president's address. 413 



remains of Bren.ksheu.gh church were visited, and afforded some 

 interesting reminiscences of the olden times. Our way next 

 lay over the haughs and banks, and through the woods and 

 tangled brakes of the river Coquet. Although no very rare plants 

 were noticed, the beauty and abundance of those simple wild 

 flowers, which have been the joy of our English spring in every 

 age, were greatly admired. The swallow was by several of 

 our party seen for the first time for the season ; and some pretty 

 old school boys started on hearing the curious voice of the cuckoo. 

 Arrived at the hermitage the Rev. "Wm. Dunn, vicar of Wark- 

 worth, kindly undertook to explain its principal features. He 

 afterwards accompanied the party over the castle and to the 

 church, and pointed out the various changes which at different 

 periods have been effected in these buildings. Through the kind- 

 ness of Lady Percy, the private rooms in the castle were thrown 

 open to our inspection. 



After dinner five members were elected, and a paper was read 

 by the Rev. "Wm. Dunn on Bishop Percy's ballad of the Hermit 

 of Warkworth, which formed a fitting and most agreeable con- 

 clusion to the day's proceedings. 



The Second Meeting of the season took place on "Wednesday, 

 June 20th, at Easington, and comprehended a visit to Horden 

 Hall, and a range through Eox Hole Dene and Hawthorn Dene. 

 The previous day having been very wet not many of the members 

 joined the excursion : those who did so, were rewarded by the 

 enjoyment of a ramble presenting numberless features of interest 

 and the most auspicious weather. Going by train to Sunderland 

 our party, which was there increased to fifteen, proceeded to 

 Easington in an open carriage. In the course of the day we 

 were joined by twelve members of the Seaham Club. At Easing- 

 ton the party was very courteously received by the rector, the 

 Rev. Jas. Manisty. He kindly conducted them over the rectory 

 and church, both of which have several features of interest, and 

 hospitably recruited their strength before sending them on their 

 way, an important engagement preventing him from accompany- 

 ing them in their subsequent rambles. 



