The mouth of the Wear had compensation in the growth of other and more secular interests. Seven centuries ago Bishop Pudsey granted a charter to Sunderland; and the liberties and privileges of the borough were extended by subsequent holders of the See, in consideration of its increasing trade and consequence. In the sixteenth century, as we learn, the coal trade was already of some importance, and Sunderland was "enriched every day thereby;" grindstones also became a far-famed article of export from the Wear. Its industrial development was temporarily checked during the Civil War, when Sunderland became a centre of fighting between Cavaliers and Roundheads. The Scots army, under Leslie, Earl of Leven, encamped on what is now part of the long High Street of Bishop Wearmouth, and not far from the Building Hill, which local tradition points out as a Druidical place of worship. The King's forces from Newcastle drew out to face the "blue bonnets," first on Bolden Hill and afterwards at Hylton; and skirmishing took place, which was not attended with decisive results. The commercial development of Sunderland has since been steady and often rapid. Including Bishop Wearmouth and Monkwearmouth, it now contains some 130,000 inhabitants, and it ranks high among British ports in shipbuilding tonnage and coal output. It has other claims to distinction: Paley was rector of Bishop Wearmouth last century, and wrote his "Evidences" there; and further proofs could be given that learning and piety did not come to an end at Wearmouth in Biscopius's and Bede's time, any more than did the worldly enterprise of the "canny" inhabitants. Outside, the North Sea beats against the long piers and lighthouses, and rocks the fleets of steamers and sailing craft lying at anchor, or plying between the Wear and the Tyne; and on either hand, at Roker and Whitburn, Ryhope and Seaham, are the bold cliffs and bathing sands, the caves and cloven "gills" and wooded "denes," to which the dwellers by the Wear resort to fill their lungs with fresh air. JOHN GEDDIE. [Illustration: CROSS FELL.] THE TEES. Among the Fells--The Weel--Caldron Snout--High Force--Gibson's Cave--Bow Leys--Middleton-in-Teesdale--The Lune and the Balder--Scandinavian Names--Cotherstone Cheese--History in Teesdale--Scott's Description of the Tees--Egliston Abbey--Greta Bridge--Dickens and Mr. Squeers--Brignal Banks and Rokeby--The Village of Ovington--Gainford--Pierce Bridge--High and Low Coniscliffe--Croft--Yarm--The Industries of the Tees--Stockton--Middlesbrough--The Sea.