pkesident's address. 287 



millstones had been cut out, many of which are yet lying in a 

 partly finished state, some flaw having been most likely dis- 

 covered in them. Mr. Booth, of Shotley, informed us that in 

 examining some old records of the manor he found notices, how, 

 from time to time, certain millers had been brought before the 

 lord's court and fined for taking millstones without the proper 

 payment or permission. Between Shotley and Allansford, with- 

 in a few yards of the water's edge, are what are said to be the 

 remains of some ancient ironworks ; a portion of the walls of a 

 furnace is well preserved, showing the vitrified inner surface. 

 There were heaps of scoria lying close by, and near at hand are 

 workings whence the ore may have been obtained. They are 

 said to have been established early in the thirteenth century by 

 a colony of Germans, who settled and remained here for a long 

 period, during which time the place obtained a great reputation 

 for its sword blades, which was retained until quite recently. 

 In the older part of Shotley some houses yet remain with Ger- 

 man inscriptions on them, such as are commonly met with in 

 the present day in Germany. Some of the descendants of these 

 people are, or were lately, still living in the valley. Some of 

 the party availed themselves of the courteous permission of Mr. 

 Thomas Wilson, of Shotley Hall, to visit his grounds. Some 

 landscape gardening has been very eff'ectively carried out here 

 by Mr, John Hancock. There are a great variety of shrubs and 

 trees, amongst which the Wellingtonea thrives well and pro- 

 mises to attain a goodly size. The Messrs. Annandale kindly 

 gave permission to see through their paper mills. We dined at 

 the Commercial Inn and afterwards Mr. Thompson, one of the 

 Hon. Secretaries, read a ^^ Notice of the Occurrence of Gloiv- 

 worms in considerable numbers in the Valley of the Derwent f also 

 a paper " On the Aculeate HymenojJtera of Northumberland," by 

 Mr. T. J. Bold. 



The Third Field Meeting- was held at Eichmond on the 15th 

 of July. This meeting was, strictly speaking, out of our coun- 

 tr)^, but we have precedents for it on former occasions ; and 

 making a foray occasionally on our southern neighbours is only 



