19–25 August 1878

Had to dine at half-past five. At six o'clock, with much regret, left dear Osborne, with Beatrice and Leopold, and embarked on board the "Alberta " at Trinity Pier. We had a delightful passage, but the weather looked very threatening behind us. Passing close to the " Osborne," we saw Bertie, Alix, the boys, and the King of Denmark standing on the paddle-box. As we steamed across we saw the poor " Eurydice " lying close off what is called 11 No Alans Land" as we had seen her the day of the Review, in fearful contrast to the beautiful fleet ! We at once entered the railway train ; poor Sir J. Garvock (who has resigned) was too ill to appear. We stopped at Banbury for re- freshments, and I lay down after eleven o'clock. At Carlisle (at five or six in the morning) Lord Bridport, Harriet Phipps, and Mary Lascelles (who had joined at Banbury), Fraulein Bauer, and two of my maids left us to go to Balmoral, while Janie Ely, General Ponsonby, Sir W. Jenner, Mr. Yorke, Brown, Emilie, Annie, and three foot- men went on with us to Broxmouth.

A fine hot morning. After breakfast, walked with Beatrice down under the trees to the left, alono- a broad walk next to the Broxburn, on to the end of the walk which led to the garden wall, on which roses were growing, and which is quite on the sea, which was of a deep blue. The rocks are very bad for boats. There is a walk along the top of the rocks that overhang the sea — the Links. This road goes on to Dunbar, which, with its fine church that stands so high as to be a landmark, is well seen from here. We walked back again, and I sat out near the house on the grass, under one of the small canopies which we had brought with us, and signed papers and wrote. At twelve there was service in the dining-room, performed by Mr. Buchanan of Dunbar, who had been for some little time tutor to Lord Charles Ker. Beatrice, Janie Ely, the Duke and Duchess, General Ponsonby, Mr. Yorke, and the Duke's upper servants were present. It was very well performed. Afterwards wrote and rested. Se- lected presents for the servants in the house, and things from Dunbar for my people. At a quarter-past five, after tea, drove out with Beatrice, the Duchess, and Janie Ely, in the landau and four. The afternoon very bright and fine. We drove on towards England, in the oppo- site direction from yesterday's drive and parallel to the sea, though well inland. The sea of a deep blue, but a haze so dense that the distance could hardly be seen. We drove past Barny Hill (Sir William Miller's) to Dunglass (Sir Basil Hall's), a most beautiful place with splendid trees, firs like those near the Belvidcre in Windsor Park, sycamores, beech, oak, etc. The road passes above a deep ravine, at the bottom of which flows a stream, and past the ruins of an old abbey or castle. The house itself (at the door of which we stopped for a few minutes to speak to Sir Basil and Lady Hall) is a large, rather dreary-looking stone house with columns. It must formerly have belonged to the Home family. The distance was so hazy that, as we drove there, we could with great diffi- culty faintly discern 67. Abb's Head,* and the point on the Wolf's Craig mentioned in the " Bride of Lammermoor." Coming back we took a lono; round inland, down steepish hills, through the very picturesque villages of Brankeston and Innerwick. Home at half-past seven. Dinner as yesterday with the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe, with the addition of Lord Haddington and General Ponsonby. Lord Haddington's father (who was for a short time one of my lords in waiting, but never took a waiting) was brother to the late beautiful Marchioness of Breadalbane (wife of my dear old Lord Breadalbane), to the present Dowager Lady Aberdeen, to the late Lady Pohvarth, and the present Dowager Lady Ash- burnham. After dinner the other gentlemen were pre- sented, including Mr. Buchanan, who seems a very nice person. Then went to my room, and Janie Ely stayed with me a short while.