An Autobiography of an Ancient Athlete & Antiquarian

AUTOBIOGRAPHY 95 The Dictionary of National Biography dinner to contributors at the '' Metropole" was on the8th, Dr. Jessopp, E. M. Beloe, and others I knew were there. The speeches were very poor and bad except that of the Master of the Temple, which was witty, especially "No flowers by request." I had a view of Marlow, and on Blyth's launch to Henley after the Regatta to see the :fireworks. A chain got round propeller. 17th, Called on Somers-Cocks and saw his menagerie; very fine prints and pictures, and the knife with which Felton stabbed Buckingham. Afterwards rode to Bisham Church, nice tower, good material. After lunch we trained to Bray through Boulton Lock, and had tea at Bray, but I made a vow to have nothing more to do with steam launches in hot weather again. Back on 19th, and greatly welcomed a storm of rain at l'... .<-t. On th& 14th I tried a varied way to Rickmansworth by Willesden, Peri vale, Greenford, Northholt, Ruislip, and Barefield, slept at "Victoria" as usual, and came back the ..1ext day by Moor Park to Watford. Next week I went to Norwich about getting up a sub– srription for E.B.G.'s widow, and saw the decent Hotblack; on by train to Dereham. Next day by Reepham by road in a dog cart, stayed at Dr. Back's; he drove me to Cawston, where I first met the Rev. T. H. Marsh and saw his splendid collection of Lepidoptera. Early in August I took my wife to Dr. Grun's at South– wick and left her there on the 9th, and I began my autumn holiday by riding through Barnet to Hertford. The roads past Potter's Bar were bad and hilly, and I should have gone round by Hatfield, 21½ miles. I saw two very light trikes, one a Raleigh about 32 lbs. 15th, by Ware, hilly, and Bishop's Stortford) through some nice red brick Queen A11ne's villages (lunch "George"), Dnnmore (24), Brain– tree (32), where I slept at the " White Hart," and was very comfortable. By Castle Hedingham (and its Norman Castle), to Sudbury, and went over the fine Church there. Slept at the" Rose and Crown" on the 16th. Next day through Lavenham I saw another very fine Church, but as there was no sleeping accommodation I went on and slept at Bury St. Edmund's ("Angel"), where I met the [Most J Rev. S. T. Nevill, a bishop in parlibus,