254 Annioersary Address. 



the remains of Alnwick and Hulne Abbeys. Near to the 

 Forest Lodge, they saw an ancient British cist or sepulchre 

 which had recently been uncovered ; a fine urn now pre- 

 served in Alnwick castle, found in this grave, shows the 

 burial to have been in the latter part of the Celtic period. 



The other party took the route to Ratcheugh Crag, where 

 the great basaltic "whin sill " is seen in two distinct stratums 

 or intruded masses, with beds of limestone and shale between 

 them. The basalt is rudely columnar. The lower stratum 

 or mass, is at the north part of the section, 80 feet in thick- 

 ness, with a dip south-eastward ; but towards the south end 

 of the section, it dwindles down to two feet in thickness, prov- 

 ing that it is not a regular continuous stratum, but a wedge- 

 shaped mass intruded amongst the mountain limestone beds ; 

 and accordingly we find, that the heated igneous basalt has 

 metamorphosed the shale below into porcelain jasper, and the 

 limestone above into crystalline marble. This basalt ranges 

 through the county from Kyloe Crags on the north, to Glen- 

 whelt on the south ; its relative position among the limestone 

 strata is not the same throughout its course ; for in one part 

 a well-recognised limestone sill is immediately above it, and 

 in other parts, many fathoms below it. 



All were re-united at dinner, the president of this — the 

 senior club — occupying the chair, and Dr. Johnston — presi- 

 dent of the Tyneside club — officiating as vice-chairman. After 

 papers had been read by members of the Tyneside Club, a 

 report was read by Mr. Tate on the remains of an old Celtic 

 town on Greaves Ash, near Linhope, with an account of 

 excavations made there and in similar structures in the valley 

 of the Breamish. Mr. Wm. Boyd read notes of plants and 

 insects observed, new to the district. Mr. Williamson 

 gave an account of oyster and mussel beds, now being arti- 

 ficially formed at Alnmouth for the benefit of the fishermen, 

 at the expense of his Grace the Duke of Northumber- 

 land. 



The members of both clubs, in a kindly spirit, freely 

 mingled with each other ; and it is hoped the efiect will be 



