president's address. 195 



castle is in good repair; the portcullis, and other defences of 

 the entrance, are still in their places. From the top, which 

 is attained by a somewhat dark and narrow winding stair, a fine 

 view is obtained. The roof is built on corbels, with apertures 

 for throwing down missiles on the heads of assailants. Leaving 

 Chipchase, the party made for the banks of the river at Haugh- 

 ton, passing Barrasford by the way. At many points during 

 the ramble, views of Haughton Castle, which is in one of the 

 most beautiful situations conceivable, were obtained. Mr. Smith 

 and his sons most kindly gave the party every facility for ex- 

 amining the interesting architectural and antiquarian features 

 of his noble mansion, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith had provided a 

 sumptuous luncheon, to which our long walk enabled us to do 

 full justice. We then descended to Chollerford, and, by the 

 kind permission of John Clayton Esq., inspected, though under 

 the discouragement of a down-fall of rain, the interesting re- 

 mains of the great station of Cilurnum on the Eoman Wall. 

 These have been too fully described by Mr. Bruce, in his able 

 work, to require further notice here. We had the satisfaction of 

 mustering fifty-two at dinner, the largest assemblage of which 

 we can yet boast at any field meeting, and afterwards elected 

 twenty-two new members. I had the pleasure of conveying to 

 Mr. Smith, of Haughton Castle, a special vote of thanks for his 

 extreme courtesy and hospitality. 



Our Third Field Meeting was held at Haltwhistle, on July 

 26th. From Rosehill station we walked by the banks of the 

 Irthing-to Gilsland Hotel, where we breakfasted in the fine hall 

 celebrated as the place where Sir Walter Scott met his " ladie love," 

 but which, alas, will never more entertain a guest, having been 

 burnt to the ground a few days after our visit. We then 

 visited the Sulphur Spa, admired the saxifrages and ferns 

 overhanging the cliffs ; and in the woods of Wardrew and heaths 

 beyond, gathered several interesting plants. At Thirlwall Castle, 

 the old seat of the Swinburn family, we found ourselves on the 

 summit of the water shed of England, the TiiDpleburn flowing 

 east into the Tyne, and the Irthing westward into the Eden. 

 Thence, by the course of the Roman Wall, we ascended the hills 



