Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 1.djvu/317

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THE BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION.
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informed husbandman, nor the heads of the Church with the unpresuming lay-brother. A cairn or a barrow would make them companions; and as we have hinted with respect to minds imbued with and regulated by a love of research and similarity of intelligence, there would not be the slightest risk of undue or incongruous intrusion.

In connection with the Museum a Library would be indispensable; and it is reasonable to expect, from donations, that it would speedily be one of valuable reference: and, as in the formation of the Museum, an exchange of duplicates might add greatly both to its establishment and increase. But it will be said, that though these may be desiderata, they must be attended with cost; and where are the funds to come from? In answer, I would state that the Club, even at a moderate entrance-fee and annual subscription, in comparison with other clubs in London, would well support itself. But as an adjunct I would suggest that every member who frequented the Museum and Library, should pay ten shillings for every year he availed himself of their resources. Perhaps it might further be deserving of consideration how far the social accommodations of the Club could be placed at the disposal of members visiting the metropolis from the country, and seeking at the same time to consult what the association had accumulated, and to mingle more freely with the associates in town than they could do if scattered in hotels and lodging-houses. Supposing that out of the vast number of gentry, clergy, and provincial antiquaries, with whom we are courting a steady inter- communication, there are hundreds who only come to London occasionally and for brief periods, it is not easy to overrate the pleasure and economy of such accommodation as could thus be readily provided, with saving to them individually, and profit to the funds of the general body.

In the event of these hints being adopted and acted upon, the yearly revenues of the Association would be large enough to bear the expense of antiquarian operations upon a greater scale than could otherwise be undertaken. There would be

1. The voluntary subscriptions.

2. The guinea subscriptions at the anniversaries.

3. The ten shillings for the use of museum and library.

4. The entrance-fee for the club: say five guineas.

5. The annual payments to it: and

6. The occasional payments of country visiters.