'2 PHKSIDENT s ADDRKSS. 



of some new fact or thought is rendered still more pleasing, as, 

 by the very revival of the reminiscence, its value is enhanced. 



The First Field Meeting of the Season was held at Gosforth 

 Lake, on Thursday, the 11th of 'May. The party, numbering 

 about sixty members, and including several ladies, proceeded by 

 train to Killingworth Station, where they arrived soon after one 

 o'clocV, P.M., and by the kind permission of Thomas Eustace 

 Smith, Esq., M.P., entered Gosforth Park by the east lodge at 

 the Four Lanes End, and walked through the Fir woods to the 

 south side of the lake, an artificial sheet of water, rush -fringed, 

 above fifty acres in extent. The lake was made partly by the 

 subsidence of the ground caused by the workings of Killingworth 

 Colliery, and partly by embanking. It is frequently visited by 

 wild Swan. At the time of our visit there was only one Swan, 

 two others having departed a few days previously. Coots, wild 

 Duck, and other aquatic birds, breed near its margin, but, owing 

 to the lateness of the season, their nidification was not far ad- 

 vanced. Accompanied by Mr. Bocock, the resident Steward, 

 who pointed out all the objects of interest, the party next pro- 

 ceeded to Gosforth House, a handsome mansion built in "the year 

 1757, from designs by Fain, and added to by the late Rev. Ralph 

 Brandling, about the year 1820. Tlie gardens, vineries, fernery, 

 and forcing houses, were also visited. The fernery was exa- 

 mined with much interest. After an enjoyable walk along the 

 l)eautiful main avenue to the fine gateway at the west entrance 

 of the ])ark, the party traversed the home grounds and returned 

 by the north side of the lake to the lodge by which entrance to 

 the park had been gained earlier in the day. 



It was not anticipated that many plants in bloom would be 

 met with, yet the naturalists, in admiiing ^'^ature in all its phases, 

 felt that perhaps at no season of the year is the countrj' more 

 attractive than in spnng. 



ftentlo HpringI in simHhinc clml. 

 Well (Inst tliou ilij' power disjilay ! 

 For winter niakctli the light heart s'lil. 

 .Vinl ihon, tho!! makest the. hri] heart gay. 



