as Commander of the
Order of St Ferdinand and of Merit, for which I had to pay ten ducats
as a fee to the secretary's clerk,--a part of the ceremony I did not
bargain for, as the order cannot be of any use to me, there being a
rule against officers accepting of foreign orders except in particular
cases.

* * * * *

_Dec. 22._--... At eleven the boats came off and brought all my traps,
and a small parcel from the Princess Paterna, containing a very
handsome gold necklace and bracelets, requesting I would accept them
for her sake and present them to my wife. His Majesty, as well as the
princess, have behaved to me in a most munificent way, having loaded
me with favours and marks of their affection, which I shall ever
remember with the warmest gratitude. As I have now done with the King
of Naples, it may be as well to say a few words of his person and
habits. He is a tall thin fair man, now seventy years of age,
uncommonly robust and active for that time of life, which may be
attributed in a great measure to his temperance and love of
field-sports, which has been ever his ruling passion, and often
occasioned him to neglect the more imposing and serious duties of a
king. As a man, he must be liked by every one who comes immediately in
contact with him, as he is cheerful and good-humoured, though not a
man of much information. While on board the ship he was generally up
before daylight,--which at this season of the year is not saying
much,--took a cup of coffee and a bit of biscuit,--to strengthen his
stomach as he said,--and then said prayers, having two friars and a
priest with him. At noon he dined, when he ate a very hearty meal, and
drank about half a bottle of Neapolitan wine a good deal diluted with
water, and ate nothing for the remainder of the day. In the evening he
played picquet, and went to bed at eight or half past....

* * * * *

The _Vengeur_ returned to England in the spring of 1820, and Maitland
was appointed to the _Genoa_, guardship at Portsmouth, from which he
was superseded in October on the completion of his three years'
continuous service on the peace establishment. The midshipmen of the
_Genoa_ presented him with a sword as a mark of respect.

Then followed a period of rest. In 1816 he had bought from his mother
the estate of Lindores, near Newburgh, in Fifeshire, which had been in
her family since 1569. Here he now spent several yea