peesident's addeess. 237 



skulls of three liorses were shown, which had been found, built 

 up in a part of the old Church, at the time of its restoration. 



The day's enjoyment was crowned by a survey of the Mote 

 Hills, again under the guidance of Mr. Arkle, who read to us 

 some extracts fi'om a paper on these hills contributed by him to 

 the Berwickshire Field Club. " The construction of the Mote 

 Hills at Elsdon," Mr. Arkle says, "has been universally ascribed 

 to the Ancient Britons ; but the time of their erection and their 

 purposes, whether as places of defence or as temples of worship, 

 are questions involved in impenetrable obscurity. The general 

 appearance is no doubt that of a defensive position ; but there is 

 no incongruity in supposing that at the same time they might be 

 used for civil assemblies, for the promulgation of laws, for the 

 administration of justice, and for the celebration of religious 

 rites and ceremonies." Our Moot Halls would seem to be the 

 legitimate successors of the Mote Hills. 



Several subjects of historical interest, but lightly touched on 

 in this hasty sketch, are well worthy of a more detailed treat- 

 ment, which it is hoped they may yet receive in connection with 

 our proceedings. 



The weather during the trip was delightful, and that circum- 

 stance, combined with the well-known determination character- 

 istic of the Club to make the best of everything, converted what 

 seemed at the outset something of a disappointment into a 

 splendid success. 



Some of the members remained till the third day, and 

 thoroughly enjoyed a long stroll by the winding banks of 

 the Rede, with its ever changing and beautiful scenery, to 

 Woodburn, pleasantly situated near the old Roman station 

 Halitanmm, and the place where the "Watling Street (leading 

 from Chester-le-Street to Chew Grreen, the Ad Fines camp of 

 the Romans) crosses the Rede. Hence to Morpeth, where the 

 members dispersed to their respective homes. 



The Sixth and last 'Field Meeting was held at Morpeth on 

 'the 5th of October. About twenty members left Newcastle by 

 the mid-day train, and, under the guidance of Mr. Thomas Arkle, 



