president's address. 291 



I can render no greater service to our younger members than 

 to exhort them to cherish the memory of such a man, and 

 emulate the bright example of diligence, faithfulness, humility, 

 and truth, which his character commends to our imitation. 



Four members were, after a frugal banquet, which closed a 

 pleasant day, enrolled in our Society. 



The Third Meeting, appointed at Castle -Eden the 16th July 

 failed, in some measure, from the General Election, which then 

 engaged the public attention. Men's minds were otherwise 

 occupied at that time, and I find no other result than a resolu- 

 tion you will not fail to accomplish, to explore at some other 

 season the wonderful Dene, so famous and so attractive ; Hesel- 

 dene also, and the country around it. No spot, perhaps, on the 

 earth's surface presents in so small a space such a variety of 

 interesting natural objects as Castle-Eden Dene. Here we have 

 the Lady's Sli'p'per — I prefer the old English names, when they 

 sufficiently indicate the plant — not found elsewhere, and now 

 scarce, for would-be botanists are apt to misappropriate what 

 they cannot secure and enjoy, in vain attempts to propagate, in 

 other soils, plants which only thrive and flourish in their own ; 

 and others of great curiosity and rarity, such as the Narrow- 

 leaved White Eellehorine, Fly Orchis, Butterfly Orchis, and Basil 

 Thyme. 



Rare insects, too, are found in this place — of butterflies, 

 Clouded Safron, Camberwell Beauty, Durham Argus, and others, 

 particularly those which aff'ect the magnesian limestone. Their 

 appearance is capricious, regulated by no known law ; they are 

 each, from time to time, and in successive swarms, seen in great 

 abundance ; while in other years the entomologist makes his 

 toilsome search in vain. 



In Heselden Dene, I would remind the young enquirer, curious 

 plants and animals exist, some of which we do not find in its 

 neighbouring dene. 



Our Fourth Visit was to Bamburgh, a locality of peculiar 

 attractions and interest j for we find, in this neighbourhood, Twisel 

 House, the seat of our most eminent northern ornithologist, my 

 valued friend at school, and college, and through life, Mr. Selby, 



