8 president's addeess. 



of country, as yet uncontaminated by smoke and soot. It was 

 through, this district that the old Roman road, from Binchester, 

 Piercebridge, and Catterick, stretched in a nearly straight line 

 to York, and here at Aldboro', near Boroughbridge, was an ex- 

 tensive station, Isurium, from which have been obtained many 

 precious relics of Bom an art and civilization. Here also are 

 remains of a much older faith and civilization left in long- 

 enduring stone to attest the former power and skill of an almost 

 unknown race. It was to spend a little time on this classic spot 

 that our meeting at Boroughbridge was planned. About seven 

 members only were present, and most of these availed them- 

 selves of the opportunity to proceed to their destination on 

 Saturday. Others arrived on Monday, and after breakfast at the 

 comfortable hostelry the Crown Hotel, a walk was taken to Aid- 

 borough, about half a mile distant. The walk was beneath 

 avenues of aged trees, a perfect contrast to our own bleak 

 neighbourhood, with foliage and flowers in profuse and luxurious 

 growth, and in mature summer development. The site on which 

 the old station stood is slightly higher than the surrounding 

 country, and as the irregular and somewhat straggling village 

 stretches, with its trees and gardens, within and beyond the 

 camp boundaries (which are now nearly obscured), it is not easy 

 to grasp its extent or shape, as only in one or two spots are any 

 traces of the walls to be seen. Most of the interesting remains 

 are preserved in the cottages and grounds of the villagers, and 

 it is not always that these can be inspected. We visited only 

 one or two more publicly placed than the others. The most 

 interesting were the remains of the mosaic pavement of two 

 Roman baths, which had been discovered in a garden attached 

 to the principal inn of the village. A small building is erected 

 over each of these to protect the pavement. The first we saw 

 was a beautiful tessellated pavement, with a central group of 

 figures, partly destroyed, and surrounded by a coloured border. 

 The other tessellated pavement was in another building not far 

 distant. This was of much larger pattern, with an ornamental 

 border. Both are kept dry with a covering of sawdust, which 

 has to be swept off for the gratification of visitors. We next 



