CHAPTER LXXXII

A SHORE JOURNAL

[Sidenote: 1866. Jan. 1.]

Out shooting with brother George--partridges.

[Sidenote: Jan. 2.]

Wild partridge shooting with Charles Clements: 20 brace, 5 hares, 6 guns.

[Sidenote: Jan. 3.]

After shooting to meet friend Henry Eyre at Garboldisham.

[Sidenote: Jan. 4.]

Mount with scratch pack harriers.

[Sidenote: Jan. 5.]

Each afternoon I have sat with poor William Hoste; although he looks cheery and well in face, am afraid his days are numbered.

[Sidenote: Jan. 8.]

Found Holkham full; with P. Powell, Elphinstone, Dunmore, Tredcroft at the Inn, W. Coke and Sussex Stephenson going to Pinnock’s to make room. Attended at 4.30 P.M. to receive the Prince and Princess of Wales, Lady Morton and George Grey in attendance.

[Sidenote: Holkham, Jan. 9.]

Party in house to meet their Royal Highnesses, Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe, Lord Beaumont, Lord and Lady Suffield, Lord and Lady Spencer, Lord and Lady Powerscourt, Lords Hamilton and Dunmore and Mr. de Grey, Edward and Di Coke, P. Powell, Tredcroft, Capt. Elphinstone, W. Coke, S. Stephenson, Gen. Porter and T. Dunmore, Lord Alexander Murray. Grand shooting; did not carry gun until the finish with the rocketers, when I had one of Leicester’s. A cheery dance in the evening, in which old and young joined.

[Sidenote: Jan. 10.]

A day on the marshes--gentlemen beaters, ladies attending luncheon. Hamilton, Porter, and self fell into draining ditches.

[Sidenote: Jan. 11.]

Weather bad--this, the best day’s shooting, postponed. Fair day of sport though.

[Sidenote: Jan. 12.]

This the grand day. Over 2000 head killed. Luncheon under large tent. Princess and ladies there. Dance in the evening, I dancing a quadrille with the most charming of Princesses!

[Sidenote: Jan. 15.]

At Pratt’s--chat with John Hay.

[Sidenote: Jan. 16.]

Joined wife at Deanery, Winchester. Party of twelve at dinner.

[Sidenote: Jan. 18.]

By early train to Wolverton. Joined by Lord Clanwilliam and party going to Sandringham, Prince and Princess coming back from visit to General Hall.

[Sidenote: Sandringham, Jan. 19.]

Hounds met Sandringham, Prince giving me a mount. Princess out: capital gallop. Enjoy my visit much.

[Sidenote: Jan. 20.]

Percy Feilding and self taken by the Prince to shoot at Mr. Bagge’s; excellent day. Pleased with my own performance. Not dressed in time for dinner, but was spotted by her kind Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, who saw “the little Admiral” as he was trying to sneak in behind the servants.

[Sidenote: Jan. 21.]

To forenoon church, Charles Kingsley performing.

[Sidenote: Jan. 22.]

Departure of party; invited by Villebois with the Prince to shoot driven partridges. 270 brace bagged during a continual rain.

[Sidenote: Jan. 23.]

Finish to a most agreeable four days, Prince and Princess starting for Duke of Sutherland’s, Staffordshire, Duchess of Cambridge and remainder by rail to London. Dined with Cecilia Yorke. Party at Lord Powlett’s.

[Sidenote: Jan. 24.]

Train to Bournemouth. Colin and May looking so well.

[Sidenote: Jan. 25.]

Dined with Stephens; she, daughter of Sir H. Pottinger of China notoriety.

[Sidenote: Jan. 27.]

Dined with Albemarle-Custs.

[Sidenote: Feb. 3.]

Attended Bench, Winchester.

[Sidenote: Feb. 5.]

Dined with Page, engineer, meeting T. Weller and Ward, artist. Pleasant party.

[Sidenote: Minterne, Feb. 10.]

To friend Digby, I bringing a couple of horses from Chapman’s.

[Sidenote: Feb. 12.]

Hunted with Sir Richard Glynn’s hounds. Met many friends. Plenty of foxes, but no good run. Pleased with my mount. Medlycotts coming to dinner.

[Sidenote: Feb. 13.]

With Lord Poltimore’s hounds. Good run, Severe, heavy country. One fall. Ground soft; several others ditto.

[Sidenote: Feb. 14.]

