Dined with Fred Gye, lessee of the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden. At his charming house near the Thames one met a varied society--Prince Leiningen, Prince and Princess Victor of Hohenlohe, the Countess Gleichen, Meyerbeer, statesmen, authors, painters, singers, actors: it was indeed a cheery centre. After dinner we always adjourned for dessert to a glass room 120 feet long, delightfully cool in summer, flowers and plants growing; the ladies left the table to sit further away in this same room. Gye used to give me passes to the theatres. I was one night arranging baskets of flowers between banks, where fairies were supposed to be resting, when the curtain suddenly ran up faster than I could get to the wings. But though he was a stern disciplinarian “behind,” Gye forgave me. Poor Gye’s terrible fate is fresh in my memory. He was shot accidentally while on a visit to Lord Dillon, and died near the covert side: sportsman that he was, he always wished to be buried in one. His sons have all made their mark. The eldest, whom we used to call the “Baron,” married Madame Albani and went on with operatic management. Percy is a judge. Herbert went into the Navy and served on the China station under me in 1869. Another son was in the Artillery. His daughter, Clara, I often see. * * * * * [Sidenote: June 23.] Dined with Lord Alfred Churchill. [Sidenote: June 26.] Evening, Lady Palmerston. Dinner, Sir Anthony Rothschild. [Sidenote: June 28.] Balls at Duchess of Hamilton’s and Lady Caroline Maxe’s. [Sidenote: June 29.] Dined with Sir William Middleton. Evening, Lady Pigot’s. During summer had been improving my pretty, but small place at Bishopstoke, on the bank of the river Itchen. The place suited me down to the ground. The stabling, which I rebuilt, was perfection. [Sidenote: June 30.] Dinner with Mr. Newdigate at Blackheath. [Sidenote: July 1.] Dinner at Navy Club, entertaining First Lord. [Sidenote: July 4.] Luncheon, Duchess of Somerset. Dined with Lord Methven. [Sidenote: July 5.] Dinner with Duke of Newcastle. Evening party, Duchess of Manchester. [Sidenote: July 6.] Review at Aldershot. [Sidenote: July 7.] Lady Mayoress’s reception. [Sidenote: July 8.] Luncheon with Ranelagh. Dinner, Lord Sandwich. Evening, Lady Jersey. [Sidenote: July 9.] Early dinner, Lady de Clifford. Later to Cremorne Gardens. [Sidenote: July 10.] Lunch, Lady Shelley. [Sidenote: July 11.] Dinner Admiral Walcott. Party Lady Rokeby, and ball at Duchess of Wellington’s. [Sidenote: July 30.] [Sidenote: Cherbourg, Aug. 5.]