COMMITTEE’S ADDRESS. 183 
and when we halted at Haydon Bridge, the weather was all that 
could be desired. At the Anchor Hotel, the party, aug- 
mented by others who had gone over night, breakfasted, and 
at nine o’clock commenced the day’s excursion. 
Although the sun had entirely dispersed the threatening clouds 
of the early morning, underfoot the state of things was less 
agreeable. After a brisk walk, varied by occasional pauses to 
admire the beauties of the scenery, Langley Castle was reached, 
where the first grand halt was made. The fine old ruin was 
carefully examined, its walls are in a tolerably good state of pre- 
servation, and some part of it is inhabitated, the occupants of 
which showed the visitors every attention. Situated on a gentle 
eminence, it commands good views of the Tyne valley, and the 
surrounding country. It originally belonged to the Barons of 
Tynedale, but in the reign of Henry III. it passed to the Lucies, 
and thence to the Percies, by whom, being probably to them of 
minor importance, it was like many other castles which came into 
their possession, suffered to fall into decay. ‘Thence wandering 
across the common, which is undergoing a thorough course of drain= 
ing, the party lamented that spots like these, dear to the naturalist, 
should be everywhere doomed to destruction in this highly cul- 
tivating, draining age. Ina little time, no bog will remain, 
the very rush will have a hard “struggle for existence,” num- 
berless plants and animals, now common, will become extinct, 
and many birds will have to seek fresh haunts in which to rear their 
young. Leaving Langley Mills on the left, and forsaking the high 
road for a field path, the party soon reached the wood in which all 
that remains of the fortress of Staward Peel now stands. Still, 
though little more than a column of masonry remains, the place will 
well repay a visit; never was better site for a medizval fortress 
chosen, standing out on a rocky peninsula, the two sides of which, 
at their bases, are washed by impetuous streams, it could only beap- 
proached by a narrow neck of land, which a handful of men might 
effectually guard. The scenery around, although of limited 
extent, is very fine. The precipitous banks which rise from the 
Allen and the Harestandene Burn, are richly clothed with trees. 
The two streams meet together immediately below the Peel, and 
