212 Memoir of the late George Tate, by Mr R. Middlemas. 



the gas-pipe. I had been .frequently asked to visit him, but 

 was afraid lest he should ask too many questions. On this 

 occasion his conversation was of the most genial character, 

 and I was a frequent visitor afterwards. He liked the 

 company of young people, and after narrating some funny 

 story, would give them advice as to what they should read 

 and study. He was ever the advocate of education and 

 progress. There was no movement of any importance which 

 had for its object the moral and social improvement of the 

 inhabitants of Alnwick, in which he did not take an active 

 part. Both by his exertions and pen he laboured for the 

 institution and welfare of the Victoria Infant School, now 

 used as a Ragged School. We have seen how long and 

 zealously he laboured for the Mechanics' Institution. He 

 was a warm advocate for the extension of the Borough 

 Schools. In the year 1849, when the Public Health Act 

 was about to be put in operation in Alnwick, Mr Tate at- 

 tended the preliminary enquiries of the Government Inspector 

 and furnished him with most valuable information as to the 

 geological structure of the site of the town and neighburhood. 

 The first election under the Act took place in 1850; eighty- 

 three candidates were proposed, and Mr Tate was elected one 

 of the eighteen members of which the Board is composed. 

 He was returned again and again, and retained his seat until 

 his death. His ability and scientific knowledge were fre- 

 quently called into action as a member of the Board. He 

 served upon the most important committees, and aided in 

 drawing up elaborate reports. He advocated the most 

 extensive measures of sanitary reform. He was a fearless, 

 independent, and uncompromising advocate of the rights of 

 the people : holding that, as the Board of Health was " the 

 local authority," it should not only look after the sanitary 

 state of the town and promptly abate whatever was injurious 

 to health, but also endeavour to educate public opinion. 



In the year 1869 a Club was formed by a few gentlemen in 

 Alnwick, for the purpose of scientific research. Mr Tate was 

 chosen President ; and entered with such energy into the 

 undertaking, that he attended at Howick and gave the most 

 lucid description of the interesting section of strata shewn 

 near Cullernose. He also accompanied the Club to Cawledge 

 Park for the same purpose. He was present at the first 

 winter meeting ; and it was before this Club that he read his 

 last scientific paper. 



