to meet her there. Tell Lord Rayleigh, with my love, that I sent my groom off this morning at six o'clock for the mare, and will write when she comes, to let him know how I like her.
Part of the months of July and August were passed in Camp at Chobham. He thus graphically described its scenes to his youngest sister:—
" * * * I think you would laugh if you saw me in my bell tent, sitting on a camp stool, at a box with four legs to represent a table. The furniture of my room consists of a camp bedstead, portmanteau, and tub.
"I have plenty of straw, but it is rather mouldy! My servant endeavoured to get up a small garden in front, but I fear the shrubs must have been minus roots, for they seem in a very sickly state, as if the soil of Chobham did not agree with them!
"I spent a very pleasant day on Thursday. Uncle Edward[1] gave me a ticket for the Naval Review at Spithead. I went, with about two hundred officers from the Camp. We had a large steamer to ourselves, and consequently were able to see everything. It was a very grand and imposing spectacle; but you have seen the whole account in the papers, so I will not describe it.
"The Camp is to be broken up next Saturday, when we are to proceed to Canterbury. I should not be sorry to be once more settled in quarters, as I find it difficult in this place to obtain those seasons of retirement for holding communion with my heavenly
- ↑ Colonel Vicars, R.E., who commanded the Engineers at Chobham.
