Bjxies of Derwent. 3D9 



a hundred years, when Mr. AnthoDy Humble of 

 Prudhoe (whose family is still represented in that 

 village) first started hounds. The same blood was care- 

 fully maintained by his successors_, until, about seven 

 years ago, dumb madness broke out, and the entire 

 pack had to be destroyed. The catastrophe occurred 

 very shortly before the commencement of the hunting 

 season ; but the neighbouring Masters (Lord Zetland, 

 Major Browne, Mr. G. Fenwick, Mr. J. Cookson, &c.) 

 at once came unsolicited to the rescue ; and within 

 three weeks Colonel Cowenwas set going again with 

 more hounds than he had before. His present Kennels 

 are at Coalburn, about four miles from Blaydon by the 

 Tyne : and in a good position for the country. 



Some of the principal chains of woodland run as 

 follows : The great and well preserved woods of 

 Minster Acres adjoin those of Mr. Ormston of Healy, 

 who has planted a large circle of covert extending over 

 an area of hundreds — almost thousands — of acres. 

 From the Tyne up the rugged valley of the DeviFs 

 Water runs Dipton Wood ; and, in fact, all up the far 

 west of the country, by Slaley, &c., wood follows wood 

 in close succession. Fir and larch are the chief 

 material to form them ; and foxes are plentiful all over 

 the west. In the same way woodlands run the whole 

 length of the Derwent, commencing on the moorlands 

 of Edmondbyers. Continuing past Muggleswick, like 

 coverts are found on the Shotley Hall estate, as also 

 by Pontop and Hamsterley (the property of Miss 

 Surtees, a direct descendant of the wittiest of 

 sporting writers) to Chopwell (where are some eleven 

 hundred acres of covert in the hands of the Commis- 



