Anniversary Address. 27 



stices ; while lower down, and near the margins, are planted 

 dwarf ornamental shrubs of various kinds. Access is ob- 

 tained by a series of steps downwards, to the ravine of Deb- 

 don Burn, which is spanned by an iron bridge ; whence the 

 path winds up the opposite slope among ornamental pines, 

 sycamores, and other trees, flowering shrubs, onwards to the 

 gardens. The conservatories, with their gay adornments, 

 were examined, as was the excellent arrangement for culti- 

 vating ferns in a cavernous winding receptacle hewn out of 

 the rock, and covered with glass, with water trickling across 

 the bottom. The tendency, however, of too much moisture 

 is unduly to lengthen and render some of the hardier sorts 

 filmyleaved and tender. Leaving this centre of attraction, 

 the pathway again led to the burn, which makes its way to 

 the Coquet through a deep and wooded ravine, between steep 

 sandstone side walls ; where, as opposite the Thrum, the 

 birch finds room and sufficient soil to vegetate and spread 

 abroad its limber twigs and light foliage, and the mountain 

 ash to suspend its wreath of coral berries. 



The day's visit to this interesting place terminated at the 

 rectory at Whitton Tower, on the southern side of the 

 Coquet. The original rectory had been an old peel tower of 

 the Umfraville family, one of great potency in this district 

 of Northumberland. The Umfraville arms remain in good 

 preservation on a stone on the west side of the structure. 

 The walls of the tower, in some places, are eleven feet in 

 thickness. In the vaulted ground floor is the rector's study, 

 as also a kitchen and cellar. There is a well, containing 

 about eighteen feet of water, in the floor of the cellar. In 

 the survey of Bowes and Ellerker, 1T>42, Whitton Tower is 

 thus noticed : — " At Whitton, nere unto Rothbury, is a toure 

 and a little barmekin, being the manc'on of the p'sonage of 

 Rothbery, and is in good reparco'ns." 



The Aspleniwm Ruta-muraria, or Wall-rue, grows in 

 profusion from the cement on the eastern aspect of Rothbury 

 Bridge, safe from the grasp of the most greedy fern collector. 



Thirty-eight dined, the President in the chair ; and Chas. 



D 



