266 Report of Meetings for 1880, by James Hardy. 



whicli shewed that the tree had been at some time anterior to 

 this favoured with a similar compliment. Leaving the grounds 

 the homeward march was begun. As we passed Mitford village 

 Mr Fergusson related a story of a well which once was a feature 

 of the place. A monk who felt convinced that eyesight could be 

 restored to a blind person by washing the eyeballs with a piece 

 of the robe of St. Cuthbert steeped in the water of the well, drew 

 a cupful and inserted the cloth. To the astonishment of all 

 present the fabric, when drawn out, shewed that water had not 

 produced any effect upon it, as it was perfectly dry. On bathing 

 the eyes of the blind person with the water the sight was re- 

 stored, and the priest who drank the water, to be careful that it 

 should not enter the well once more, was instantly cured of 

 dysentery. So runs the strange story. The walk back to Mor- 

 peth was delightful, the only pause made being at a spring of 

 mineral water which bubbled up through the sand on a haugh 

 by the river," 



The robe of St. Cuthbert was of amianthus, and would neither 

 wet nor burn. Eeginald who lived in the reign of king Stephen, 

 is the authority for the miracle at the well, in his book, " De 

 Admirandis," &c., chap. 53, pp. 109-10 (Surtees Society). Hodg- 

 son, in his translation says, it was the dish of iron chained of a 

 neighbouring well filled' with crystal water, into which the 

 miraculous cloth was introduced. The original word is concha. 

 It was king Edwin, who, according to Beda, provided for the 

 wayfarer a dish attached to the public wells, before A.D. 633. 

 " The king took such good care for the good of his nation, that 

 in several places where he had seen clear springs near the high- 

 ways, he caused stakes to be fixed, with brass dishes hanging at 

 them for the refreshment of travellers."*" Col. Mitford has 

 erected a stone-fountain on the supposed scene of the miracle. 



After dinner a cordial vote of thanks was tendered to Mr Jas. 

 Eergusson, Morpeth, for the information he had imparted, and 

 the trouble he had taken during the day. Mr Fergusson, and the 

 Eev. James Spence, Ladhope, Galashiels, were proposed as mem- 

 bers of the Club. There were laid on the table reports on the 

 effects of the past winter on vegetation from numerous corres- 

 pondents. 



During a morning walk by the river-side below the town, 

 * Stevenson's Beda, p. 382. 



