pkesident's addeess. 113 



Rev. W. Featherstonehaugh joined us and rendered invaluable 

 service botanically and arch^eologically. Church and garden 

 were explored under his guidance. It is evident he loves both, 

 and has bestowed on his neighbourhood a sylvan character that 

 will prove a perennial delight when mayhap the bestower is for- 

 gotten. His garden is a veritable treasury, and he was lavish 

 with his treasures, root and flower. On his walls a Swiss wan- 

 derer, Erinus alpimis, grows perfectly at home. Who will 

 ever forget that first glimpse of amphitheatred Blanchland, and 

 the varying views as we wound down the steep hill to the pic- 

 turesque bridge ? It is hard to say whether Blanchland is 

 prettier at a distance or near, and whether the Lord Crewe Arms 

 is more attractive archseologically or gastronomically. Most of 

 our party were content to stay and admire the architectural 

 beauties of monastery, church, cross or bridge, and dream of 

 Scotch reivers or Dorothy Forster till dinner was ready, but a 

 small party of three pursued the Derwent as far as a mass of 

 Millstone grit, yclept Gibraltar, through a charmingly wooded 

 dale, where mud, tangle, and wreckage showed what a spate 

 can do. Hunstanworth quaint church was peeped at, Hahenaria 

 hifolia gathered, and a general conclusion reached that the floral 

 beauties of upper Teesdale far exceed those of upper Derwent- 

 dale. 



By various routes and at various times a small party of nine 

 gathered at Bamburgh, on "Wednesday, August ]5th, for the 

 FoTJETH EXCTJESiON. We uoticed, with pleasure, the stations made 

 gay by flower-beds and rock-work, and feel that the railway 

 directors are doing a good work in offering prizes for the best 

 kept stations ; good to their employes, good to the public. As the 

 day was showery vehicles were obtained, and all drove to Spin- 

 dlestone Mill for Spindlestone Heughs. Alighting and walking 

 round the picturesque basaltic crags to the quarry, we climbed 

 the crags, startling 'several white rabbits, to Outchester Camp, 

 a fine intrenchment, whence admirable land and sea views were 

 enjoyed till the returning rain blotted all out. Hastening to 

 the vehicles Budle Bay was soon reached, and the ridge which 



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