122 peesident's address. 



gayer for the refreshing rain which had fallen, and the sun now 

 bursting through the dense clouds that had seemingly accom- 

 panied us on our journey, brightened up the village and whole 

 country side, and gave additional pleasure in our ramblings to 

 the different points of interest round Croft. A visit was first 

 made to the New Spa Well, pleasantly situated by the side of a 

 small stream, which, now swollen with recent rains, was hurry- 

 ing on to the Tees. Here a long conversation took place about 

 the quality and the analysis of the mineral water, its strength 

 and virtues. Comparisons made with Harrogate and other York- 

 shire Spas led to the conclusion that though Croft was not so 

 gay, yet, for invalids requiring strong sulphur baths and quiet 

 perfect rest, the little village was much to be preferred to the 

 gay bustling towns further south. A very pleasant walk through 

 fields and woods, where woodmen were busy cutting down small 

 oaks and peeling off and piling up the bark, led us by a circuit- 

 ous course to the Old Spa Well, from which the water is con- 

 veyed in pipes to the New Bath Eooms, to which there is much 

 easier access from the village. In the woods, most of the spring 

 flowers were in bloom, as Anemones, Stellarias, and early violets 

 in profusion. Some of the party struck off for a longer walk 

 to Hurworth, while the rest enjoyed the village gardens and the 

 stroll by the Tees, watching the rapid flight of the Martins and 

 Swallows, and other Hirundines, which had just returned from 

 their Southern migration, and were unusually active in capturing 

 the insect food which the warm rays of the sun had called forth. 



After enjoying the long country walk, ample justice was done 

 to the excellent meal provided at the Spa Hotel. Under the 

 guidance of the E,ev, Mr. Moody, an exhaustive visit was made 

 to the Church, embowered amid lofty and umbrageous trees. 

 Much ecclesiastical lore, and long discussions on the age of some 

 curiously wrought stone or piece of wood-work, were indulged in. 



An attempt was afterwards made to visit those celebrated 

 "swallow holes," the Hell Kettles, as they are popularly called. 

 Only one or two of the more active pedestrians were able to reach 

 the locality. The margins of these pools are now surrounded with 

 a dense growth of water and bog plants, and they have the gen- 



