16 president's abdress. 



As regards this building stone, the Commissioners concluded, 

 that, in proportion as it is crystalline in structure, so does 

 it appear to resist the decomposing effects of the atmosphere. 

 Professor Daniell, of King's College, after numerous experiments, 

 arrived at a similar result — stating, that " the nearer the Mag- 

 nesian Limestones approach to equivalent proportions of carbonate 

 of lime and carbonate of magnesia, the more crystalline and 

 better they are in every respect. The several tables annexed to 

 the Report of the Commisssioners, afford a vast mass of informa- 

 tion respecting Magnesian Limestone and other building stones, 

 and present admirable illustrations of a great variety of practical 

 details, which some of the Members of this Society might with 

 advantage apply to the general objects we have in view. 



I must not omit to mention, that, by the kind permission of 

 Mr. Burden (a Member of the Club), the party who assembled on 

 this occasion were allowed the privilege of access on a day when 

 the grounds were not open to the public, as they frequently are 

 at stated times ; and the further advantage was afforded of Mr. 

 Burden's company and intelligent explanations, which were 

 highly gratifying to the Members present. Refreshments, pro- 

 vided by Mr. Burden, proved highly acceptable to several of the 

 Members; and I am unwilling to pass over, without a comment 

 of thanks, the humbler, but extremely kind hospitalities, expe- 

 rienced by two of my companions and myself in the cottage of 

 the teacher of the village school. 



The Fifth Field Meeting was held 11th August, 1854, in a 

 more elevated, but equally romantic and curious locality, known 

 as the district of the Northumberland Lakes — being a tract of 

 country nearly midway across the Island, and lying a few miles 

 north of the River Tyne. There were present, on this occasion, 

 the Revs. W. T. Shields and R. Thompson, and Messrs B. B. 

 Blackwell, J. Blackwell, jun., Thomas Coates, Joseph Dinning, 

 J. B. Falconar, jun., W. Falconar, R. C. Frost, R. Y. Green, 

 W. J. Hardcastle, E. S. Hills, and J. Walsh. 



I have not been furnished with any Botanical or other notices 

 of this Meeting, and suppose the time and attention of the ex- 

 cursionists to have been abundantly occupied by the extensive 



