Shooting order of the day. Six guns; 189 head. Duke of Manchester good shot. The charming Duchess came to dine. [Sidenote: Dec. 15.] Mounted by Lord Sandwich to meet Lord Fitz-William’s hounds. Fog too thick to draw a fox. Provoking--uncommon well mounted. The Manchesters left. [Sidenote: Dec. 18.] Up early, mounted by Lord Sandwich, to breakfast at Kimbolton. Lord Cowper there. To meet the Oakley. Did not find till late. Left to ride 22 miles home. [Sidenote: Dec. 20.] Mounted by Sandwich to meet the Cambridgeshire. Nasty wooded country. Foxes, but no getting away. Rode to station and returned to London by 1.30. Dined with Rokeby. Met the Manchesters. [Sidenote: Dec. 23.] By 3 P.M. train to Bishopstoke; lost my purse between station and home, containing £9: 10s. Horrid bore! [Sidenote: Dec. 25.] Spent Christmas at Bishopstoke. CHAPTER LXX ENGLAND--GROOM-IN-WAITING [Sidenote: 1859. Jan. 1.] Saw the New Year in at the Southampton Yacht Club House with George Lennox, having dined on board Turner’s yacht. [Sidenote: Jan. 19.] Received enclosed:-- (COPY.) BROADLANDS, _18th January 1859_. MY DEAR ADMIRAL KEPPEL--If you should happen to be disengaged on Thursday, would you come over to us on that day and stay and help to beat a cover on Friday.--Yours sincerely, (Signed) PALMERSTON. [Sidenote: Jan. 20.] To Broadlands. [Sidenote: Jan. 21.] At Broadlands, shooting. [Sidenote: Feb. 4.] Dined with the Gilmans, meeting my old friend Pereira of Dent’s House, Hong-Kong. [Sidenote: Feb. 11.] Wife and I by train to Winchester. The good Dean sending to meet us. Party to dinner. [Sidenote: Feb. 19.] To Winchester to appeal against property being assessed at £80, when it was £50. Gained appeal. [Sidenote: Bishopstoke, Feb. 21.] Augustus Leeds brought over the sad news of Lady Sandwich’s sudden death. Sad indeed! Planted a couple of deodars on bank of river. [Sidenote: Feb. 28.] Train to Winchester. Dean entertaining judges and grand jury at dinner. [Sidenote: London, Mar. 2.] Dressed at my tailor’s; attended Her Majesty’s levée. [Sidenote: Mar. 3.] By train to Sleaford and Ashwarby--Whichcote sending for me. Got two hunters from Percival at Lincoln. Welby to stop. [Sidenote: Ashwarby, Mar. 4.] Meet the Duke of Rutland’s hounds at Haverholm, occupied by the Dowager Lady Winchilsea, the beautiful Fanny Rice. Short runs with two foxes. Bad scenting day; ground dry and hard. Got one cropper! [Sidenote: Mar. 5.] No hunting. After luncheon another walk. Looked over ground, where some rasping jumps had been taken. [Sidenote: Mar. 6.] Marquis of Tweeddale kindly placed his horses at my disposal. [Sidenote: Mar. 7.] Hounds met at Glinn, Welby’s place. The Drummonds and many friends there. Killed two foxes; but a bad scenting day. [Sidenote: Mar. 8.]