president's address. 197 



fragments of the primeval forest, beneath which ferns luxuriate; 

 in all, a district unmatched even in the north of England for 

 wildness and beauty. At Langleeford the conveyances departed, 

 and, accompanied by two ladies, who honoured us with their 

 presence and example on the occasion, we commenced the ascent 

 of four miles, mustering seventeen in all. This steep ascent was 

 only varied by the whirr of grouse disturbed in their solitude, 

 and by the beautiful glimpses ever and anon obtained of the sea- 

 coast on the one hand, and of Scotland on the other. The sum- 

 mit was gained at last, and from it prospects, broken by clouds, 

 were obtained of apparently endless ranges of hills, one behind 

 the other, stretching far away into Scotland, Cumberland, and 

 Yorkshire. The top of the mountain is flat and of great extent, 

 scattered over with many peaty pools. After resting under the 

 lee of a ruined bothie, the party skirted the head of Langleeford 

 Hope, and keeping along the ridge leading to the sister mountain 

 of Hedgehope, descended at length into the wild valley of the 

 Breamish. Many of the stronger sex began to complain of the 

 distance, and would, it is to be feared, have altogether given up, 

 had not the noble example of the ladies shamed them into 

 endurance. On the way up or down Cheviot, many subalpine 

 plants were gathered, and among others the maiden pink, 

 {Dianthus deltoides), red whortleberry (Vaccinium vitis-idcea), cloud 

 berry (Rubus cJiamaemorus), Sedum villosum, Parnassia palustriSf 

 and three species of club-moss, or Lycopodium — viz., davatum, 

 selago^ and alpinum. 



At Staindrop Cairn, a singular abruptly-elevated mass of 

 mountain limestone, the members had the pleasure of meeting, 

 by previous arrangement, Messrs Geo. and T. Tate, and several other 

 members of the Berwickshire Club. Mr. Geo. Tate explained 

 much of interest in the geological structure of the district, a 

 subject on which he is thoroughly at home. 



At last Linhope was gained, after a nine hours' walk and fast ; 

 and a hearty repast on the grass soon freshened the party for the 

 remaining miles of the day's excursion, and they were not a few. 

 We were met here by R. Carr, Esq., of Hedgeley, our first 

 President, and visited the fine fall of Linhope Linn, now full of 



