258 president's address. 



river, our hats covered all the way by flies, and following the 

 river round the base of the promontory we arrived at a huge 

 mass of rock lying across the bed of the stream, and through 

 the centre of which in the course of ages it appears not only 

 to have forced its way, but to have hollowed out a deep, 

 dark looking pool. By a path better formed, but as steep 

 as that by which we had descended, we returned to the road 

 adjoining Staward Station. Here a very heavy shower over- 

 took us, against which we obtained such protection as the 

 trees afforded ; but the crisp breeze soon dispelled from our 

 clothes all moisture that had reached them, and after walking 

 about a mile we resumed our drive. Travelling through park- 

 like scenery, the bright greenness of the grass reminding us of 

 Ireland, and passing the junction of the East and West Allen, 

 we reached Whitfield, a lovely little village nestling in a 

 hollow of woodland beauty. The horses requiring a short 

 rest, and the ascent to the Allendale road being for some 

 distance too steep for any avoidable weight, the party pro- 

 ceeded for some distance on foot, inspecting on the way the 

 church, which is a Gothic structure built of freestone, its 

 graceful spire rising 120 feet. The church is a modern one, 

 having been built as late as i860. In journeying up the 

 ascent from the village to the more level road, a number of 

 Goldcrests were observed on and flying amongst the trees; 

 and the somewhat scarce and beautiful Butterfly Orchis was 

 found. Driving along, on the left we passed Catton Road, 

 and shortly reached Allendale Town (once the capital of the 

 lead mining district), which stands at an elevation of 1,400 

 feet above the level of the sea, Allendale is a moorland 

 village of no great beauty, though possessing a most ex- 

 hilarating atmosphere. One of the former vicars of Allendale 

 was Mr, Robert Patten, who was appointed chaplain to Mr, 

 Forster, the General of the Pretender's army, and who after- 

 wards obtained his pardon by writing the History of the 

 Rebellion. After a short stay in the village in order to give 

 the horses meal and water, we, by the alternative route to 

 Langley, enjoyed the view of Langley Lake and its back- 



