'after Westminster Abbey I went down to Teddington, and took a lesson in punting from Kemp, the Teddington fisherman, and from this time forward became devoted to the art, for which I gave up my canoeing.'
His resolve to spend his Sundays in retreat on the river did not pass without protest from his friends, as is shown by a characteristic letter from Sir William Harcourt:
"CUFFNELLS, LYNDHURST, "August 28, 1882."
"DEAR DILKE,"
"Don't be an odious solitary snipe in the ooze of the Thames, but come down here at once and nurse Bobby.
"Yours ever, W. V. H."
"Bobby" was Mr. Robert Harcourt, now M.P. for the Montrose Burghs.
He replied:
"LALEHAM FERRY (for this night only. I shall be at the P.O. every day this week). "August 29th.