Memoir of the late George Tate, by Mr R. Middlemas. 275 



developing into theories more "or less extensive. Bringing 

 his practical knowledge to bear upon one formation after 

 another, he makes the whole testify to the wisdom and 

 benevolence of the Creator, who, in the " beginning," when 

 His spirit moved over the dark waters, was working out His 

 almighty designs, and fitting the earth for the habitation of 

 intellectual man. Mr Tate was no advocate of " Darwin." 

 He acknowledged the extent and power of the arguments of 

 that able naturalist, but he denied that the evidence was 

 sufficient to warrant his conclusions. He believed in the 

 divine origin of man : — " For," says he, " in his origin he 

 cannot be linked, with any of the creatures which preceded ; 

 for, whatever modifications of bodily form may be made by 

 physical conditions, natural selection, or any secondary law, 

 such is the great gulf^betw'een the highest brute and man, 

 that we can refer the introduction of an intellectual and 

 moral being, capable of generalising and of indefinite pro- 

 gression, and endowed with a sense of responsibility, to no 

 other than to the divine Sovereignity." 



Mr Tate was admitted a member of the Club on the 16th 

 of June, 1847. He was President in 1853 ; and made a 

 Secretary in 1858. Pleasantly and cheerfully he and Mr 

 Embleton worked together, until failing health confined the 

 latter to his house and prevented him from taking an active 

 part in the Club's affairs. From the time when Mr Tate was 

 appointed Secretary until his death, his best energies were 

 directed to the advancement and success of the Club. He 

 had a secret pride in its welfare. His management of affairs 

 met with unqualified approval. The meetings were of the 

 most harmonious^description. Minor business matters, often 

 so annoying, were managed with tact and discretion. The 

 Club rose and prospered; — may its future be as brilliant as the 

 past. 



Mr Tate held a large correspondence with scientific men ; 

 and was frequently applied to for, and ever willing to give 

 information ; and cared not for the time and trouble it cost 

 to oblige a friend. Few scientific men visited Alnwick 

 ■without calling at his residence, where they were sure of a 

 plain but hearty welcome. 



In the year 1858 Mr Tate was unanimously requested by 

 the Club to write an account of the Sculptured Rocks of 

 Northumberland. He agreed to this ; but the account did 



