1865-68 NINE BART.’S CONTEMPORARIES LEFT 187 
pleasant chatty dinner. Lord Dufferin, Sir H. 
Holland, Froude, &c.’ 
And again, May 20, 1868 ; ‘ Last evening we 
had a visit which was interpreted in the village 
as a royal one — barouche and pair, two outiiders 
on fine grey horses ; second barouche and pair. 
They brought Beresford Hope, my Lady Mildred, 
and four daughters. Arriving at five, they stayed 
till half-past seven, had tea and cake, perry and 
muscat wine ; and I believe thoroughly enjoyed 
themselves in the garden and park and over all 
the cottage. ... I dined with the remnant of 
my old Bart.’s contemporaries — nine of us our 
thirty-seventh anniversary ! on Tuesday last. 
In September 1868 Owen paid another visit 
to Mr. Fowler at Braemore, Ross-shire, and, writ- 
ing to his wife on the 7^^ month, he 
says : ‘ Mrs. Fowler has received a few guests 
since I last wrote, but Sir Edwin Landseer alone 
now remains.’ He goes on to say, in reference to 
his wife’s feeble health, that, having received a 
hundred pounds from his publishers, ‘ if we should 
be moved to make a winter in milder climes, I 
can well devote the needful to easy journeyings to 
Cannes, Naples, Rome, Florence, Venice, &c., for 
January, February, and March. I have not been 
permitted to take one “ stalk, or do more than 
agreeable walks. Always wishing you could be 
with us by means of a “wishing carpet” to waft 
you over the 400 odd miles.’ 
