PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 409 



plodged round the base of the cliffs at low tide and examined 

 all the fairy caves and inlets. And yet most of our members 

 think they have seen all that is worth looking at between Shields 

 and Marsden. Our sea-coast walks and rambles are too often 

 done in the I came-I saw-I conquered style, and half or more 

 of what is really worth observing is left unseen. 



We found Marsden Bay, at least the north end, slightly 

 changed by natural agencies. Large beds and layers of sand, 

 that had been drifted up against the cliffs and accumulating for 

 years, were being swept away by the action and set of the tides 

 into the bay; so much so as to expose large masses of rocks that 

 had been buried for years, and to lay bare old deposits of flint 

 ballast, that had been washed in from the offing, where the 

 colliers in olden times anchored to cast their ballast before enter- 

 ing the Tyne. Marsden Bay appears to greater advantage in 

 the autumnal and winter months than earlier in the year. Its 

 loneliness then lends a charm to it, which is dispelled by the 

 boisterous influx of a holiday crowd. For this reason partly 

 our meetings have been fixed for this period, and wisely, so that 

 the splendid rock scenery can be contemplated with less dis- 

 traction. "We found ourselves alone on this occasion, and were 

 able to examine the chief features of the bay and to collect 

 specimens of the flexible limestone and other varieties of lime- 

 stone at leisure, but we could not hope to make important 

 discoveries in such a well-searched locality. At the south end 

 of the bay we soon discovered more remarkable changes. The 

 cliff had actually been built up and supported by artificial handi- 

 work over the grotto. No Peter Allan was there to welcome 

 us, or his family busy preparing girdle-cakes, and ham and eggs 

 and other festive dainties, for the expected visit of the Club. 

 Although the Grotto and its inmates were more changed than 

 the aged and time-worn cliffs, Mr. Plawith, the new host, kindly 

 administered to our comfort, and now having made our acquaint- 

 ance will doubtless heartily welcome the members when they 

 next visit the scene of so many happy meetings. 



