DURHAM, (bishopric of), one of the counties of England. It lies between Cumberland and Yorkshire, being bounded on the west by part of Cumberland and Westmoreland, and on the east washed by the German ocean. It is 39 miles long and about 35 broad, of a triangular shape, the basis being formed by the sea-coast; and contains 52 parishes, four wakes, one city, eight market-towns, a considerable number of villages and villas, and about 100,000 inhabitants. The climate varies in different parts. Towards the west, among the inland hills, the air is keen, pure, and penetrating; on the sea-side more soft, though not so wholesome. The county is watered by 16 rivers, some of which are navigable by boats and lighters; and most of them abound with trout, pike, and salmon. The face of the country is agreeably diversified with hill and dale, wood and water; and, except in the western part, where there is a great number of naked hills, it generally exhibits the appearance of extraordinary cultivation and fertility. The soil in the hilly parts is barren; but the plains are remarkably fruitful. It produces corn and cattle in great abundance and perfection. The mountains yield iron, vitriol, and a considerable quantity of lead; and almost every part of the bishopric affords plenty of coal, which employs a great number of hands and vessels.
Durham is a county palatine, governed by the bishop, who had formerly great prerogatives. He had power to create barons, appoint judges, convocate parliaments, raise taxes, and coin money. The courts of justice were kept in his name; and he granted pardons for trespasses, alienations, rapes, murders, and felonies of every denomination. He erected corporations, granted markets and fairs, created officers by patent, was lord admiral of the seas and waters within the county palatine: great part of the lands were held of the fee in capite. In a word, he exercised all the power and jurisdiction of a sovereign prince. How and at what period these prerogatives were obtained, it is not easy to determine. Malmesbury says, the lands were granted by king Alfred, who likewise made the church a sanctuary for criminals. This fee was anciently called the patrimony of St Cuthbert, who had been bishop of Landisfarne or Holy Island near Berwick. His bones being transferred to Durham, were long esteemed as precious relics; and the people of the county con-
sidered themselves as Halwerk men, exempted from all other but holy work, that is, the defence of St Cuthbert's body. Certain it is, they pretended to hold their lands by this tenure; and refused to serve out of the county either for the king or bishop: but king Edward I. broke through these privileges, and curtailed the prerogatives of the bishops, which were still further abridged by Henry VIII. Nevertheless, the bishop is still earl of Sadberg, a place in this county, which he holds by barony. He is sheriff paramount, and appoints his own deputy, who makes up his audit to him, instead of accounting to the exchequer. He has all the forfeitures upon outlawries; and he and his temporal chancellor act as justices of the peace for the county palatine, which comprehends Creke in Yorkshire, Bedlington, Northam, and Holy Island, in Northumberland, the inhabitants of these places having the benefit of the courts at Durham. The judges of assize, and all the officers of the court, have still their ancient salaries from the bishop; and he constitutes the standing officers by his letters patent. He has the power of presiding in person in any of the courts of judicature. Even when judgment of blood is given, this prelate may sit in court in his purple robes, tho' the canons forbid any clergyman to be present in such cases: hence the old saying, Solum Dunelmense stola jus dicit et ense. It was not till the reign of Charles II. that the bishopric sent representatives to parliament. At present it sends only four; two knights for the shire, and two burghesses for the city.