[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. * * * * *