198 president's address. 



water, and the very complete remains of an ancient British town, 

 consisting of circular huts packed closely together, and sur- 

 rounded by a wall of greater strength. The graves of the ancient 

 inhabitants dot the heath around, and on Ingram Hill, hard by, 

 recently stood the cairn of some hero of note. The combined 

 forces of the two Clubs were entertained at a very late hour by 

 Mr. and Mrs= Carr, of Hedgeley, with an hospitality the Club 

 can never forget, and after seeking various resting-places for the 

 night, we mustered the next morning at the Bridge of Aln. 

 Here Mr. Langlands, of Bewick, the President of the Berwick- 

 shire Club, joined us, and led us to Broom Park, near which we 

 visited the remains of a Peel tower and Roman camp, histori- 

 cally interesting as the meeting place of Lords Dacre and Surrey 

 before the battle of Flodden. Thence passing Bolton, we entered 

 the Duke of Northumberland's Park by Bassington Gate. A 

 beautiful walk led us to the celebrated Hulne Abbey, with its 

 fine windows and cloisters, and curious tombs and monuments 

 scattered around the ruins. The trees in this portion of the 

 park are among the finest in Northumberland, and the sylvan 

 beauty of the scenery contrasted finely with the wild desolation 

 of our wanderings of the previous day. Six new members were 

 afterwards elected at Alnwick. 



The Fifth Field Meeting of the season was held at New- 

 biggen on the 15th September. Indisposition unfortunately pre- 

 vented me from being in my place, but I have received from my 

 friend, the Secretary, a full report of the proceedings of the day. 

 The old castle of Widdrington, and the ancient house of Chibburn, 

 once the property of the Knight Templars, were visited ; and on 

 the beach, near Druridge, many interesting sea-weeds and coral- 

 lines, as well as molluscs, were discovered, cast up by a recent 

 storm. Amongst the latter Syndosmya alba and prismaticaj 

 Diplodonta rotundata, Solen pellucida, Tliracia jjhaseolina, Coch- 

 lodesma prwtenue. The beach was observed in places to be 

 covered with Diatomacea, imparting to it an olive hue. These 

 curious microscopic organisms were first ascertained to be as 

 abundant in marine as in fresh water by our valued member, Dr. 

 Donkin, who has already supplied some interesting papers on the 



