The Morpeth. 457 



you reach the extreme west of all — south of Rothbury 

 — that you meet with hills of any severity. Touching 

 the Tynedale^ again^ is lighter^ better-going ground, 

 merging into what that Hunt consider their best 

 territory — and foxes are continually passing from the 

 one country into the other. 



The horse to show you sport with the Morpeth 

 needs to be such as yoii might usually denominate an 

 " useful sort " — meaning thereby an animal blessed 

 with no special high qualities^ but endowed with 

 substance, endurance, and a good constitution. If 

 his -^jkiii is a trifle thick, and the hair on his legs 

 somewhat robust in texture and exuberant in growth, 

 he will be none the less capable of forcing his way 

 harmlessly through thick thorn fences. An excitable 

 blood horse would run considerable risk of knocking 

 himself about, both here and in Lord Percy's country. 

 One of sturdier limbs and more stolid temperament 

 will be likely not only to keep his value together, but 

 to carry you in comfort from day to day. Unlike 

 those of the Duke of Buccleuch's country the fallows 

 cannot be galloped at all times as they come ; and a 

 fast horse is therefore not so much wanted. The 

 Morpeth days of hunting are Tuesday and Saturday, 

 with an occasional bye-day, and some of their chief 

 meets are as follows : 



In their Eastern district they go, by train, to 

 Acklington Station, to draw the Duke of Northumber- 

 land's plantations near at hand_, and probably those of 

 Lord Grey at Chevington Wood. By the same means 

 they reach Widdrington Station, for Mr. CresswelFs 

 woods close by. These are a certain find; and then 



