116 SWABEY DIARY. 
ill, but I could not help thinking how strikingly the difference between 
men’s dispositions is illustrated in this situation ; despondence and 
weakness are in him poor fellow almost as prejudicial as illness 
17th December.—Shooting again, and killed another woodcock. 
Blachley dined. 5 
18th December.—Blachley Femefned <ftth us sell ane, and “gmesed 
himself with my good shooting! . - 
19th December.—W rote Henry (No. 8). ee of lee date avnived 
from England. Reports of an intended change in the administration. 
I cannot help here remarking how soon the interest people take in 
politics is lost when they lose the means of ee ae informed of the 
turns they take 
20th December.—I found hie! thy 6 as vel as many af Tate! So little 
worthy of being remembered, that I begin to think of curtailing my 
plan of journal altogether, and am the more tempted to do so from the 
habits that necessity imposes on us; for the weather is so cold and 
there are so few whole panes in the windows, that writing or reading 
become out of the question, and we have no fires to make sitting still 
tolerable, so are obliged after dinner to go to bed eg 
21st December.—Went out woodcock shooting, some of the party 
were successful, but I suppose my shooting days are over, for I could 
not touch a feather. I now shoot only for exercise, as an amusement 
it has lost all its charms since last year 
22nd December.—Sunday. 
23rd December.—Great preparations making for the entertainment 
of Captain Bull, etc. on Xmas Day. 5 
24th December.—Xmas Hve. Nothing to amaneash ‘thie “ss iv om 
the common run. 
Xmas Day.—KKilled three snipe. Captain Bull did not come over, 
the rest of the party dined and slept with us. I cannot say I 
enjoyed my Christmas dinner, nor are these parties at all suited to my 
taste. This is only the second time in my life that I have been absent 
from our family party on this day, last han I felt more satisfaction in 
being so than I do this. 
26th December.—W ent with Sianthowe, 5 ake. 46 hog Tver lhe, game 
in the country ; very little sport. They dined with us and our evening 
went off with as lttle pleasure as before = tacit orgs 
27th December.—Our visitors left us for Pero Nabe Letters from 
head-quarters speak of Lord Wellington’s intention of besieging 
Ciudad Rodrigo. The weather does not promise to make it a very 
agreeable business, the snow on the top of the Hstrella is a forerunner 
of a cold season. 
The Engineers have orders to prepare gabions and fascines, etc., 
this looks like earnest; but if Lord W. means it for a feint, to 
make the deception answer, preparations must be carried on, and he 
must be the only man in the army undeceived. The French it is 
1 Lieutenant Philip Stanhope (Kane’s List, No, 1159), “1” Troop, R.H.A. 
