t; however, you must
not expect arrangement but read a sort of higgledy-piggledy journal as
things run through my head. I must pin them down like my Butterflies as
they pass, or they will be gone for ever.

At half-past four on Friday we sailed from Portsmouth, and saw the fleet
in the highest beauty--amongst them all while they were under sail
tacking, &c.; the delay has not been lost time. I should observe before
I quit the subject of Portsmouth events, that the Emperor could not find
time to sail about for mere amusement two days, this he left to the P.
R.[38] He (the Emperor) and the Duchess of Oldenburg occupied themselves
in visiting the Dockyards, Machinery, Haslar Hospital--in short,
everything worthy the notice of enlightened beings....

Our passengers were numerous, about 25 in a vessel of as many tons, with
only six what they called regular sleeping-places.... But I had no
reason to complain, our party was in many respects excellent--one, a
jewel of no ordinary value, by name Mr. John Cross, of whom I must
enquire more. I have seldom met with a man of more general and at the
same time deep information; he seemed perfect in everything. Mineralogy,
Antiquities, Chemistry, literature, human nature were at his fingers'
ends, and most gentlemanly manners into the bargain....

Amongst others we had three French officers, prisoners returning home.
They had not met before that evening, but had you heard their
incomparable voices when they sang their trios, you would have supposed
they had practised together for years. Mr. John Cross alone surpassed
them in their art. These gentlemen were certainly not _hostile_ to
Bonaparte, but to gratify their musical taste they stuck at
nothing--"God save the King," "Rule Britannia," "The Downfall of Paris"
were chaunted in swift succession, and the following commencement of one
of their songs will show the popular opinion of Bonaparte's campaign in
Russia:--

"Quel est le Monarque qui peut
Etre si fou
Que d'aller a Moscou
Pour perdre sa grande armee?"

A fair wind brought us in sight of the French coast early on Saturday.
At 11 we were under the headland of Havre, and at 12 anchored in the
bay, and were in an instant surrounded by chattering boatfuls who talked
much but did nothing. On landing we were escorted to the Passport Office
and most civilly received there; the difference, indeed, between public
offices in England and France is quite glaring.