By train from Shoreditch. Took charge of Louisa Eyre as far as Harling Road. Dunmore for company. Did not get to Holkham until 8.20 P.M. Picked up Burys _en route_. Family gathering. Dunmore engaged to Gertrude. [Sidenote: Holkham, Dec. 24.] Party, besides family, Burys, Dunmore, Powerscourts, W. Coke, S. Stephenson, Powell, Tridcroft, Caulfield, Porter. [Sidenote: Dec. 25.] To morning service. How difficult it is to fall in with a good preacher, especially when an extempore, with beard and moustache! Whist in evening. [Sidenote: Dec. 26.] Shooting to-day--outskirts; twelve guns. Best of the shooting kept for the Prince. My bag 25 hares, 2 rabbits, 2 pheasants. Jolly party in the house. Henry Seymour and wife arrived. [Sidenote: Dec. 27.] Walk with Seymour. [Sidenote: Dec. 28.] Shooting to-day, same guns nearly; more driving than shooting. Seymours left. Gurdons came. [Sidenote: Dec. 29.] Walk with B. Gurdon: he all the talk. Blind man’s buff in afternoon. Knocked my old head against chimney-piece--much to its inconvenience. Dance after dinner in statue gallery; whist also. Bury fallen on by Powerscourt, damaged ribs. [Sidenote: Quidenham, Dec. 30.] With Sophy Bury after luncheon to Wells--by train to Quidenham; kindly welcomed. Louisa Charteris there, Bury children nice. [Sidenote: Dec. 31.] The old year going out in a storm. Went to church. 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.]