34 Our Visit to Holy Island in 1854, by Dr. Johnston. 



inscriptions on them rendered illegible by the operation of 

 lichens, viz., Parmelid parietina, Parmelia conspersa, 

 Lecanora tartarea, Lecanora atra. A marble slab, protected 

 by a sort of temple, intended to commemorate the virtues of 

 a Watson of Goswick, has proved treacherous to its purpose ; 

 but from it the letters appear to have been erased by the 

 action of the saline atmosphere around. 



There is a stone let into the wall, or dyke, which com- 

 memorates the death of Mr. Alexander Nicolson, who, being 

 ten years minister of the Gospel in Holy Island, departed 

 this life the 31st day of August, 1711, and his age 65. The 

 Latin lines beneath may have sung his virtues, or his pedi- 

 gree, or pointed the moral, but they are untraceable. The 

 death's head and cross bones, on each side of which the lines 

 were engraved, remain in good condition. A stone hard by 

 is sacred to the memory of Launcelot Wilson, who died May 

 15th, 1822, aged 77 years, and 31 years minister of this parish. 

 I can just remember the old man, who was distinguished 

 for benevolence and kind-heartedness, and who took a lively 

 interest in all that concerned the Island. He was well 

 known, all the country round, as the " Bishop of Holy 

 Island." The most pretentious epitaph in the yard is the 

 following : — 



"In memory of Gilbert Selby, a gentleman of unsullied 

 humanity and honour, an invaluable friend to the inhabitants 

 of this Island, and especially so to the poor. He departed 

 this life, on the 11th of January, 1788, aged 79 years. Also 

 of Sirai, his wife, who, sorrowing, survived him 30 years, 

 and died on the 30th of June, aged 86 years. 



So this the World's uncertain span, 

 Nor zeal for GOD, nor love for man, 

 Gives mortal monuments a date 

 Beyond the power of time and fate. 

 But better boon benigh the Heaven 

 To faith and charity has given, 

 And bids the Christian hopes sublime 

 Transcend the bounds of fate and time." 



In the evening made the acquaintance of a native fisher- 

 man — Ralph Allison,— and phrenologists would at once have 

 pronounced that he had a good head. He was, at all events, 

 a stalwart man, but had lost his forearm a few years ago, by 

 an accident in the prosecution of his calling. He had not 

 learned to observe, and great caution was needed in accepting 



