The Royal Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland began its annual meetings at Carlisle on Tuesday. Lord Talbot de Malahide, President of the Institute; Mr. Freeman, the historian of the Norman Conquest, who presides over the historical section; M. Evans, who presides over the antiquities section; and Mr. Beresford-Hope, who is President of the architecture section; the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Dr. Collingwood Bruce, Precentor Venables, Mr. Tucker (Somerset Herald), and other archaeologists are among those attending the meeting.
The opening address was delivered by the Bishop of Carlisle as president of the meeting. He dwelt at length upon the interesting nature of the antiquarian and archaeological associations of the city of Carlisle, which a high authority (Mr. Freeman) had said "stands out beyond that of almost any other English city on the surface of English history." He said the time had gone by in which archaeology could be confounded with antiquarianism of the Monkbarns type. We recognise that archaeology, being in reality the science of past time, was the basis of history, of politics, even, in a certain sense, of religion itself.
Lord Talbot, in moving a vote of thanks to the Bishop of Carlisle for his address, intimated his intention to retire from the presidency of the institute. Having now occupied that position about thirty years, he thought he had earned his retirement. Mr. Freeman expressed regret at the announcement, and hoped it was not too late for Lord Talbot to consider the matter. His Lordship replied that he would not desert the institute in a pinch, but he asked them to take his case into consideration. The proceedings of the meeting were thus brought to a close.
A perambulation of the city was afterwards made, and several places of interest visited.
The Mayor of Carlisle, Mr. R. S. Ferguson, gave a conversazione in the evening, at which Mr. Freeman read an interesting paper upon the position of Carlisle in history. Wednesday was devoted to excursions in the Penrith district.
Some Illustrations of places visited are given in our Supplement of this week; and the series will be continued in our next publication.
The thirty-seventh annual meeting of the Cambrian Archeological Association has been held at Llanrwst this week. There was a public meeting at the Grammar School on Monday evening, when professor Babington, the president, gave his opening address. On the four following days excursions were made to places of interest.
The Sussex Archeological Society will make their annual excursion next Thursday, visiting Midhurst, Rogate, and South Harting.
Source: The Illustrated London News, No.2257—Vol. LXXXI, Saturday, August 5, 1882, p.139