NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 23 



of the rapid growth of this tree, where it likes the soil. A brother-in-law 

 to me built an entrance lodge to his domain in North Wales, in which 

 no other wood was used but larch of only twelve years growth ! 



Previously to my setting- out for the North, a report had reached me 

 that Mr. Surtees was unwell, and I was prepared to find him not the 

 same " Anthony Surtees" that I had seen him during the jovial fort- 

 night I spent in his society at Sedgefield, when on my Yorkshire Tour ; 

 but I am happy to say, that although he may feel something of the 

 non sum qualis eram about himself, from the knocks and thumps to 

 which we fox-hunters are subject — in addition to having seen nearly 

 half a score of christmas days since then, I saw not the slightest 

 alteration in either his appearance or his spirits. I can only say, that, 

 following the example set me by mine host, and by the help of sundry 

 other irresistible allurements, I drank more claret during the five or six 

 days I spent at Hamsterley, than I had done in that space of time for 

 many a long day before. 



On Tuesday the fourth of November, Mr. Surtees, Jun. and myself 

 went to meet Sir Matthew White Ridley's hounds at Oakwood-gate, 

 about ten miles from Newcastle, on the Carlisle road, and about the 

 same distance across country from Hamsterley. To reach it we had 

 two rivers to cross, the Derwent and the Tyne, which latter being full 

 we made the passage in a horse-boat of by no means the safest con- 

 struction, at a place called Wylam. — Sir Matthew Ridley's hounds 

 were the only pack in these parts that I did not hunt with in my 

 former visit to the North, and of course T was very anxious to obtain a 

 sight of them, though, from reasons unnecessary to mention here, it was 

 deemed advisable to take a peep incognito. Indeed, as Mr. Surtees was 



