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their local annalists, and have enlisted from
time to time the patient research of those who have felt it to be
a duty to preserve a record of the fleeting day before it is
altogether lost. But something more than these isolated efforts is
required. The spirit of co-partnership must be called into action.—there
must be an interchange of ideas—a mutual communication of
researches and of theories—in order that what is valuable may be
sifted from what is merely visionary and worthless, except in the
eyes of its own too ardent and partial discoverer. For a work of
that sort a Society of this kind is required, and I am glad that
we have at length girded up ourselves to the good work of
establishing it. Most fortunately, at the same time that we came
forward to do that, the good borough in which we are assembled
made a similar effort, by founding the Charles Museum for the
antiquities of Kent; and I am happy to see that, by a generous
spirit on both sides, an arrangement has been made by which the
two institutions will mutually subserve to the interests of each
other; so that, while this Museum becomes the head-quarters
of this Society, our meeting here will give value and reality to
the collection of antiquities found within this building. There is
one word which I do not see in this Resolution, but which I am
sure was in the minds of those who drew it up. This Resolution
calls upon Members to contribute original papers, drawings, etc.
Under that " etc." is concealed something which
is more valuable than all the original drawings in the world—I
mean photography. The invention of this art gives a new life and a
new meaning to the study of Archaeology. The very best drawing is
infinitely inferior to the realities of any building , and many of
the most interesting questions may hang on what no draughtsman's
skill can give—some peculiarity in the geology of the material,
something in the masonry, some small change in. the tone of the
material. Now all these things come within the range of
photography—that art which tells the truth, whether we wish it
to be told or not. Artists "were deceivers ever,"
whether depicting fair ladies or old buildings, but photography is
the honest friend who always comes out with the whole truth.
Therefore I hope that while people obey this Resolution by sending
original papers, they will contribute the "etc."—namely,
photographs —before they contribute drawings. Indeed, any
building, of however little" value, if it be but a farmhouse
of a hundred
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