336 Obituary . 



of uninterrupted and increasing prosperity, and to him more than 

 to any single individual is it owing that it has been the means of 

 conferring such incalculable benefit on the town. 



He was thoroughly imbued with the enlightened and progressive 

 spirit of the age, and always held broad and liberal views on the 

 great questions of the day, and as a member of the Common Council, 

 and other public bodies in Alnwick, he never failed to take an honour- 

 able, active, and distinguished part in the affairs of the town. 



Penetrated with an ardent love of the sciences, he made Geology 

 his particular study, and became the expositor of the geological 

 structure of the Border-country. With equal ardour he gave his 

 mind to Archgeology. His learned and interesting treatise on the 

 "Ancient British Sculptured Eocks of Northumberland and the 

 Eastern Borders," and the excellent papers on Geology and Archaeology 

 which he has contributed to the " Transactions of the Berwickshire 

 Naturalists' Club," in which society he held the post of Hon. Secretary, 

 must be well known to many of our readers. 



But it is as the historian of his native town that he has achieved 

 his chief claim to distinction. The " History of the Borough, Castle, 

 and Barony of Alnwick," the fruit of many years of study and pre- 

 paration, was completed in 1869, in commemoration of which he was 

 presented with an address, a silver tea and coffee service, and a purse 

 containing 100 guineas, by his fellow- townsmen, aided by many 

 gentlemen connected with the district, and who might be regarded 

 as the repi'esentatives of the science of the Border-counties, and also 

 by some few men of high eminence in other parts of the country. 



No candid critic will deny the right of this work to take rank 

 amongst the best local histories extant, and as a standard authority 

 that must be resorted -to on all subsequent occasions. It is cha- 

 racterized by vast research, conscientious labour, and a sound critical 

 judgment in the weighing of facts and evidence. Its greatest 

 merit is the nobility and independence of soul which is displayed 

 throughout. 



Mr. Tate was not only remarkable for versatility of mind, but 

 was gifted with great powers of oratory, and as a lecturer few men 

 were his equal. A man without ambition, happy in public esteem, 

 and imbued with a love for his own native district, having no claim 

 upon it for rank, wealth, or power, he was content to live in it all 

 his life, and to devote himself to the illustration of its history. 



In appreciation of his eminent literary and scientific attainments, 

 several learned societies had accorded to him the honorary distinction 

 of Corresponding Member. He joined the Geological Society of 

 London in 1843. 



Errata in Geological Magazine, June, 1871, p. 267, lines 43 

 et sequi, for " but in the granitic-felstone the rock is often thin, very 

 fine or coarse," etc., etc., read " but in the granitic-felstone the 

 rock is often in thin, very fine, or coarse bands, striping the rock, 

 like ribbon, they differing, etc., etc." — At p. 247, line 20 from foot, 

 for " ; their," read " . The". 



