself and to the Society. Mr. Sass, however, has kindly consented to allow his name to be submitted to this Meeting for re-election on the Council, where it is hoped that his local knowledge and acquaintance with the principal members of this Society will be of great advantage to his successor in office. In making this communication, the Council cannot omit to notice the zeal which Mr. Sass has shown in arranging and superintending the various Archæological Meetings which have taken place during his connection with the Society.

The members of such an Association as ours need scarcely be reminded of the importance of the office of Honorary Secretary being filled by a gentleman of business-like habits, zeal, and ability, coupled with sufficient leisure to devote to its affairs. It is with great pleasure that your Council now announce that, in the absence of any candidate whom they could recommend for permanent appointment, one of their own body, Mr. Edward Vaughan Austin, has most kindly consented to act as Honorary Secretary for the next three months, at the expiration of which time it is hoped that some permanent arrangement may be made.

On terminating the connection with the present Honorary Secretary, it becomes necessary to provide a new locality for the reception of the Museum and Library of the Society, and for the transaction of its business. Negotiations based on a liberal offer, made by another Member of Council, are now on foot, which it is hoped may result in satisfactorily attaining this object.

Towards the end of last year the attention of the Council was first called to the fact that the accounts for the last three years had not been audited. Immediately on ascertaining this, steps were taken to remedy so serious an omission, and the Council have now the satisfaction of laying on the table for the perusal of the members, copies of the balance-sheets of the last three years, up to December 31, 1862, duly examined with the vouchers, and signed by Mr. Richardson, your Auditor for the year 1862-3, and by a member of the Financial Committee of the Council, who, in the unavoidable absence of the other Auditor, was called in to assist Mr. Richardson, who has forwarded the following Report, containing several valuable suggestions, to which the Council will give their best consideration.

Auditor's Report.

In delivering the audited accounts for the three years ending respectively Christmas, 1860, '61, and '62, I have to report :

First-That on being called upon at the commencement of the

present year to audit the accounts for 1861, I proceeded to do so; but finding that receipts had been forwarded to the several Local Secretaries for the subscribers in their districts, and that no returns of such or for previous years had been made, and the accounts otherwise not prepared, I postponed the further audit, requesting the Secretary in the meantime to procure the necessary returns of receipts from the Local Secretaries.

It being notified to me by the Secretary that my co-auditor would be unable to attend any audit until a late period in the year, I afterwards gladly availed myself of the kind offer of assistance made by Mr. Charles Spencer Perceval, whose aid, together with his knowledge of the proceedings of the Council for some time past, I found most valuable.

Second-On resuming the audit with Mr. Perceval in May, we found it necessary to examine the accounts for 1860, the year previous to that in which I had been appointed, and which proved not to have been audited. The result of the three years' audit is now before you, together with a Statement of Liabilities to Christmas, 1862.

I regret to be compelled to remark upon the absence of a proper system in keeping the accounts-no cash book, no book in which the receipts and payments of previous years have been entered for reference and as a standing record of receipts and payments-and would recommend that a Treasurer's book should be provided, and that the audited balance-sheets of the previous years should be duly entered therein.

Third-It is my opinion that the financial operations of the Society would be much facilitated if, instead of the Secretary acting also as Treasurer, as has hitherto been the case, some Member of the Council were appointed Acting Treasurer, the Secretary and Collector paying over to him all moneys received; and further, that no accounts be paid but by the Treasurer, and then only upon the authority of the Council, under the signature of the Chairman, all postage and petty cash expenses being paid quarterly, under the same authority. I would also recommend that separate receipt-books for the subscriptions be supplied to the Secretary, the Collector, and the Local Secretaries.

Fourth-As to the expenses of the Society, I have no doubt that the experience of the past two years will lead to the adoption of some plan by which much of the expense of conducting the annual county gatherings of the members may be lessened, or altogether avoided. The recent alteration in the offices of the Society will also enable the Council to reduce the annual working expenses, hitherto much out of proportion to the annual receipts.

Lastly-I feel called upon to refer to the large proportion of subscriptions in arrear. While the number of members has been reported as upwards of 500, the average of receipts for the past three years has been only from 300 members. Perhaps it will be possible in the Council to adopt some plan by which a more systematic collection of subscriptions can be made for the future, as also of the many arrears. (Signed) HENRY S. RICHARDSON.

July 21st, 1863.