CHAPTER XXVI.

Visit to Raby Castle, the Duke of Cleveland's: Raby full of Interest-The Duke's Possessions - The House Party-Afternoon Teas—Mr. Delane-Drawing Lots for Ladies-A “terrible Book "--" Dicky" Doyle's and Lord Bennett's Contributions.

In the autumn of 1875, while staying with Sir William Eden at Windlestone, co. Durham, I received an invitation from the Duchess of Cleveland for a week's visit to Raby Castle, which I gladly accepted.

Raby Castle was built by John Lord Nevile, who died in 1388, and has been greatly extended and added to by his successors. It is situated about six miles from Barnard Castle, and about a dozen from Darlington, and stands in a finely wooded park of 1,000 acres.

Lord Beaconsfield, who was always received at Raby as an honoured and welcome guest, described it as the only place in England—except Alnwick-which came fully up to his ideas of the country seat of "a great noble."

The princely possessions of the head of the house of Raby include the patronage of twentytwo livings and the ownership of 98,864 acres, scattered over seven English counties.

In Durham, for instance, the duke owns 55,887 acres, with a gross estimated rental of £29,219; in Shropshire, 26,604 acres, rental £32,608; in Sussex (Battle Abbey), 6,025 acres, rental £6,491; in Somersetshire, 4,784 acres, rental £8,062; in Northamptonshire, 3,482 acres, rental £5,190; in Cornwall, 1,997 acres, rental £3,958; in Devonshire, 1,085 acres, rental £1,684; besides the Bathwick property in the city of Bath, from which he draws a large rental.

The present duke succeeded in 1864.* In 1854, being then Lord Harry Vane, M.P., he married Catherine Lucy Wilhelmina, daughter of the fourth Earl Stanhope, and widow of Lord Dalmeny, the father, by her, of the Earl of Rosebery.

His Grace is a highly educated man,

with an

*The manuscript of this book was completed early in June of last year, and, therefore, several weeks before the death of the Duke.

excellent taste, both in art and literature; an admirable talker and raconteur. All his pursuits are of a refined character, and he is an agreeable with the fine manners of the old school.

man,

His accomplished wife, whose literary tastes are akin to those of the late Earl Stanhope, her brother, is admirably able to appreciate, to the fullest extent, the Duke's character.

The house party at Raby for the week of my stay was a numerous one, and, fortunately, comprised several whom I had met before, amongst them Lord and Lady Drogheda, Earl Stanhope, Lord and Lady Cardwell, Mr. Percy Mitford, Mr. "Dicky" Doyle (once a distinguished contributor to Punch), and Mr. John Delane of the Times, whom I had known many years.

This was not long before Mr. Delane's death, and it was said that his intellectual powers were then on the wane. He seemed, however, to be as powerful in conversation as at any time I had known him, and talked in that incisive and convincing manner for which he was so remarkable.

I had met Mr. Delane frequently at country houses, and also at his Ascot house, where, at

times I saw another Times celebrity, a very old friend of mine-Mowbray Morris.

It was an intellectual feast to listen to such masters of the art of conversation as Delane and Mowbray Morris.

I might here mention that after John Leech's death, Mr. Morris bought, at Christie's, several of his original Punch drawings. It may not be generally known that Leech was unable to draw in reverse, the consequence being that an artist had to be employed to reverse his drawings on wood for the engraver, and thus the originals were preserved.

It was fortunate that this was so, because at Leech's death these drawings became a valuable property to his family.

It was at half-past five I arrived at Raby, and, by firelight, afternoon tea was being taken. At those teas the conversation was always most brilliant and interesting. The Duke, full of experiences, diplomatic and political; Earl Stanhope, so charming and refined; Mr. Delane with a fund of information of all kinds; Lord Cardwell, an excellent talker; and Mr. Percy Mitford, one of the best raconteurs ever met with.

Raby is full of interest, its rooms being stored with everything that can give grandeur and effect to so noble a pile-pictures, cabinets, marbles, feast the eye everywhere. In the hall already spoken of is Turner's picture of "Raby Castle." In one of the rooms it was gratifying to renew acquaintance with Power's beautiful and classical "Greek Slave," the great attraction of the Exhibition of 1851.

The dining-room contains a large number of racing cups and plates won by the horses of the former Duke-well known on the turf as Lord William Powlett.

During the week the Duchess receives guests. A very fine hall—I believe, named the Barons' Hall-lighted by innumerable gas stars, is utilised at night.

It is here that after dinner the hostess suggests amusements and entertainments, which are heartily appreciated and enjoyed by her friends.

Of course, in the shooting and hunting season, as a rule, at all country houses the gentlemen outnumber the ladies; so, to make things pleasant, the Duchess adopted the following method.

It is understood that the two gentlemen of