PEESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 405 



and Howick to Longhoughton, a distance of about ten miles. 

 The walk was much enjoyed, but very few birds were on the 

 Coast, although a small flock of Waders, the Knot, Tringa 

 canutus, were noticed. 



"We first devoted our attention to the Church of St. Peter, 

 and noticed the Early Norman windows in its massive towers. 

 The walls are of great strength, and are mentioned in Clarkson's 

 "Survey," v»here it is said they should be strengthened, as it 

 was the place in which the people took refuge. A brisk walk 

 brought us to the " Eumbling Churn," popularly known as the 

 "Bumble Churn," where, in stormy weather, the sea rushes in, 

 and the waves are carried through into an immense chasm, 

 caused by the crumbling away of the basalt, where they seethe 

 and toss, and are borne high in the air in clouds of spray. 



" With strange turmoil did it bubble and boil, 

 And echo from place to place ; 

 So strong was its dash, and so high did it splash, 

 That it washed the Castle's base." 



We saw to great advantage the Castle, standing on the pro- 

 montory formed by the great "Whin Sill, which here runs directly 

 south to Howick. The Castle is built on a layer of freestone 

 overlying the basalt. In this neighbourhood and further south 

 geologists find proofs of extensive disturbances of the strata. 

 The area of the Castle, about nine acres, was greater by far than 

 that of any other in the county, and upon it, according to 

 Camden, there has been reaped in one summer 200 bushels of 

 corn. The greater part of this grand fortress has disappeared, 

 but on the west Lilburn's Towers rise boldly from the edge of 

 the Crag, where, says Mr. Freeman, the tall basaltic columns 

 stand in front of it like " Sentinels of Stone." 



Leaving " Dunstanborough's caverned shore" we passed 

 Craster Tower, once a Border fortress, but now a modern dwell- 

 ing house, and the residence of one of the oldest and most 

 respected families in the county. Passing Boulmer, where an 

 extensive contraband trade used to be carried on, we reached 

 Howick HaU, which occupies the site of an ancient tower de- 

 stroyed in 1780. Through the kindness of Earl Grey we were 



