10 president's address. 



volunteered to obtain permission for us to pass down that way. 

 This she very speedily did, thus relieving us from our awkward 

 dilemma. 



It would be a mere repetition on my part were I to attempt 

 to give a lengthened description of this lovely Dene — of its 

 plants, its flowers, its birds, and all the interesting natural 

 objects with which it abounds, and which, thanks to the careful 

 foresight of the Rev. Mr. Burdon, have been so carefully pre- 

 served for the good of those who study natural history. Had 

 it not been for the care which has been exercised, I fear many 

 a rare plant and bird would have been lost to the district, 

 which in the wild woods of this lovely Dene are allowed to 

 grow and perfect their seeds and increase, and build their nests 

 and bring up their young in peace and safety. Under the 

 guidance of a member of the family who so kindly helped us on 

 our way, and to whom we feel a debt of gratitude, some of us 

 visited the Gunner's Pool, and other wild parts of this lovely 

 ravine, whilst another section made their way by another route 

 to the mouth of the Dene. On meeting close to Deneholme 

 our kind guide left us, with many expressions of our thanks. 

 It now dawned on us that we had reached the place about half- 

 past one where we were to have had tea about four o'clock. 

 There was nothing for such a lot of thirsty souls but to take 

 any kind of refreshment which was forthcoming, and then 

 proceed on our way — I cannot quite say rejoicing, as we still 

 had a long walk before us, and no prospect of food. The 

 ladies of the party, however, set the sterner sex a rare good 

 example. Reaching the wonderful limestone rocks at Black 

 Hall about the time we should have been sitting down to tea 

 " with toast and muffins hot," we could but inwardly bless the 

 rustics who had sent us the wrong way about. Leaving these mar- 

 vellous rocks we made our way, after visiting the Coastguard 

 Station, towards Hesleden, where we were to join the train. 

 Before reaching this we fell in with a gentleman, who kindly 

 shewed us the way we should have taken in the morning. 

 Several of our party went a mile or more down Hesleden Dene, 

 and found it very picturesque, with wild, rocky, well-wooded 



