An Autobiography of an Ancient Athlete & Antiquarian

AUTOBIOGRAPHY At Lucas'on 17th July I met CroftsR.A.forthe first time. I dined with Raikes at his club on the 22nd, where were Sir Luther Vaughan (brother of Lady Isham) and - Ensor of Rollesby. There were about 60 at our garden party on the 30th, but my wife was still seedy, so on August rst, I took her for a short tour to Gloucester Cathedral : poor except tower, but magnificent Norman arches; stayed at the " Bell '' and at the " Royal » at Ross, and took a trap along the Wye to Monmouth (" King's Arms," good), Monnow Bridge, very interesting, on to Chepstow (" Beau– fort Arms''), rail by Severn tunnel to Bristol ("Royal"); St. Mary, Redcliff, I considered much overrated, but the Clifton Downs very fine. Bath (Lansdowne Road Hotel), the Cathedral I thought very good inside, and had fine view of the city from "Quarries." At Southampton I thought the German sailor very fine men ; stayed at the '' Dolphin," Worthing (Marine Hotel) and saw the fig orchard which had suffered much from last year's frost, the old trees dead. Here I bought three pieces of tapestry, and saw Steyning with its half-timbered houses and Norman clerestory to its Church. By self to Ford Junction and saw Arundel Castle. J.B.R. went to see Field of Waterloo, and I had a most unpleasant operation after a so-called freezing with ether, a most painful and sanguinary job. Mainwaring Jones and his wife (Seymour Lucas and his wife had had loan of the boat) and Bertie sailed with us up and down to Yarmouth, and on 2nd September we sailed against the '' John Henry'' (Walters captain), who ga"\'e us half-an-hour to Acle Bridge, and we were winning when we were run into by the "Mayflower" of Aylsharu. Up the Ant Bertie took and lost a rare pluma, but after– wards got more ·at Irstead Shoals. At Stalham, Cubitt Silcock said he had seen the large copper lately, but he was alwaysabit ofaromancer,andso byHorningFerry,Ranworth Broad and Wroxham when for first time I noticed a beastly passenger steamboat on the Broads. At Oultou we saw the :flashlights of the fleet. At Shipmeadow, Beccles, the Jones left on the 28th, and D.M.R., Little, and wife, and others at different times. On the rrth September, our mast broke just outside Belaugh Church. This accident we then considered was caused by the too violent playing by the Rector's wife on the organ