NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 31 



not Mr. Marley is a sportsman I had no opportunity of informing myself ; 

 but of this I am quite sure — he is an obliging, good-natured person, and 

 '' suum cuique," give everyone his due — a most excellent tailor, of 

 which I had proof in a pair of the best, and best fitting, dress trousers, [ 

 ever put upon my person, in my life. 



I have now little more to say of my agreeable visit to Hamsterley than 

 that, on my departure from it, the command was repeated that I should 

 revisit it on my return, but circumstances placed it out of my power to 

 do so. I had the pleasure of spending one day at Elsvvick with Mr. 

 Hodgson, M. P. for Newcastle, an old friend and schoolfellow of Mr. 

 Surtees, Jun., a gentleman of considerable talent and information ; and of 

 spirit too, as will be allowed, I think, when I state that when barely of 

 age he contested the large and populous town of Newcastle against the 

 former members, who had so long represented it that it was then almost 

 regarded as their own borough. He has a splendid house within two 

 miles of Newcastle, a town in which there appears to be as much busi- 

 ness stirring as in any other that I could name, if not somewhat more. 

 But it is a devilishly Tartarus-like looking place, and whoever lives in 

 it with a view of making a fortune, should not be long about it. 



On Saturday, the 8th, I accompanied Mr. Surtees in his carriage to 

 Newcastle, for the purpose of pursuing my journey, and at twelve o'clock 

 was seated on the box of the Royal William coach (I like that name too,) 

 which starts at that hour for Berwick upon Tweed. It was now I found 

 that I had taken leave of coaching, in any thing like its proper form — at 

 least for some time to come ; for the horses were slow, the coachman 

 slower; and the stupid, uncoachmanlike, unsafe practice of running the 

 leaders' reins through the throat-latches, instead of the head terrets of the 



