328 president's address. 



has yet been examined, without finding in it traces of gold, 

 which, in fact, appears to be a much more universally disseminated 

 metal than has hitherto been supposed ; and though it has not 

 yet, I believe, been found in the lead in sufficient quantities to 

 make its separation profitable, yet, in the improvements of science, 

 a method may eventually be discovered, by which it may be 

 economically extracted from the galena, in which it probably 

 exists in combination with the silver, which is almost always 

 contained in it, as is well known. 



Three members were elected at Alston, 



The Third Meeting took place, at Teesdale, on the 20th, 21st, 

 and 22d of July. This is one of the richest botanical districts 

 in the North of England, and has seldom been visited by an 

 active botanist without rewarding his researches. It is also a 

 district of much interest to geologists ; one of the most renowned 

 of whom. Professor Sedgwick, described some of its most remark- 

 able features, some years ago, in the " Transactions of the Cam- 

 bridge Philosophical Society." (Vol, II, pt. 1.) It also affords 

 many picturesque subjects to the artist, containing much varied 

 scenery, and one of the finest waterfalls in England. It is also not 

 uninteresting to the engineer, to know that the first suspension 

 chain-bridge constructed in Europe, was standing, a few years 

 ago, until it was superseded by the present more scientific struc- 

 ture. The old Winch Bridge was erected by miners about the 

 beginning of last century, and was formed of planks, suspended by 

 chains fastened in the basaltic rocks, on the banks of the Tees. 

 For an interesting notice, which I will now read, of the principal 

 plants observed in this district, I am indebted to a very acute 

 botanist, our member, Mr. D. Oliver, jun. : — 



" From the very brief time occupied in the excursion, but a 

 portion of two consecutive days, it was impossible to attempt 

 anything like even a general survey of the Upper Tees Valley, 

 a district so deservedly esteemed by botanists as one of the most 

 productive, in species of high interest and rarity, as almost any 

 of equal area in our island ; and although our rapid excursion does 

 not seem to have added any plant of importance to our previous 

 knowledge of its Flora, yet we must not assume its riches to have 



