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.