Henry Chaplin A Memoir: 2 Family and Social Life Part II. There were several brief separations during the first year of their married life. Mr. Chaplin attended most of his race meetings alone, and on these occasions he wrote to Lady Florence at least once a day. In March he went down to Blankney to entertain his usual bachelor house-party for the Lincoln meeting, while his wife was at Trentham. It was his first visit to Blankney without her since their marriage, and it is evident that he found the big house dreary, for his usual light-heartedness somewhat forsook him, although he was entertaining in the same lavish manner as in the past.

Sunday.—We arrived here all right last night. Bill (age 35) [his brother-in-law, the Earl of Radnor¹], old Rous (age 81) [Admiral Rous] and myself. It was very odd and very lonely without you in that large room by myself, but I packed Vic up at the foot of the bed and soon went to sleep—very tired myself, for I played billiards with the Admiral till one o/c., beating him like fun. To-day Bill and I have both been to church, in the morning, too. Isn't that good of me? Frank Westmoreland (age 51) has just this minute turned up, having arrived with 40 horses from Newmarket in a special train to Lincoln. Mrs. Dodds [the housekeeper] had packed up your sitting-room as well as the dressing-room, but I made her undo them, because it is somewhere for me to go to be quiet, and it feels more as if you were there or not so very far off, you little sweet thing, and I wonder how you are getting on ! We've been round the Paddocks since church with Turk and Vic. Turk is fatter than ever and I think clumsier, and as soon as the post is gone, we get to the kennels, and then I suppose more guests will arrive.

Monday.—Horses all very well. Caro [her hunter] much admired by every one, a great wonder that so small a Poppet can ride him. I tell fine tales about the way she goes on him, after me, of course. I expect about 8 more guests to- night, and what with leaving it first to her and then at the last moment changing all the rooms, Mrs. Dodds is verging on distraction.

Tuesday.—l've had to go round the Paddocks this morning before breakfast. The critics who really know, like Machell and " the Lad that is, Colonel Forester, think the yearlings first-class, and indeed that is what they are. There are two enclosures which you may study. The first with 3 black underlines means that I must be in the H. of C. to- morrow if Mr. Fawcett perseveres.² If he doesn't, I dare say there is some train by which I could come to Trentham in the evening after the House has met, and we have learnt for certain if he goes on. Members sometimes withdraw at the last moment, but he is a peculiarly obstinate and wrong-headed man. The second is from Anderson, shewing a new plan of what could be done with our house [41 Park Lane], and it certainly looks well worth considering, though I have had no time to examine it. Will you bring your masculine mind and intelligence to bear on the question, and be prepared to give me your opinion? Freddie Johnstone just got done for the big race by a neck by Lord Wilton's mare. Rosebery's great favourite was bowled over as they generally are, and nearly everybody in the house, including your devoted, won, which is always satisfactory.¹ The teams went well and Ted drove too beautifully.

Note 1. Mr. Chaplin refers to the [1877] Lincoln Handicap. The favourite was Lord Rosebery's Touchet which ran unplaced. The race was won by Lord Wilton's Footstep, a four-year-old with 7 st. 2 lbs. ; Sir F. Johnstone's Poursuivant, a five-year-old with 7 st. 13 lbs., being second. Poursuivant was second favourite at 8 to 1.

Note 1. Then Lord Folkestone (age 35). He was Treasurer of the Household, 1885—1886, and from 1886 to 1892. In this capacity he was a Government Whip, using his leisure moments with his pencil upon the most admirable portraits and caricatures of Parliamentary figures in the House and in the Lobby. He was M.P. for S. Wilts, 1870—1885, and for Middlesex from 1885 until 1889, when he succeeded to the Earldom of Radnor.

Note 2. Debate on Mr. Fawcett's Resolution that Turkish promises without guarantees are useless. The Conference between the Great Powers at Con- stantinople in the previous December had failed. War was declared by Russia against Turkey in April.