The surface of the river was now literally covered with craft of various kinds, and as the day was fine, every boat had a flag or other ornament, and the scene was one of unparalleled gaiety and animation. The procession again reached the Quayside amid the applause of many thousands of spectators, and passing beneath the bridge came abreast of the Mansion house, where, amid the music of artillery and bells, the mayor and his friends disembarked to partake of a slight refection. After a little time the whole was again in motion, the sunny banks were crowded with people, gentle and simple, in their holiday attire, all appearing equally solicitous to join in the general festivity. The guns at the Shot tower too, thundered their welcome, and received a deafening cheer from every one present. The procession then passed Team, Lemington, and Stella, receiving and returning the usual com pliments; the mayor and his party soon after landed at Newburn haughs, and the whole company were shortly engaged in a hearty dance, amid repeated showers of oranges and gingerbread, from the stray flight of which, the mayor and others of his worship's suite now and then received a friendly thump on the head, but all was good humour and gaiety. The river jury then proceeded to Hedwin streams which is situate two miles above Newburn, and as the river is shallow at this spot, the whole party was necessitated to walk, which however it did in excellent order, and to the harmony of many musicians who marched in advance. This part of the excursion was uncommonly pleasant as the country through which we went was exceedingly beautiful and picturesque. On arriving at Hedwin streams, the river jury took formal possession of their boundary stone as the mark of their utmost jurisdiction westward. Mr. Ostle, the harbour master, an individual of considerable proportions, with the help of the bargemen, placed himself on the top of the stone* with a glass of wine in his hand, and said, ‘In the name of the king and the corporation of Newcastle upon Tyne, I take formal possession of this stone and declare it to be the extent of their jurisdiction westward it has been theirs from time immemorial and will be theirs for all time to come; and I therefore propose the health of the king and the conservators of the river Tyne, at the high water mark.' This address was warmly cheered, while the pit lads began to fire off some cannon, the band to play, and bottles of wine to empty their exhilirating contents: dancing parties of men and women also began to form as if by instinct. The Cat House, a cottage a little distance from the boundary stone, was inhabited by a gentlewoman whose face bore evident marks of acquaintance with the middle of the last century; on this occasion she appeared at the door to greet the party, in a silk frock and diminutive lace cap; every gentleman uncovered in her presence, a token of respect she acknowledged with a very low courtesy. She was plentifully regaled with wine, for which she returned a flood of compliments, and then modestly intimated to the bottle holder, 'that it was customary for the empty bottle to be left at her house, and she thought it a pity to let good old customs go down." After a considerable time had elapsed, spent in the utmost harmony and good humour, the fallen state of the tide convinced the company that immediate departure was imperative: the pit-lads again fired their 'crackers' and the whole party marched off, and entering the boats, presented a motley floating mass, garnished with banners and flags without number, but on reaching the island called the King's meadows, the whole again landed and kept up a merry dance till it was nearly dark. Here were enacted a motley series of odd sports, quaffing, dancing, leaping, running and walking; men and women running in sacks, ass races, grinning for tobacco, and other polite exercises of humanity. Then there was good store for all, of ale and porter, nuts, gingerbread and candy, and not a little of each did the roysterers consume. The Crooked Billet' on the river side, a hostelrie of some note, on this day had its share of tenants, and many were the duckings' received by those who passed between the hostel and the scene of festivity. But darkness shewed itself and all that were able, embarked, the guns from the base of the shot tower * A pillar and slab pedestal, in all about four feet high. sent forth their flashes from behind the trees, now plainly discernible as the sun had long been set, and in a few minutes the thunders from the old castle, the bells of Saint Nicholas, and the lowering of the flags, announced the arrival of the barges at the place of starting. It is worthy of remark that this year was the first in which the Stewards of the Incorporated Companies, on board a highly decorated steamer, accompanied the procession,-a practice (with one or two exceptions, when the chief magistrate was unpopular) which has been continued to this day. A NEW SONG FOR BARGE-DAY, 1835. BY ROBERT GILCHRIST. SUNG ON BOARD OF THE STEWARD'S STEAM-BOAT. VOL. III. T well may grieve one's heart full sore, To be in such a movement Upon the river, as on shore, The rage is all improvement: MOnce blithe as grigs, our merriment Is chang'd to meditation, How we these ills may circumvent- The Quayside always was too big, Tant ships, that come with rampant rig, Against its sides are rested. Still to extend it in a tift, They're making preparation, And Sandgate-midden is to shift O what a Corporation! At Tyne-main once there was a caunch, 2 c But, somehow, it has crept away, By flood or excavation, And time there you need not delay- They think to move Bill-point-a spot Which has sent many ships to pot, From Snowdon's Hole to Wincomlee- How silent once was Wallsend-shore- The trade, they say, it will increase- Where Tynemouth-bar, I understand, The Tyne is still to join the sea- Bill Point, an immense jutting mass of bluff rock and soil, was situate near to Walker, on the north side of the Tyne, and proved a serious hindrance to the navigation of the river. Problematical as its removal, either in whole or in part, might appear, the corporation thought it possible, and Rennie in his report of June 17, 1816, estimates the cost of removing the more serious projection at £16,630. Nevertheless his proposal was not acted upon until 1838-43, when the work was begun and completed under the successive superintendence of Mr. Anderson, and Mr. Brooks, engineers to the Corporation. The total cost amounted to but £5,985. The materials removed were computed at about 120,000 tons, thus increasing the width of the river an hundred and ten feet between the low water of ordinary tides. The stone got out of the Point was used towards the formation of the corporation ballast-quays at Walker and Willington, and the embankments for the quay at the North shore.—Information of Mr. Brooks. O would the Tyne but cease to flow, Instead of sleeping safe at home- THE MORAL. As patriots in public cause, We never once have swerv'd yet, We're, like the Herbage-committee, HE following ballad was written by Robert Gilchrist to commemorate the death of John Forster, the Howden Pans fifer, to whose music we have alluded in our narrative. He was a well-known and expert musician, and met his death by the upsetting of a boat during the usual aquatic procession on Barge-day, May 27, 1824. JOIN an' lament wi' the sons o' the Nine, Douse dyems, canny men, lads an' lasses o' Tyne, Lament for his like never mair will ye see, Whee always could charm ye wi' smirkin' an' glee, Full bloomin', unskaith'd by the war's bloody strife, |