Despatches from friend Read at Singapore. Should like to go out as Governor. Stormy weather again. Young ones rabbit shooting, I helping to cut up and clear away wreck of trees blown down.

[Sidenote: Feb. 16.]

Out with Poltimore. Good run with second fox. My usual ill luck; badly lamed one of Chapman’s horses--cut on fetlock, off foreleg, supposed to be by flint.

[Sidenote: Feb. 18.]

Afternoon service near Marker’s house. Small, very nice old-fashioned place. Good sermon--rare event.

[Sidenote: Feb. 19.]

Came down prepared for the chase. Frost pronounced to be too severe, especially over Poltimore’s downy country. Letter from Mr. Crawshay, enclosing an interesting one from Bishop Colenso. Young Digby, Marker and I, shot rabbits. Mr. Alexander Baring came. Porter left.

[Sidenote: Feb. 20.]

Letter from wife. Colin ill. Changed hunting costume and rode to Dorchester; train to Poole. Found the children bad--severe colds.

[Sidenote: Minterne, Feb. 21.]

Horse from King’s Arms to Minterne. In time for luncheon. Walk with Alexander Baring.

[Sidenote: Feb. 22.]

Hunted with B.V. hounds. Rode new horse of Chapman’s--fine animal. Digby, Marker, Edward Digby and self--a good show from here. One fox chopped; a second found. No scent. Jolly day though.

[Sidenote: Feb. 23.]

Young Digby and I to the B.V. hounds. Mounted by B. Brooke. Capital jumper. Good short run, and part of another. Put hack up at Littletrab’s--Webbes, Medlycott, and Surtees out.

[Sidenote: Feb. 24.]

With Poltimore’s hounds. Two good runs. Several falls, I, an absurd one. Marker’s horse killed. My last day’s hunting.

[Sidenote: Bishopstoke, Feb. 28.]

Dear old Dean entered his ninety-first year. Attended court as grand juryman. Managed not to be sworn in as foreman. Lunched with Arthur Cumming. Rajah Brooke there. Returned to Winchester. Dinner party as usual.

[Sidenote: Mar. 1.]

Meeting of magistrates on cattle plague--Chamberlayne, Bullpitt, Wells, Mulock, self.

[Sidenote: Ashwarby, Mar. 12.]

By train to London and Grantham. Whichcote to meet us. Welcomed to Ashwarby.

[Sidenote: Mar. 15.]

[Sidenote: Mar. 16.]

Started for Croxton Park races. Weather unusually fine. Whichcote’s horse, “Chance,” nowhere. Our party: Mrs. Franklin, Henry Gray, George Fitzroy, Colonel Fane. Back in time for 8 o’clock dinner.

[Sidenote: Mar. 18.]

Forenoon service. Longish sermon that I did not hear. Took leave of kind friends.

[Sidenote: Mar. 19.]

To London. Attended levée, presenting Harry Stephenson. Dined with Mr. Page, engineer.

[Sidenote: Bishopstoke, Mar. 26.]

Attempt to fly-fish, having seen two rises. Lost two hooks in two walnut trees. Margaret Garnier and Tom came, former to stay.

[Sidenote: Mar. 31.]

Winchester to attend bench. Luncheon at Deane’s. Thermistophles to win City and Suburban.

[Sidenote: April 3.]

Another large party, chiefly doctors and “rooks,” also young Lord Mulgrave.

[Sidenote: April 4.]

By early train home. Dined with Atherlys--first-rate.

[Sidenote: April 10.]

By train to London. Received, through George Elliot, an offer to take command of the Paraguayan navy: they at war with the Brazilians.

* * * * *

This looked like business. Before giving answer, certain inquiries to be made. My name would be removed from Her Majesty’s navy list, for which I should require remuneration. A certain number of warships: a couple of ironclads to begin with, and a place to reside in while ships were being manned and fitted. £34,000 for loss of commission. The first and greatest difficulty was consent of wife. The Paraguayan agents appeared to be well satisfied. I intended to select, as soon as a proper ship had been provided, the beautiful bay, Bahia, off the Brazilian coast, as place of rendezvous. I had to provide officers in anticipation. The agents had already provided charts, which I daily studied. However, it all ended without smoke. Means were not forthcoming; the whole affair was quickly forgotten!

[Sidenote: April 21.]

To Cosham, on Chamberlayne’s drag to Hambledown. Hunt races. Capital meeting.

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