130 HUNTING IN MANY COUNTRIES. 



called the Northumberland and North Durham Hounds, and 

 it began the season on Wednesday, Oct. 30, with a famous 

 run from Etal to Paxton, in Berwickshire. 



" 1843, Feb. 10. — A dinner was given in the Assembly 

 Kooms, Newcastle, to Sir M. W. Ridley, Bart., by the mem- 

 bers of the Northumberland Hunt as a mark of their estima- 

 tion of his conduct as Master of the hounds. 



" 1843, July 15. — About this time the Northumberland 

 and North Durham Foxhounds (formerly part of the Lambton 

 pack), which had hunted the northern portion of Northum- 

 berland for some years, were sold to Lord Elcho by their 

 owner, D. Robertson, Esq., who relinquished the mastership. 



" 1844, May 27.— Wm. Russell, Esq., of Brancepeth, 

 having relinquished the keeping of foxhounds, a meeting of 

 noblemen and gentlemen was held in Durham, at which 

 Viscount Seaham, Mr. Russellj and Colonel Tower were 

 appointed a committee of management, and it was deter- 

 mined to found a new establishment, to be called the Durham 

 County Foxhounds. 



" 1845, May 19.— Sir M. W. Ridley, Bart., having inti- 

 mated his intention of giving up his hunting establishment, 

 a meeting of sportsmen was held in Newcastle, when it was 

 determined to keep up the hunt by subscription. 



" July 30. — Sir M. W. Ridley's hounds were sold by auc- 

 tion in London for £773." 



From the above one gathers that the committee mentioned 

 in the first extract held oiSce from 1837 until Mr. Maughan 

 was appointed Master in 1845, and I am inclined to think 

 that during the period referred to the country was still known 

 as Sir Matthew White Ridley's. It is plain, too (I think), 

 that the committee for a time looked after all the country 

 which is now included in the Tynedale and Morpeth hunts, 

 and it is probable that in 1839 Mr. Robertson began to hunt 

 Northern Northumberland only, and not the southern portion 

 of the county. Also it is the case that in 1844 Mr. Watson, 

 of North Seaton, and Mr. Vaughan were joint Masters of a 

 pack which hunted the western portion of what has since been 

 known as the Morpeth country, while Lord Elcho took over 

 the north side of Mr. Robertson's hunt. This arrangement 

 was made one year before ])>Ir. Maughan became Master of 



