thought myself in the seventh
heaven. Alas, the time flew away on rapid wings. How soon our joy is
changed to sorrow. I tore myself from the house that contained my dearest
treasures, and was soon again among tar jackets and tar barrels. The
admiral appeared satisfied with my punctuality, but he did not invite me
to dinner, and as he did not I repaired to the principal inn with a few
brother officers, and ordered some fish and a boiled leg of mutton and
mashed turnips. "It is very extraordinary, gentlemen," replied the head
waiter when we mentioned the articles we wished for dinner. "There are
thirteen different naval parties in the house, and they have all ordered
the same. But," added he, "I am not at all surprised, for our mutton is
excellent." The following morning the signal was made for all captains to
repair to the dockyard to receive the Duke of Clarence. At one o'clock he
arrived in the commissioner's yacht from Chatham. I had the honour of
being presented to him first, as I happened to be nearest. He asked me a
few questions of no importance, and then passed on to another officer. He
inspected the yard and the troops, we all following him. As he was
afterwards to breakfast, or rather lunch, with Commissioner Lobb, the
latter was considerate enough to invite us all to meet him, and a curious
kind of meeting it was. The distinguished and illustrious admiral was very
chatty, and appeared from the manner of his eating to be sharp set. The
little Admiral of the Port did not, for some reason, attend. His friends
said he ought to have given the refreshment instead of the commissioner,
but it was not his fashion. I was not sorry when the Duke took his
departure, as his presence brought everything to a standstill.

In a week's time we were ready for sea, and I left Sheerness, the little
hospitable admiral, and all its contents without shedding one tear. Off
Margate the pilot had the kindness to bump us on shore, but as the tide
was making, the vessel was soon afloat without receiving any injury. His
wife had predicted this in her preceding night's dream, and he, silly man,
had not sense enough to give up his turn to another pilot. On arriving in
the Downs, I was ordered next day to repair to my old tiresome cruising
ground, where, during a period of three long, lingering months, we
cruised, anchored, fished, and frequently on Sundays engaged the old
women's terror, the flotilla. We also took a _chasse maree_ laden with