Aniiiversary Address. 385 



stroUsd up the Coquet towards the hills. Chenopodmm 

 Bonus Henricus and raugwort grew near the village, having 

 been used formerly for pot herbs or for medicine. Some of 

 the old houses and a ruinous mill were well worth being 

 transferred to the sketch-book. Some fine limestone scars 

 were exposed on the river, overhung by a natural wood of 

 elm, birch, hazel, &c. The rock on which we walked in 

 the channel formed a natural pavement, being cracked into 

 squares, that reminded us of a Roman causeway. The sand 

 beds of the Coquet, says Hodgson, "have been celebrated for 

 their beautiful pebble-crystals, pale cornelians, chrysolites, (?) 

 and agates." Geodes of crystals are most frequent in situa- 

 tions such as this ; where the stratified rocks come into juxta- 

 position with the porphyry, — and our path was not far off 

 the line of junction. The botanical party were unsuccessful 

 in eliminating anything new; and, although good plants 

 have been found here, none of them fell to our lot. The 

 drought had been beforehand with us, rendering the herbage 

 stunted and insignificant. Among other things almost can- 

 celled were the mosses. Bryum pallens and Cinclidotus were 

 picked up; and among the pastures we saw Marjoram, the 

 Shepherd's Pansy, and the Maiden Pink ; and Circcea in a 

 small ravine. The sandstone side, although heathery, looked 

 more promising, where a greater freshness accompanied the 

 small burns and sykes ; and where, on the moor edges, the 

 delicious verdure of the fine scattered birches cast gleams of 

 loveliness that were lost upon none of us. Redlees burn 

 pours in its mossy waters at Linnshiels. Little esteemed 

 among anglers is — 



" The byke frae Eedlees syke ; 

 Wi' warish. moss- water black and lean." 



Linnshiels and all the parish of Alwinton south of the Coquet 

 belonged to the liberties of Redesdale, the demesne of the 

 once potent Umfrevilles. In the name, we trace the summer 

 settlements of the old Borderers. "All over the wastes (as 

 they call them), you would think," says Camden, "you see 

 the ancient Nomades ; a martial sort of people, that from 

 April to August, lie in little hutts (which they call sheah and 



