CHAPTER XXIII

SHORE TIME

[Sidenote: 1840. Jan. 20.]

Left Holkham with wife for Watergate while Droxford was being made habitable.

[Sidenote: Feb. 3.]

Jack Crosbie, who was laid up in bed, gave me a mount with Wyndham’s hounds. Meet at Aldsworth Bridge: found at Stanstead; through Watergate and Up Park; killed at the Semaphore, West Marden; fast run, forty minutes, Jack’s horse distinguishing himself.

[Sidenote: Feb. 10.]

Queen’s wedding-day. My father and brother George present. Had a mount on Bill Crosbie’s Brown Windsor. Meet at Aldsworth Bridge.

[Sidenote: April 3.]

General Crosbie, wife, and self dined at Goodwood to meet the Duke of Cambridge.

[Sidenote: April 28.]

Went to London. Lunched next day with father at Buckingham Palace.

[Sidenote: May 9.]

Invitation for wife and self to the Queen’s ball. To London by “Yeoman” coach. Dined with father, and so to the ball.

[Sidenote: May 25.]

Returned to Watergate. Rode with Frank Collier to see Southwick, which had been completely burnt down. The loss to Mr. Thistlewaite fully £25,000, independent of insurance.

[Sidenote: June 1.]

To Winchester, by train to London. Attended committee at our failing Old Naval Club in Bond Street.

On returning, our train, stopping at the curve, Fareham, was run into by an engine at full speed. Many hurt, but no lives lost, three empty horse-boxes, going for racers from Ascot, receiving the first shock. Lord Saltoun bruised; Colonel Lambert cut about the face. Got late to Droxford.

[Sidenote: June 22.]

Found my small groom, George, nearly exhausted, hanging on a high gate, caught by the leg; was only just in time to rescue him.

During these last two years enjoyed sport with the Garniers, Delmés, Sloane-Stanleys, Crosbies, and many others, never, if I could help it, missing a day’s hunting.

[Sidenote: July 28.]

At Cams. Goodwood week. To races on Delmé’s drag. The Cup won by Duke of Orleans’ Beggarman.

The best week ever known. My father gave me a cheque for £50, which I dropped riding home. Sent a man to look for it; he found the cheque on the road, four miles away, the envelope having been torn off.

[Sidenote: Aug. 1.]

Walked from Watergate to Droxford and back--fifteen miles each way.

[Sidenote: Sept. 15.]

Lady Farnham arrived. On coming down to dinner she called out, “Ninety-five, and all alive!”

[Sidenote: Sept. 23.]

With George Payne to Rugby.

[Sidenote: Sept. 24.]

Some good rabbit-shooting at Lord Denbigh’s, Newnham Paddox.

[Sidenote: Sept. 25.]

By rail to grand musical festival at Birmingham. Went to see Warwick Castle, which I thought second only to Windsor.

[Sidenote: Oct. 13.]

At Lord Denbigh’s, after shooting, tried to drive seven deer that had got out of the park. Got a fine buck in; does will follow.

[Sidenote: Oct. 20.]

Lark across country to Dunchurch, I riding Sir Grey Skipwith’s young Belzoni horse.

[Sidenote: Nov. 20.]

We went on a visit to the Stud House.

[Sidenote: Nov. 21.]

Express sent to father to go to Buckingham Palace. He returned in the afternoon, having been present at the birth of the Princess Royal.

[Sidenote: Nov. 22.]

With my father to Buckingham Palace. Ate cake and drank caudle.

[Sidenote: Dec. 2.]

Visited the Seymours at Hampton Court.

[Sidenote: Dec. 3.]

Brother George arrived at Stud House, giving account of a man having been found at midnight in a room adjoining the Queen’s bedroom.

The bones of the great Napoleon arrived in France.

[Sidenote: Dec. 9.]

With my father to the cattle show, Lord Spencer, Duke of Richmond, and farmers overhauling fat beasts.

[Sidenote: Dec. 21.]

We started for Warwickshire, father, who never risked his life on a railway, paying for our posters. Found a large family party at Newbold.

[Sidenote: Christmas Day.]

Six of Sir Grey Skipwith’s sons and as many daughters at dinner.

Skating in forenoon. Walked to Leamington--fifteen miles--where General and family were staying. Put up by Lindsay.

[Sidenote: 1841. Jan. 1]

Mount on Sir Grey’s young horse, with the Atherstane. Meet at the “Three Cocks”; fast thing of thirty minutes; some pretty jumping.

[Sidenote: Jan. 11.]

To Leamington for wife to consult Jephson, the famous surgeon.

[Sidenote: Mar. 13.]

Got another mount; meet with the Atherstane.

[Sidenote: Mar. 17.]

To Warwick Races.

[Sidenote: Mar. 18.]

To steeplechase near Offchurch. Sullivan, Maddocks, and Beauchamp in the brook.

[Sidenote: Mar. 20.]

Back at Droxford. No place like home.

[Sidenote: April 1.]

To Milletts’ to dinner; sending wheelbarrow for traps. My wife’s health obliged us at once to go abroad, without means to do so; but we went.

[Sidenote: May 25.]

At Aix-la-Chapelle met my respected Chief, Hyde Parker, and had some pleasant walks with him.

[Sidenote: May 31.]

At Bonn saw some curious things in the museum; also a vault under the church: about a score of dead monks laid in rows. They were well preserved, having been kept so by no other means, our guide informed us, than “God’s will,” owing to their sacred calling. They had been there 300 years, and were disgusting to look at.

Without means for travelling comfortably, obliged to do much by river.

[Sidenote: June 23.]

Baden-Baden. A man in the Kursaal shook hands with me, because I looked so “devilish like one of the family.” It was my brother Bury, whom I had not seen for twelve years. His wife Fanny looking so pretty, and but little altered.

[Sidenote: June 24.]

Dined with Bury--a good English dinner. Went to hell afterwards, and lost forty-five francs.

[Sidenote: June 26.]

Early to hell, losing seventy-five francs. Took leave of Baden-Baden. Started by _another_ dirty steamer for Wiesbaden, thence home.

[Sidenote: July 29.]

Arrived at Dover. Detained two hours at the Custom House, because I would not pay a land-shark to clear my luggage.

[Sidenote: July 31.]

Goodwood races. To my regret could not go. Missed meeting father, whose horse “Ralph” won the Drawing-room and Produce Stakes, and with a colt by “Taurus,” the Racing Stakes. He most likely would have tipped me!

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