Meetings. 218 



the minutes were read, and the Rev. Mr. Hamilton was admitted 

 a member. Some general conversation ensued, when the meet- 

 ing dispersed. 



To William Dickson, Esq., I am indebted for the following 

 notice : — 



On Wednesday, the 18th of July, the Meeting was at Ayton. 

 The early morning was not propitious. I was the only member 

 present at the inn ; but two or three came straggling there, and 

 finding no meeting, they left. I was not aware that the cause 

 of this thin attendance was the illness of Dr. Johnston. I went 

 on to Coldingham Abbey, to view the restorations which are 

 rapidly progressing. This Abbey belongs to the Crown, and I 

 understand the Commissioners of Woods and Forests give ^£800, 

 and the heritors of the parish provide the remainder of the 

 funds. It is quite out of the question to reinstate the Abbey 

 as it was, the only part left being the chancel. It a fine speci- 

 men of the early English style. The dark red sandstone and 

 the white, with all its various intermediate mixtures and tints, 

 give a richness to the work. The west end is built up, and cor- 

 responds with the original east end of the building. The north 

 wall and the interior arches will be restored to their original 

 beauty ; but the south wall will not : it will be pierced with a 

 few lancet windows, and there will be a porch at the south door, 

 which will be the only entrance to the church. In excavating a 

 few yards from the west end, under where the centre tower was, 

 the base of one of the clustered pillars had been exposed. What 

 is still more interesting to the antiquarian architect, this ancient 

 western column, north side wall, and circular apse of the old 

 Nunnery has been exposed to view, — the building which pre- 

 ceded the present fabric. The mason work is rude, having a 

 foot of plaster outside. The columns are small, and the building 

 narrow, and nearly the whole length of the present church. It 

 is probable many more interesting discoveries will be made. 



On account of the melancholy death of Dr. Johnston, no 

 Meeting of the Club took place in August. 



The members present on the 12th of September, at Belford, 

 were P. J. Selby, Esq., Rev. J. D. Clark, Wm. Darnell, W. P. 

 Rigg, G. Walker, Mr. Geo. Tate, Messrs. John and Wm. Boyd, 

 Dr. Clarke, Dr. Douglas, Mr. Embleton, and Wm. King, Esq., 

 as a visitor. The Rev. Charles Thorpe, Vicar of EUingham, was 

 proposed as a member by the Rev. Geo. Walker, and seconded 

 by the Rev. Wm. Darnell. 



The only business transacted at the Meeting was the appoint- 

 ment of Mr. Embleton as Secretary and President until the next 

 Meeting, which was to be held some time in January. 



