Report of Meetings for 1880, by James Hardy. 267 



Mentha arvensis, and corn-poppies were noted as field-weeds ; 

 Potentilla reptans, brambles, common burnet {Sanguisorla officin- 

 alis) and Geranium pratense, grew by the hedge and way-sides ; 

 Geranium syhaticum and Melica uniflora in the woods. In a 

 garden I saw the common fig-wort {Scrophularia nodosa) culti- 

 vated. This is of great repute in this part of Northumberland, 

 for making a healing ointment of, and so much is it valued, that 

 "herbalists" have made it very scarce in the wild state. In the 

 north of Ireland so much is it esteemed, that it is called ''Eose 

 Noble" from its supposed efficacy. 



The fifth meeting was held on September 29th and 30th, at 

 Gilsland. The company which met on this occasion numbered 

 about fifty, most of whom arrived on the evening of the 28th, 

 and took up their residence in the Shaws Hotel, an immense 

 establishment with every accommodation. Among those present 

 were the President, Mr Charles Watson, Dunse ; the two Secre- 

 taries, Dr Francis Douglas and Mr Hardy ; Eevs. J. F. Bigge, 

 Stamfordham ; J. CoUingwood Bruce, LL.D., Newcastle ; David 

 Paul, Eoxburgh ; E. F. Proudfoot, Fogo ; G. W. Sprott, D.D., 

 North Berwick ; "William Snodgrass, D.D., Oanonbie ; William 

 Stobbs, Gordon ; G. P. Wilkinson of Harperley Park, Darling- 

 ton; E. Hopper Williamson, Whickham; and Adam Wright, 

 Gilsland ; Drs Charles Douglas, Kelso ; Bowie, Carlisle ; Grier- 

 son, Melrose ; Main, Alnwick ; and McDowaU, Morpeth ; Lieut. - 

 Col. Grossman, C.M.G. and Capt. Forbes, E.N., Berwick ; Messrs 

 J. F. Baird of Beaumont Hill ; James Bogie, Edinburgh ; Alex. 

 Hay Borthwick, Ladiesyde, Melrose ; John B. Boyd of Cherry- 

 trees ; T. Craig Brown, Woodburn ; M. H. Dand, Hauxley 

 Cottage ; F. W. DarneU, South Durham ; John Freer, Melrose ; 

 James Heatley, Alnwick ; G. P. Hughes of Middleton Hall, 

 Wooler ; W. A. Hunter of Wellfield, Dunse ; James B. Kerr, 

 Kelso ; C. F. McCabe, Thirston House, Felton ; — Maling, New- 

 castle ; — Philipson, Newcastle ; Eobert Eenton, Fans, Earl- 

 stoun ; Adam Eobertson, Alnwick ; Duncombe Shafto, Brahce- 

 peth Eectory ; — Snodgrass, Canonbie ; J. J. Steytler, London ; 

 G. H. Thompson, Alnwick ; John TurnbuU of Abbey St. Bathans ; 

 Thomas Turnbull, LiUiesleaf ; J. J, Vernon, Hawick ; Adam 

 Watson, Morpeth ; and two ladies. 



The hotel stands at an elevation of about 600 feet, and the 

 view from the terrace commands the vale of the Irthing, and the 



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