INAUGURAL AND OTHER GENERAL MEETINGS OF THE SOCIETY,
DURING THE YEARS 1854 AND 1855.
SOUTHWARK.
The Inauguration of the Society took place in Southwark, on Wednesday, the 12th of May, 1854.[1] Two meetings were, on that day, held at the Bridge House Hotel, at both of which the Chair was taken by Henry Drummond, Esq., M.P., F.R.S., Vice-President. The first, a Morning Meeting, was limited to Members only, its object being the formal constitution of the Society and the Election of Office-bearers. The following Report was read:—
The present being the first General Meeting of this Society, the Council take this opportunity of briefly stating the progress that has been made since its formation, and request the sanction of the Members at large to such steps as have been taken to insure its permanent welfare.
Although less than a year has elapsed since the formation of this Society, it already numbers 365 Members; and the increasing attention paid to Archæological research justifies the belief, that when its utility becomes thoroughly known, a considerable addition may be confidently expected.
With regard to the state of our finances, as the balance-sheet will not be presented until the first Annual General Meeting, the Council beg to state that—
The Capital of the Society consists of the Composition of thirty-eight Life Members
and the income of the Society derivable from the Annual Subscriptions of 327 Members, with the addition of interest on invested capital.
↑It will not, perhaps, be deemed out of place to mention that the Society was originated by Mr. George Bish Webb, the present Honorary Secretary, by whom the first Circular proposing its establishment was issued in August, 1852. No great progress was made until October, 1853, when the Provisional Committee (since become the Council) commenced their periodical Meetings. The kindness of Mr. Hesketh, in allowing these Meetings to be held at his private residence, deserves special mention.
