Anniversary Address. 135^ 



portion of the history of Northumberland, by the accurate and 

 beautiful surveys which have been executed at the cost of His 

 Grace the Duke of Northumberland, by Mr. Maclauchlan. The 

 Duke j)ro230ses, I believe, next to direct the attention of that ac- 

 complished surveyor and antiquary to laying down the still more 

 ancient series of fortifications, which stretch across from the hills 

 near which we are now assembled, to the coast. "^' 



The tale of the curious sculptured stones, which have been 

 found in close connection mth so many of these camps, is yet un- 

 told. Mr. Tate has been engaged upon this investigation, and 

 will, I hope, ere long, have something to disclose to us. We need 

 not despair, after the progress which has been made in deciphering 

 the Runic inscriptions, that a key to the meaning of these strange 

 circles, may be discovered. 



The past season has been very peculiar in its character. Suc- 

 ceeding a year of unusual dryness, the same absence of rain has 

 marked its course ; water has become scarce, and many weak 

 springs have been dried up. From the 1st of January up to the 

 28th of September only 20 days of rain, and 34 days of changeable 

 weather are noted, while we mark 214 days of /«^V weather. The 

 winter was remarkably mild, the lowest temperature reached, 

 being January 14th 27°, February 8th 29°, March 31st 25°, A^oril 

 Ist and 16th 26°. The summer which succeeded has been hot-, 

 the thermometer in the shade having reached, May 29th 78°j 

 July 10th 76°, July 16th 86°, August 13th and 18th 76°. The 

 average temperature at 8 a.m. has been January 40°, February 

 40°, March 43^°, April 42^°, May 50^°, June 56°, July 60i°j 

 August 60J°, and September 53°. The fall of rain at Lilburn 

 Tower from January 1st to SejDtember 14th has only amounted to 

 14-031 inches. f Notwithstanding the high temperature there has 

 been an absence of thunder storms in this district ; but the 

 Aurora Borealis has appeared unusually early — on the 28th 

 August. 



♦Ancient Fortifications. — Yeavering, Akeld (Gleed's Cleugli, Hareliope), 

 Humbledon, Green Castle (Cup and Saucer), Maiden Castle (Kettles Camp), 

 Weetwood, Doddington, Horton, Chatton, Chillingliam, Eos Castle, Lyham, 

 Belford Moor (Eoman), Belford, Outchester (Roman), Spindlestone. 



Beacons. — Yeavering, Eos Castle, Warenton Law, Bamburgh, and Alnwick. 



fFALL OF Eain at Lilburn Tower.— January 0-875, February 1-740, 

 March 2-055, AprH 2-295, May 0-345, June 1-820, July 2-156, August 1-245, 

 September 1 -500. Totall4-031 inches. 



