fearful description, and created well-grounded suspicion that the corn would be completely destroyed; yet no apprehensions were entertained, by those who had corn standing out upon the banks of the Coquet, that the river would so far overflow its boundaries as to cause that destruction which was done. So rapidly did it rise about nine o'clock on Sunday morning, that in twenty minutes whole fields were completely swept off. The appearance of the majestic stream from Felton-bridge was singularly picturesque, rushing from the deep woody recesses of Felton park, covered with autumnal spoils, and bidding defiance to the puny arm of man to strip it of its trophies. For two hours it presented an unbroken stream of sheaves of corn, hay, trees, gates; and several sheep were amongst the tributes which the river had to offer to the ocean. Mr. Spearman, of Warton, lost most-about twenty-six. Mr. Story, of Caistron, and Mr. Armstrong, of Thorney-haugh, each lost about ten or twelve. The loss of corn, between Harbottle and Warkworth, was about seventy acres. Many had narrow escapes in attempting to remove property out of the wild career of the flood. A poor hare was seen below Weldon bridge, sailing down on a barley-sheaf. Her frail bark was cast upon a savage shore, and the timid navigator fell a prey to barbarians. The corn grounds upon the Till were inundated and the vale of Wooler, was one sheet of water.

The river Tweed, on Sunday forenoon, rose to an unusual height, and, when not confined by the banks, spread itself over a wide extent of land; the increased expanse of water, and its impetuous rush to the ocean, giving the river an appearance of novel and imposing grandeur. In the course of the day the devastating effects of the flood upon property situated higher up the stream became strikingly visible in the singular and indeed melancholy spectacle which the river presented, its whole surface, from side to side, in Berwick harbour and above the bridge, being thickly strewn with sheaves of corn, large beams, trunks of trees, fences, &c., and the carcases of two or three pigs, as also that of a deer, were observed on the water. Some slight attempts were made to save part of the property thus carried down, but they were only successful to a very limited extent. A considerable quantity of wood was saved by being washed ashore, and next day a bar of iron, fifteen feet long, was found in the salmon nets of one of the fishings beside Berwick bridge. The value of the grain which was carried down, independent of any other kind of property, must have been very considerable. The damage sustained by Norham bridge was of serious character. When the river first assumed a threatening appearance on Sunday morning, people were engaged in removing a flock

of sheep from an island, of about fifteen acres of extent, on the eastern point of which the central pillar of the bridge is placed. About ten o'clock the river was much swollen and waxing rapidly; apprehensions were then entertained of the work sustaining damage. It was not, however, till between two and three o'clock in the afternoon that the temporary structure, partly supporting the immense wooden arch on the south side gave way before the force of the reckless current, which by this time was pursuing its heedless course with an awfully majestic grandeur. This accident was wholly owing to the quantity of corn, trees, &c., which was being carried down the stream, collected in a body against it; a similar structure supporting the north arch remained uninjnred. Great fear was now entertained for the safety of the arch, which was nearly completed, having a span of 190 feet. The river continued to increase in size, and about two o'clock on Monday morning the entire arch was driven with indescribable violence from the masonry work, and was almost instantaneously borne away by the impetuous stream-fragments of it were cast on the sides of the river, and others floated out to sea, and were cast on the coast about Spittal, Cheswick, &c. The damage done was estimated at about £2,000 or £3,000.

The river Reed was swelled to a tremendous size, overflowing its banks, and carrying away with it considerable quantities of corn and hay, which were standing cut in the fields adjoining its boundaries, and spoiling completely the standing corn and turnips over which it came, constituting the greatest part of the loss. Of the villages in the vicinity, none suffered so much as that of Otterburn, but the damage done to it was not done by the river Reed, (as it stands near a quarter of a mile from it,) but by a small rivulet that winds its course close past the eastern side of the village, and which by the oldest inhabitant never was known to be so large as at this time. The village consists of two rows of houses, each of about 110 yards long, with a bridge at the eastern extremity over the rivulet; about four o'clock in the morning the water was exceedingly high, being half way up the village, the houses nearest the rivulet were half full of water, in the low stories, causing the inhabitants to take shelter in the upper parts; but about half-past four, it rose two feet higher in the course of five minutes, and spread itself much more extensively; it was at its height at a quarter to five, at which time the bridge would have been swept off had it not been for the giving way of a massy wall near the bridge, which gave a new channel to the current. The water was in all the houses excepting two, the under stories of those nearest the rivulet being nearly full of water; much property was of course damaged. All in the village suffered excepting two or three

individuals, and several horses had a narrow escape. This extraordinary swell in the rivulet was caused by the bursting of two fish ponds, one occupying about six acres, and of considerable depth, the other much smaller; these gave way, sweeping everything before them.

Although the flood in the Tyne was not so high as on many former occasions, the plantations at Styford, the residence of Charles Bacon Grey, esq., were quite under water, as were all the low lands in the vicinity; and at Hexham, the tan-yard of Mr. John Ridley, situate in Gilesgate, was completely overflowed, and considerable damage done to the bark liquor in the pits. The houses in the neighbourhood were so much flooded that the chairs and tables floated in the rooms. Among the various articles washed down the Tyne during the flood, were large quantities of bobbins of cotton thread. Many of these were picked up at Blyth.-Local Papers.

