Anniversary Address. 193 



unfortunately neither of our secretaries were able to be 

 present. 



After breakfast we proceeded to view the church, the 

 interior of which was restored a few years ago ; in it 

 there is a very fine old font, the basin bearing date 1664, 

 but the shaft is evidently much more ancient, being part of a 

 Saxon cross. On leaving the church we visited the " Thrum," 

 where the river Coquet is confined by rocks into a very nar- 

 row gorge, which we passed by means of a ladder laid across; 

 formerly the distance between the rocks — where narrowest — 

 measured only about one yard, and was easily stepped over ; 

 but the passage has now been considerably widened, in con- 

 sequence of a boy having been drowned in attempting to 

 jump across. After examining the botany of this neigh- 

 bourhood, we proceeded to the " Reiver's Well," about 

 half-a-mile down the river, and upon the road to Brenk- 

 burn ; there are here two abundant springs of clear pure 

 water, but which of the two is the " Reiver's," I am sorry 

 to say I am unable to state. As the day was now advanced, 

 we" determined not to proceed to Brenkburn Priory, but 

 to visit Sir William Armstrong's new residence — Cragside 

 House — which is nearly completed, and is in the Swiss 

 style of architecture. We fortunately found Sir William at 

 home, and he was kind enough to grant us permission to 

 wander about the grounds ; these are being laid out -with 

 great taste, and planted ; the rocks are to be adorned with 

 various species of ferns, heaths, &c. Sir William informed 

 us that he had lately discovered some circular dwellings 

 on the moor to the eastward, similar to those at Greaves Ash, 

 and had examined one of them, in which were found ashes ; 

 but, as the distance was too great, and our time too limited 

 to visit them, we turned our steps back to Rothbury. After 

 dinner the Members proposed at the last Meeting were 

 elected. 



Before I retire from the chair, permit me to offer you my 

 hearty thanks, not only for the honour you conferred upon 

 me in electing me your President, but for the very kind and 



