THE TYNEDALE COUNTRY. 129 



the conclusion that there was no finer hunting country either 

 in England or Ireland. 



Before going into details of the country I must, however, 

 refer to something I have already written. I referred to 

 an extract in Baihf s Thmtinrf Birectory which men- 

 tioned i\Ir. Robertson, of Lees, a.nd the Northumbeirland 

 and North Durham Hounds, the inference being that this 

 pack were the predecessors of the Tynedale. I explained 

 that I was unable to understand the reference, and gave my 

 opinion to that effect. Since then I have had a letter from 

 a hunting man of high standing who resides in the Tynedale 

 country, and who writes me: "I never examined Baily^& 

 account of Tynedale before, and agree with you that it is 

 a mistake or a blunder. I don't think Mr. Robertson, of 

 Lees, ever hunted the present Tynedale country." My 

 correspondent has looked up the Local Records — a well- 

 known Northumberland classic — and has sent me one or two 

 extracts which entirely go to prove that Mr. Robertson 

 hunted in North Northumberland only, and that what is now 

 the Tynedale country was hunted or managed by a com- 

 mittee for a short time, after which Mr. Nicholas Maughan 

 became the first Master. 



The extracts are as follow : — 



" March, 1837. — During this month an arrangement waa 

 made by which Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bart., relin- 

 quished the hunting of South Northumberland and entrusted 

 the future management of his hounds to a committee consist- 

 ing of Sir Edward Blackett, Edward Riddell, and M. Clayton, 

 Esqrs. 



" April, 1838. — During the spring of this year R. J. 

 Lambton, Esq., gave up the maintenance of his celebrated 

 pack of foxhounds, which was sold for £3,000. A meeting 

 of the gentlemen of the county of Durham v/as held about the 

 latter end of the month at Durham, when measures were 

 taken for raising funds for continuing the hunt and for 

 obtaining such a pack of hounds as would not discredit their 

 predecessor. 



" May, 1839.— During this month Mr. Robertson, of Lees, 

 purchased for 1,000 guineas the hounds which Lord Suffield 

 had bought of Mr. R. Lambton. The pack was afterwards 