1839 (September 17). The port of Seaton Sluice was a scene of great rejoicing, in consequence of the welcome dinner given to Mr. James Thompson, the landlord of the Melton Constable Hotel, lately erected there, it being more than half a century since any buildings or other improvements had been made in that town. The harbour here is one of great curiosity, having been cut through a solid rock, the entrance into the harbour being fifty-two feet deep, thirty feet broad, and nine hundred feet long, and is well worthy of the attention of the stranger. Seaton Sluice is situated about five and a half miles north from North Shields. The manor of Seaton comprised a part of the barony of Delaval, and has continued in that family to the present time. The haven here was formed by sir Ralph Delaval, and was originally a short distance to the north, of small extent, dry at low water, and difficult at the entrance. The river also made its course due east, until it was within a little way of the sea, and then, by a sudden turn, discharged itself due north. The seabanks at this point were bold and lofty, and formed an angle, one side facing the north, and the other almost due east. At the point of this angle the haven was made, in the construction of which, sir Ralph Delaval found enough to exercise his skill and patience. The stone pier which covered it from the north-east wind was carried away by the sea more than once; and when he had overcome this difficulty, a new inconvenience arose, by his port filling up with mud and sand, though a pretty sharp rill ran through it. In order to remove this mischief, he placed a strong sluice, with flood-gates, upon the brook, and these being shut by the coming in of the tide, the back-water collected into a body, and forcing a passage at the ebb, carried all before it, which, twice in 24 hours, scoured the bed of the haven. The cut through the solid freestone-rock, above mentioned,

and forming the present entrance to the harbour was effected by the late lord Delaval. The word Sluice was added to the name of this place, from the the sluice and flood-gates at the mouth of the port. The newly erected hotel contains every convenience, and will be of considerable advantage to the port and neighbourhood.—Local Papers, &c.

1839. The Wesleyan Methodists of Hexham, having purchased the large double house opposite the Abbey-gate, took down the rear of the building, and erected a splendid chapel; the front being appropriated as the preacher's house and vestry, whilst an infant school, common to all denominations, is conducted on the ground floor of the new erection. This house, long occupied by the Messrs. Stokoe, surgeons, and previously by the eccentric Bobby Lowes, has not escaped the charge of being haunted-founded it may be supposed, on an incident elsewhere recorded in the life of the lawyer. The situation is commanding, and the chapel attracts a numerous congregation. The itinerant preachers at present (1845) on the Hexham circuit, are Messrs. Cooke and Owen.-J. R's. MS.

September 19.-The steam engine, on Sunderland Moor, belonging to the Sunderland and Durham Railway, burst with a terrific explosion about eight o'clock on the morning, and completely destroyed the building in which it was placed. The roof and side walls were blown into the air and scattered over the ground to a great distance, surrounding the engine, doing considerable damage to other parts of the works on which they were thrown. Several coal waggons standing near the engine were also considerably damaged. The boiler which burst was about six tons weight, and on leaving the place where it was fixed it is described as having the appearance, at a distance, of a balloon ascending into the air. So great was the force of the explosion that the greater part of this massive boiler was carried through the air to a distance of seventy or eighty yards, where it finally fell upon the moor. Another part of the boiler, which was expanded nearly into a flat sheet, fell close by the ruined building. Two firemen were severely scalded and otherwise injured by the falling fragments of the buildings.-Local Papers.

1839 (Sept 22).-A commodious chapel, built by Mr. Coulthard, at Bill Quay, for the use of the Wesleyan Methodists, was opened, and collections made in aid of the Missionary funds.-Ibid.

Same day, the new Relief chapel, Alnwick, a remarkably neat and commodious building, elegantly fitted up, and capable of seating 600 people, was opened for religious worship.-Ibid.

September 23.-Monday, the new burial ground at Barnard-castle was consecrated by the Right rev. the lord bishop of Durham: his

lordship preached a sermon on the occasion, after which a collection was made, amounting to £15., in aid of the funds raised for purchasing the ground.—Local Papers.

1839 (Sept. 23).-A club was formed under the appellation of the Godric Club, * having for its object the removal of the rubbish which concealed many of the beauties of the internal architecture of Finchale abbey, near Durham; and to preserve the remains of that ancient pile from premature decay. This desirable object was proposed to be accomplished by the trifling subscription of five shillings yearly from each member, in addition to a liberal contribution from the rev. H. Douglas, prebendary of Durham, on whose property the ruins of the venerable monastery stand. The first annual meeting of the club was held at Finchale on the above day, when the members present proceeded to the examination of the nave, the choir, and the place formerly occupied by the high altar, which had been so far cleared as to expose their original flooring. The party next examined the refectory, dormitory, cloisters, and other parts of the ancient priory; and afterwards adjourned to the neighbouring farm-house, where a president, secretary, treasurer, and committee of management were appointed.Gent's Mag.

September 26.-The foundation stone of an Episcopal chapel at West Herrington, in the parish of Houghton-le-Spring, was laid, in the presence of a large concourse of spectators, by the rev. R. Shepherd, curate of Houghton. The site for the chapel and the ground for the burial of the dead was the gift of the earl of Durham, and the rev. E. S. Thurlow, rector of Houghton, erected the sacred edifice at his own expence, and pays the clergyman who ministers in this part of the parish. This was the third chapel erected in the parish by Mr. Thurlow in less than fifteen years.-Local Papers.

This month, in working a limestone quarry, at Rock, a stone was discovered, bearing upon it all the marks of a petrified nest of snakes. Ibid.

September. This month, the town council of Gateshead, on the motion of Mr. alderman Pollock, seconded by Mr. Brockett, resolved that the clock of St. Mary's church should "be repaired and maintained, minute hands attached, and the faces illuminated with gas, out of the borough-rate, as a public convenience.”—Ibid.

September 28.-Died, at Witton Gilbert, near Durham, the very rev. Richard Richardson, D.D. in the 88th year of his age. He had held the perpetual curacy of Witton Gilbert for upwards of fifty-nine years, and was also precentor of St. David's, rector of Brancepath

• St Godric was the patron Saint of the priory of Finchale,