DURHAM DUKOC. 



from which it is divided by the rivers Tyne and 

 Derwent, by Cumberland on tlie west, from which it 

 is separated by barren hills and moors, and by York- 

 shire on the south, the river Tees parting the two 

 counties. The outline of this county forms an irre- 

 gular triangle, the western angle of which is a moun- 

 tainous, bare, and barren region, crossed by a ridge 

 of hills, wliich lias not unaptly been styled the 

 English Appenines. This tract, however, is enrich- 

 ed by mines of lead and iron, and it extends along 

 the northern part of the county, till it terminates in 

 the great coal-fields, between the Tyne and the 

 Wear. Coal is likewise found on the southern side 

 of the county. In the eastern and central parts are 

 fair and fertile valleys, agreeably varied with hill, 

 dale, arable, and pasture land. The soil, in the 

 neighbourhood of the Tees, and on the borders of 

 some other rivers and brooks, is a rich clay or loam ; 

 but at a distance from these streams it is of an inferior 

 quality, interspersed with spots of sand and gravel. 



The principal rivers are the Derwent, the Wear, 

 and the Tees. The first-mentioned rises near the 

 confines of Northumberland, forms, for some distance, 

 the boundary of the two counties, and crossing an 

 angle of Durham, takes its course through a romantic 

 tract of country, and falls into the Tyne, near New- 

 castle. The Wear has its source in the western 

 heights, and, flowing eastward through a fine valley, 

 passes the city of Durham, and enters the sea below 

 Sunderland. The Tees rises from the same range 

 of hills with the preceding, and after a winding course 

 along the south border of the county, falls into the 

 sea some miles below Stockton. 



This county, considering its extent of coast, is not 

 very amply provided with ports and harbours. The 

 most important are South Shields, Sunderland, Hartle- 

 pool, and Stockton. From the variety of its soil, the 

 agricultural produce of the county is not easily 

 estimated. On the best lands wheat may yield 

 twenty or thirty bushels from an acre, barley from 

 thirty to forty, and oats, from twenty to forty. On 

 some spots, where the soil is gravelly, barley and 

 turnips are grown alternately, with the occasional 

 interposition of a crop of clover. The wood-lands 

 are not considerable, principally consisting of the 

 ornamental plantations belonging to the seats of the 

 nobility and gentry, and others bordering some of 

 the rivers, especially near the city of Durham. The 

 cattle are abundant, and are justly esteemed both for 

 the dairy and for fattening ; the sheep are generally 

 large, with long wool, and the breed, called the 

 Tees-water sheep, are in great request, as well as 

 the Wear-dale sheep, which are small, but produce 

 delicately flavoured mutton. In connexion with the 

 commerce of the county, may be noticed its cast- 

 metal founderies, iron-works, potteries, glass-houses, 

 copperas, coal-tar, and salt-works, quarries of marble, 

 firestone, and limestone, brick, lime, and tile-kilns, 

 and linen and woollen manufactures. The only city 

 is Durham ; the principal towns are Barnard Castle, 

 Darlington, Stockton, Sunderland; Hartlepool, Bis- 

 hop's Auckland, Marwood, Wolsingham, Stanhope, 

 and Staindrop ; but at some of these places the 

 markets have been discontinued. Population of the 

 county in 1831, 253,700. 



DURHAM, the capital of the county of that name, 

 is situated on the river Wear, about 260 miles from 

 London. It is irregularly built on a rocky eminence, 

 almost encompassed by the Wear, whose precipitous 

 banks are fringed with woods, which add much to 

 the beauty of the scene. The highest ground in the 

 centre is occupied by the cathedral and castle, which, 

 with the streets called the Baileys, are included with- 

 jii the limits of the old walls of the city. Below the 

 wnlls on one side the declivity is ornamented with 



gardens and plantations reaching to the banks of the 

 Wear ; and on the opposite side are steep and lofty 

 rocks; while the more distant prospect displays rich 

 meadows, green hills, and houses, in beautiful variety. 

 The market-place is a small quadrangle, having in 

 the centre a conduit to supply the inhabitants with 

 water, on the south side a piazza, where the corn- 

 market is held, and on the west the guildhall, ori- 

 ginally erected by Bishop Tunstal, about 1555, but 

 since repaired and much improved. The central 

 conduit is an octagon building, surmounted by a 

 statue of Neptune ; and the water is conveyed from 

 a spring about half a mile distant. A new and 

 handsome bridge over the Wear was erected between 

 1772 and 1777, at the expense of the Dean and 

 Chapter, instead of a former bridge at some distance, 

 which was destroyed by a flood in November, 1771. 

 There are also two ancient bridges, Framwell-gate 

 bridge, built about 1120 by Bishop Flambard, and 

 Elvet-bridge, built by Bishop Pudsey. The new 

 jail, house of correction, and county court-house, are 

 at the head of Old Elvet ; they occupy a large square 

 area, on the north side of which is the court-house, 

 which, besides the Crown and Nisi Prius courts at 

 each end, contain commodious apartments for the 

 judge, jury, counsel, &c. These extensive buildings 

 were commenced in 1809, and cost the county 

 140,000. A handsome theatre was erected in 

 1791. There are two public libraries, besides those 

 of the Bishop and Dean and Chapter, an agricultural 

 and a horticultural society. Here are also handsome 

 public assembly-rooms, and a race-course, where 

 races have been annually run in April or May, since 

 the reign of Charles II. The bishopric is esteemed 

 one of the richest benefices in the kingdom, and is 

 valued in K. B. at 2821 : 1 : 5d.; but its real annual 

 revenue is supposed to exceed 20,000. The dignity 

 attached to this see is very great, the Bishop being 

 Count Palatine and Custos Rotulorum, possessing the 

 appointment of high sheriff' and all the officers of 

 justice. Population in 1831, 10,125. 



DUROC, MICHAEL, duke of Friuli, a distinguished 

 general under Bonaparte, was born at Porit-a-Mous- 

 son, hi 1772. His father was of an ancient family of 

 Auvergne ; having become a captain and knight of 

 St Louis, he man-led, and established himself in 

 Lorraine. Young Duroc was early destined for the 

 army, and studied at the military school of Pont-a- 

 Mousson. March 1, 1792, he was made lieutenant 

 of artillery. He then served in the republican 

 armies. Honourable mention is made of his name 

 in the bulletins of the Italian anny, particularly at 

 the siege of Mantua, and at the battle of Sismone, 

 in 1796. He served, during the first campaign in 

 Italy, as aid-de-camp of the general of artillery, 

 Lespinasse. Being subsequently appointed aid-de- 

 camp to general Bonaparte, he soon made himself 

 conspicuous for coolness, courage, and ability. He 

 distinguished himself at the battle of Grimolano, 

 where he was wounded, and his horse was killed 

 under him. At the passage of the Izonso, in Friuli, 

 he was mentioned as one of the bravest and most 

 able officers. The title of duke of Friuli, which lie 

 received ten years afterwards, was chosen in allusion 

 to his conduct at Izonso. Duroc followed general 

 Bonaparte into Egypt, and was promoted to the rank 

 of chief of battalion the twenty-fifth of Brumaire, 

 year VI. During this campaign, in wlu'ch his 

 services were of the greatest value, his name was 

 again mentioned with honour, after the battle of 

 Salahia, the successful result of which was mainly 

 owing to his valour. During the expedition into 

 Syria, at the siege of Jaffa, Duroc, seeing the grena- 

 diers falling at the foot of the breach, and wavering, 

 put himself at their head, and engaged, hand to 



