130 pkesident's addeess. 



a low railing and wicket gates close at hand, and a well-kept 

 footpath by the side of the pond, so that any pedestrian who 

 wishes can easily leave the road and walk close to the haunts of 

 these birds and observe them at leisure. At the time of our 

 visit the gulls had left with their young and we saw only num- 

 erous broods of Ducks, Water-hens, and Coots. Prom Pallins- 

 burn we proceeded by Ford Bridge to Etal, where rest for all, 

 for an hour, was determined on, enabling us to see, at leisure, 

 the neat cottages and gardens of this model northern village, and 

 time to examine the remains of the old border keep, once ivy 

 covered, and formerly almost impregnable, which stands by the 

 side of the dark dull Till, whose waters below seem almost stag- 

 nant. The Wall-Pellitory, which grew abundantly on the old 

 Keep at Etal, was the only plant observed in our day's drive 

 that need be recorded. 



Afterwards a short drive brought us to Pord, but time did not 

 allow to do more than drive down this beautiful village and ob- 

 serve, in a few minutes, the unique character of this sylvan spot: 

 cottages embowered among fruit trees and flowers ; a village 

 school in the midst of it, with pear trees in front laden with 

 fruit, under which the children sported and played; the huge 

 castle, surrounded with its splendid garden, at the head of the 

 village; and an elaborate drinking fountain close by; and at the 

 other end an elegant Jubilee cottage for the residence of conval- 

 escents from a distance who may require country air, erected 

 by the Marchioness of Waterford. Our homeward route was b}- 

 a pleasant road through the broad valley of the Till by Penton 

 and Doddington. Nothing could surpass the pure freshness of 

 the westerly breeze coming down from the Cheviots, or the ex- 

 quisite view of those mountain masses of porphyry bathed in blue 

 and purple, which were ever present to our view all the day and 

 from nearly all parts of our route. After an excellent dinner, 

 served in time to enable us conveniently to catch the last train 

 by which we were obliged to leave the splendid weather and our 

 comfortable hostelry, we bid farewell to Woolcr and the Cheviots. 



Though a fine morning ushered in the day fixed for the Wood- 



