R,CHARD MONCKTON MILNES was born in the year - OUDL Home

Lord Houghton and his Circle 19of the future of others than of his own present, he set towork at once on rebuilding and improvement. Thus the'seventies closed for him. Like other landowners, he hadsuffered severely from the agricultural depression whichmarked their end. When the new decade opened, hischildren soon married, and he spent a great deal of timewith his devoted sister, herself widowed, whose affectionhad meant much to him throughout his life. Two of hisaunts, who had been more like elder sisters to him, andhad always spent some months of the year at Fryston,still survived. So that, though much had been takenfrom his home, something was still left. Nor did a youngergeneration neglect him. The Prince of Wales greatly enjoyedhis company, and he received much hospitality andkindness from Lord and Lady Rosebery. Lord Rosebery'sgifts and tastes were specially congenial to him, andhaving been closely intimate with several branches of theRothschilds, he was happy to continue the friendshipwith a daughter of the house.But the end was not very long delayed. In 1882, whenat Athens after a visit to his eldest daughter in Egypt,he was prostrated_by an attack of angina pectoris, whichpassed off quickly, but was a warning which could not beignored. He spent most of his time in London, whereLady Galway and he kept house together, and he wasable to carry on many of his usual activities, notablyspeaking with much charm at celebrations in honour ofColeridge, of Gray, and, last of all, of Wordsworth. Hiscardiac trouble, as sometimes happens, afflicted him witha certain physical restlessness, which made it difficult forhim to remain quietly in any one place, and led him toundertake social and other engagements which madealmost painful calls on his strength and yitality. But therewas no restlessness or uneasiness in his mind. One day,when still he had a year of life before him, he said, with2-2