An Autobiography of an Ancient Athlete & Antiquarian

AUTOBIOGRAPHY .orchard surrounded by green fields, nearly opposite Wandsworth Station. The garden had been an old garden for years, and .each spring brought fresh surprises as old clumps of bulbs .aud other plants sprang up into life. Round the garden we made a rough little running path, and I should probably have stopped there all my life in perfect content among its grand old fruit trees and flower beds. Unluckily, however, the hand of the jerry– builder was on it, and I had to leave, and its site is now .covered by vile little shops and houses. At the end of the year (1873) I became very friendly with D. M. Roberts, Martin Rucker, and Dr. Archer. Just before Christmas old Mrs. Wright, of Roehampton, who had done her best for the Thames Hare and Hounds died. During the year I began the publication of the Norfolk Antiquarian Miscellany in avowed opposition to the Transactions of the N. & N.A.S., which society I had, even at this early date considered both obstructive and valueless. My issue was an immediate success, and the early parts have long been out of print and very scarce. The first part ran to 284 pp., and contained a print of the Aid for Norfolk of 20 Edward III. (which had hitherto -remained in MS.), and various papers by L'Estrange, Stanley Edwards, ·and some evidences of the early pedigree of Walpole by myself, my criticisms in which so offended the Hon. F. Walpole that he not only wrote me an abusive letter, but (what was far worse) omitted to keep his pro– mise to pay for its printing. My diary for 1874 is rather imperfect. On 24th January there was a great card row between C. H. M. and Getting -at Roehampton. This spring I saw a good deal of the Ruckers at Croydon. On Whit-Monday went with Dicker to St. Alban's Sports, 26 miles. Supper at the "Peahen" was rather rowdy, one nf the local people reminding us we were not at Roe– hampton, but as he persisted in carving his left thumb under the impression it was a knuckle of ham we paid no regard to him. G. H. drove me back under three hours. On the 27th went to a party at Birch's. Both Mrs. and Miss Bonomi were very pretty, and Miss Martin, granddaughter