An Autobiography of an Ancient Athlete & Antiquarian

AUTOBIOGRAPHY 71 In October a very pleasant busiuess journey to Peurith (with its Runic crosses), Borrowdale (Arthur's Seat), Datlington, Kirkbank, and Gatherly, back by Peterborough (''Angel") when I resumed my holiday and saw the smoking ruins of Woodbastwick Hall just burnt down, and heard how the magistrate had rightly dealt with some men who had broken into the cellar and drank 47 port out of pewters. I went up to Oxford on 13th November to see my son run in the Freshman's Mile, but he was not very well just then, and was beaten 4 yards by Allen in 4.43, far slower than he ought to have done. During this year (1889) I published my long deferred "History of Cromer, past and present," which I am conceited enough to think is the most complete history of a Norfolk parish ever attempted. Christmas I spent as usual at Norwich, when I was instructed to act for the Rev. T. T. Berney in the case he intended to bring against someone to establish his right to free warren in respect of Braconash (?) Manor. I inspected his deeds and satisfied myself he bad a perfectly good case, but unluckily he died soon after, and it never was fought. He was a most eccentric man, suspicious, dictatorial, and disagreeable to a degree. Most of my readers will remember the story how he having a quarrel with two of his neighbours who were Judges of the Superior Court preached at them on the text of the Unjust Judge, how be offered a painter who offended him a day's :fishing in his pond, and then ran him in for poaching, and how his housekeeper having county courted him he proposed to drive her with him to the Court, and charged her r/- for the lift, and how she informed against him for doing so without a license. He never was a favourite among the Norwich police, who delighted in catching him for leaving his pony and car unattended . New Year's Eve I spent at a house where German festivities obtained, but I can't say I enjoyed the cubes of raw pork. At the beginning of the year 1890, our junior partner left us to better himself, but I doubt if he did. Some un– pleasant business, which culminated in the sale of an interesting old house and two yachts, took me to Norwich in March. Just then my eldest son was running very well>