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been its growth within his memory； what causes might arise to cheek its increase。 After listening to his remarks on the subject one day at dinner； I observed that I had heard Lord Ebury talk of shooting over ground which is now Eaton Square。 Mr。 Gladstone of course did not doubt it； but some of the young men smiled incredulously。 I afterwards wrote to Lord Ebury to make sure that I had not erred。 Here is his reply：
'Moor Park； Rickmansworth： January 9； 1883。
'MY dear Henry； … What you said I had told you about snipe… shooting is quite true； though I think I ought to have mentioned a space rather nearer the river than Eaton Square。 In the year 1815； when the battle of Waterloo was fought； there was nothing behind Grosvenor Place but the （…？） fields … so called； a place something like the Scrubbs； where the household troops drilled。 That part of Grosvenor Place where the Grosvenor Place houses now stand was occupied by the Lock Hospital and Chapel； and it ended where the small houses are now to be found。 A little farther； a somewhat tortuous lane called the King's Road led to Chelsea； and； I think； where now St。 Peter's； Pimlico； was afterwards built。 I remember going to a breakfast at a villa belonging to Lady Buckinghamshire。 The Chelsea Waterworks Company had a sort of marshy place with canals and osier beds； now； I suppose； Ebury Street； and here it was that I was permitted to go and try my hand at snipe…shooting； a special privilege given to the son of the freeholder。
'The successful fox…hunt terminating in either Bedford or Russell Square is very strange； but quite appropriate； commemorated； I suppose； by the statue there erected。
Yours affectionately；
'E。'
The successful 'fox…hunt ' was an event of which I told Lord Ebury as even more remarkable than his snipe…shooting in Belgravia。 As it is still more indicative of the growth of London in recent times it may be here recorded。
In connection with Mr。 Gladstone's forecasts； I had written to the last Lord Digby； who was a grandson of my father's； stating that I had heard … whether from my father or not I could not say … that he had killed a fox where now is Bedford Square； with his own hounds。
Lord Digby replied：
'Minterne； Dorset： January 7； 1883。
'My dear Henry； … My grandfather killed a fox with his hounds either in Bedford or Russell Square。 Old Jones； the huntsman； who died at Holkham when you were a child； was my informant。 I asked my grandfather if it was correct。 He said 〃Yes〃 … he had kennels at Epping Place； and hunted the roodings of Essex； which； he said； was the best scenting… ground in England。
'Yours affectionately；
'DIGBY。'
（My father was born in 1754。）
Mr。 W。 S。 Gilbert had been a much valued friend of ours before we lived at Rickmansworth。 We had been his guests for the 'first night' of almost every one of his plays … plays that may have a thousand imitators； but the speciality of whose excellence will remain unrivalled and inimitable。 His visits to us introduced him； I think； to the picturesque country which he has now made his home。 When Mr。 Gilbert built his house in Harrington Gardens he easily persuaded us to build next door to him。 This led to my acquaintance with his neighbour on the other side； Mr。 Walter Cassels； now well known as the author of 'Supernatural Religion。'
When first published in 1874； this learned work； summarising and elaborately examining the higher criticism of the four Gospels up to date； created a sensation throughout the theological world； which was not a little intensified by the anonymity of its author。 The virulence with which it was attacked by Dr。 Lightfoot； the most erudite bishop on the bench； at once demonstrated its weighty significance and its destructive force； while Mr。 Morley's high commendation of its literary merits and the scrupulous equity of its tone； placed it far above the level of controversial diatribes。
In my 'Creeds of the Day' I had made frequent references to the anonymous book； and soon after my introduction to Mr。 Cassels spoke to him of its importance； and asked him whether he had read it。 He hesitated for a moment； then said：
'We are very much of the same way of thinking on these subjects。 I will tell you a secret which I kept for some time even from my publishers … I am the author of 〃Supernatural Religion。〃'
From that time forth； we became the closest of allies。 I know no man whose tastes and opinions and interests are more completely in accord with my own than those of Mr。 Walter Cassels。 It is one of my greatest pleasures to meet him every summer at the beautiful place of our mutual and sympathetic friend； Mrs。 Robertson； on the skirts of the Ashtead forest； in Surrey。
The winter of 1888 I spent at Cairo under the roof of General Sir Frederick Stephenson； then commanding the English forces in Egypt。 I had known Sir Frederick as an ensign in the Guards。 He was adjutant of his regiment at the Alma； and at Inkerman。 He is now Colonel of the Coldstreams and Governor of the Tower。 He has often been given a still higher title； that of 'the most popular man in the army。'
Everybody in these days has seen the Pyramids； and has been up the Nile。 There is only one name I have to mention here； and that is one of the best…known in the world。 Mr。 Thomas Cook was the son of the original inventor of the 'Globe… trotter。' But it was the extraordinary energy and powers of organisation of the son that enabled him to develop to its present efficiency the initial scheme of the father。
Shortly before the General's term expired； he invited Mr。 Cook to dinner。 The Nile share of the Gordon Relief Expedition had been handed over to Cook。 The boats； the provisioning of them； and the river transport service up to Wady Halfa； were contracted for and undertaken by Cook。
A most entertaining account he gave of the whole affair。 He told us how the Mudir of Dongola； who was by way of rendering every possible assistance； had offered him an enormous bribe to wreck the most valuable cargoes on their passage through the Cataracts。
Before Mr。 Cook took leave of the General； he expressed the regret felt by the British residents in Cairo at the termination of Sir Frederick's command； and wound up a pretty little speech by a sincere request that he might be allowed to furnish Sir Frederick GRATIS with all the means at his disposal for a tour through the Holy Land。 The liberal and highly complimentary offer was gratefully acknowledged； but at once emphatically declined。 The old soldier； （at least； this was my guess；） brave in all else； had not the courage to face the tourists' profanation of such sacred scenes。
Dr。 Bird told me a nice story； a pendant to this； of Mr。 Thomas Cook's liberality。 One day； before the Gordon Expedition； which was then in the air； Dr。 Bird was smoking his cigarette on the terrace in front of Shepherd's Hotel； in company with four or five other men； strangers to him and to one another。 A discussion arose as to the best means of relieving Gordon。 Each had his own favourite general。 Presently the