Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/262

ON THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH-WESTERN PORTION OF ENGLAND.^[1]

By the LORD HENRY SCOTT, MP.

In delivering; to you the opening address as President of the Historical Section of this Meeting of the Archaeological Institute, 1 feel there are so many who are far more competent than I am to initiate the interesting discourses which will be delivered in this section during the ensuing week, and whose historical knowledge and research fit them rather than myself to occupy this chair, that some apology is due to you for the position I occupy by the invitation of the Institute. It is more, therefore, as one holding a certain position in the county which is visited by the Institute, desirous of building it welcome and assisting to promote its success, that I appear here as your President ; and asking your indulgence for the short-comings which I know must accompany it, I will endeavour to put before you this slight historical sketch which I have prepared.

In performing the duty I have undertaken, I feel that I labour under a great disadvantage : it should have devolved on one who has been born and bred in this Royal county, who has grown up amidst its local history, and whose mind has been from youth filled with its traditions. I yield to none, however, in the interest I feel in the county of my adoption, in which I have a home, perhaps one of the most historically interesting and picturesquely beautiful within its borders.

To put even this slight sketch before you, I have had to search for materials in such books as were accessible, and greatly have I regretted in this study to find that this great Royal county, equal nearly to Yokshire in extent — once the metropolitan county of England abounding in the most interesting associations of the common history of our