154 REPORT OF THE MEETINGS FOR 1897 



towered hills in the pictures of Nicholas Poussin," was 

 observed in passing. 



In 1667 Harnham came into the possession of Major 

 Babington, Governor of Berwick. His wife Katherine, 

 daughter of Sir Arthur Haselrigg, was distinguished as well 

 for her beauty as for her active sympathy with the Puritans. 

 Being under the ban of excommunication, when she died, 

 she was buried in a cave cut out of the rock on which her 

 residence stood. The Pev. William Veitch, a famous Covenanter, 

 lived here for four years, and preached regularly at Harnham 

 and other places. From here he went to Stanton. There he 

 was betrayed, and thrown into prison at Morpeth. Meanwhile 

 William of Orange landed, and the Revolution put an end to 

 persecution. William Veitch was free. Very little of the 

 fortifications of Harnham remain. About two miles more 

 by road and Shaftoe Crags were reached, and all the members 

 left the carriages, many to climb the face of the Crags, 

 others to make the ascent by zig-zag paths through the tall 

 brackens, and inspect the cave and famous punch-bowl. 

 The cave is formed by a huge overhanging rock on the southern 

 face of the Crags. The ** punch-bowl " is one of the largest 

 of several hollows worn into the upper face of the great 

 crowning block of sandstone grit. It has been partially 

 dressed by hand, and is said to have been filled with liquor on 

 the occasion of a marriage. There is here a fine camp circle, 

 and beyond this a somewhat remarkable deep depression 

 crossing the hill from east to west, and known as Salter's Nick. 

 It was much used formerly by smugglers of salt as well as of 

 other commodities. There was no time to visit the residence of 

 East Shaftoe and the site of the ancient chapel. 



Resuming seats the drive was continued on the main 

 road till Capheaton Lodge was reached, and then a 

 divergence was made to visit Capheaton, the residence of the 

 Swinburnes, now in the possession of Sir John Swinburne, 

 Bart. In the absence of Sir John, then on his way to the 

 meeting of the British Association in Toronto, the members 

 were received by Mr James Hepple, Sir John Swinburne's 

 bailifit. The Hall is a very fine specimen of the style of 

 architecture prevalent at the end of the l7th century. It was 

 built in 1668, Pobert Trollope being architect — the same who 

 had designed the old Guildhall in Newcastle, and Netherwitton 



