heerful as the sun.

Let us now pass rapidly over the few intervening days, and start afresh
from July 17th. So much energy and determination had been displayed by
all hands, that long before most ships have half thought about the
matter we were ready for sea. In the short space of twelve days, so far
as we were concerned, we were quite capable of voyaging to the
moon--given a water-way by which to reach her, especially with such a
chief as "Energetic H." at the helm.

On the morning of the 17th, there being nothing further to detain us in
Hamoaze, steam was got up, and ere long we were leaving, for a few
years, the old and familiar "Cambridge" and "Impregnable," the one-time
homes of so many amongst us; and bidding king "Billy" and his royal
consort a long good bye! until Devil's Point hides from us a picture
many of us were destined never to behold again.

Ere long the booming of our heavy guns, as we saluted the admiral,
announced that we had dropped our anchor for the first time in the
Sound.

After testing speed on the measured mile, powder and shell, and other
explosives, were got on board and safely stowed, though it would appear
that the engineer authorities were not satisfied with the results of the
steam trial. A second trial was therefore deemed necessary, and on this
occasion a sort of fete was made of it; for numbers of officials and
un-officials, with their lady friends, came on board to witness the
result. The day was beautifully fine, and the trip a really enjoyable
one--the cruising ground lying between the Start and Fowey.

July 22nd.--The "long-expected" come at last, namely, the admiral's
inspection.

There is a purely nautical proverb, or, at any rate, one which is so
common amongst sailors, that it may be considered as such, which says
"Live to-day live for ever;" one of those expressions which, somehow,
everybody knows the meaning of, but which none seem to be able to render
intelligible. Well, this idea is peculiarly applicable to admirals'
visits; for if one can manage to live through such an atmosphere of
bustle and worry, such rushing and tearing, such anxiety of mind, and
such alacrity of movement as follows in the train of the great man, then
surely existence at any other time and under any other conditions is an
easy matter.

It was with peculiar feelings, then, that we received the august Sir
Thomas, over our gangway. Nor were these feelings modified by the
knowledge that Admiral