PKEFATORY   NOTICE.
 

In the following pages will be found  a concise description of the collection

formed  in  the  Temporary  Museum, during  the recent meeting  of  the

Archaeological  Institute  at  Gloucester.    I  have willingly acceded to a

desire,  expressed by many  visitors, that some  lasting record should  be

preserved of  an assemblage  of antiquities  and examples of  ancient  or

mediaeval art,  in great part connected with  the locality, and  which had

been viewed with  interest  and gratification,  perhaps  unequalled  on any

previous occasion.   The cheering results of our endeavours  in  these  annual

gatherings  have shown more and more,  in  each successive year, how ac¬

ceptable and  how  truly  appreciated  are collections  of  this description,

combined in  such instructive classification  and chronological series  as time

and circumstances may permit.   Whilst the most generally attractive features

of such exhibitions may,  doubtless, be  thus more  immediately associated

with  the illustration of local districts in bygone times, we  cannot fail to

recognize a still higher interest when these collections are viewed as evidence

auxiliary to National History,  and as  opening, not  unfrequently, a fresh

page in the unwritten annals of human existence.

  I gladly avail myself of the occasion  to renew the  expression of hearty

thanks  to those persons by  whose liberality the Museum at our Gloucester

meeting was  enriched;  and through whose  friendly  confidence so many

precious objects of Art  and Antiquity were  entrusted  to us for a purpose

of public gratification and instruction.

   It  is with pleasure  that I would also  here acknowledge  the  valued

co-operation  of friends  whose willing aid is  ever readily  given  on these

occasions.  I must  specially  mention Mr.  Charles Tucker,  the accomplished

Director of  the Society of Antiquaries, Mr. Franks,  the Rev. James Beck,

and Mr. Edmund  Water-ton, through  whose  unwearying  exertions  and

judicious arrangements the Temporary Museum  at Gloucester—the fifteenth

formed  at  the successive  Annual Meetings  of  the Institute—has  proved

productive  of so much general  satisfaction.

                                                  ALBEET  WAY.

  Apartments of the Archaeological Institute,

    26, Suffolk Street, Pall Mall, London.