January, 1867, arrives with its abundance of frost and immense blocks of drifting snow. Two or three of my old neighbours are removed by death in quick succession—Archer Beales, the elder, on January 5th, aged 74; the wife of Robert Newbury was called home, January 12th; and John Cox, my wife’s father, died on the 19th January, aged 76 years, and buried on Sunday, 27th, having lived a widower 19 years and 11 months. Thus Death is commissioned to remove us, from the Prince Consort, in the palace, to the peasant in his humble cot. At this time, also, is stricken down my old neighbour and friend, George Mobbs, a man of strict integrity, who served with me in the office of parish constable, having removed to Mutford, and, after having lived there five months, died, and was brought to Oulton, and buried on Sunday, the 10th March. Then, again, at Lowestoft, Sergeant Hargraves, drill-instructor, is walking out on Sunday evening, the 5th May, when he was suddenly taken ill and died, at the age of 41 years, calling to us, who are survivors of these painful events, that the ways of Jehovah are far above our finite and limited conception. A sad event occurred in the spring of this year by the upsetting of a boat on Oulton Broad. On Good Friday, April 10th, 1868, a party of three young men engaged a boat, that they might amuse themselves upon the water. The wind on that day became strong, and, themselves unskilful in managing it, very soon overturned, and all were immersed in the water, two of them—James Ellis Fisk and John Knights—both aged 18, were drowned. It was a sad spectacle the jury were called to view, as they were laid side by side, prepared for burial. Their life had vanished as a dream, when one awaketh. My two new cottages were built this year; they were begun on Thursday, the 5th March, and in due time were completed. This was a remarkably hot and dry summer, as by a note to hand: There has been a very long drought, June passing almost without rain. A little fell on the 2nd., and now we are arrived at the 17th of July, and on this day it has pleased God, in His mercy, to command the rain to descend in abundance, with a sharp tempest, the two previous days having been very hot. The harvest was generally begun on the 24th of July, and at Mr. Barnard’s farm, at Carlton, the whole of the corn was gathered in by the 30th of that month, and the harvest-home festival celebrated at Oulton, on the 20th August.