Warlike symptoms on approaching Singapore. Roads full of ships. Transports with soldiers in plenty. Anchored in the afternoon. It was with pain I broke to Gran. Loch the death of his mother, which I had read in the newspaper. [Sidenote: May 8.] Dined with Bonham. Nice quiet dinner in cool situation on the hill. [Sidenote: May 10.] _Serpent_ arrived, having sailed from England three weeks before us. Prepared a tiffin for my old friend of _Magicienne_ days, Bonham. [Sidenote: May 11.] Refitted. Sky sail and masts up. Got under way. Met _Thalia_ coming, she having sailed five weeks before us. [Sidenote: May 12.] Sailing up the Chinese Sea. Poor Chinese! They require a little conceit taken out of them, and, as it must be, I have no objection to lend a hand. The snakes in these seas are black, and porpoises white or flesh-colour; everything different from other parts of the world. [Sidenote: May 14.] Boarded a barque from Hong Kong. Expedition to proceed north on arrival of troops, now not far from us. [Sidenote: May 30.] Arrived at Hong Kong. Visited senior officer, Sir Thomas Herbert. [Illustration: _Hong Kong._] [Sidenote: May 31.] Visited the Plenipotentiary, Sir Henry Pottinger, General Sir Hugh Gough, and the Resident. _Thalia_ and _Harlequin_ arrived. [Sidenote: June 1.] Rose early and walked over a great part of the island with Major Cain, Head Magistrate; sharp work for first walk--about fifteen miles. [Sidenote: June 2.] _Belleisle_, with General Lord Saltoun and 98th Regiment arrived; was glad to meet my friends with whom I had been so much at the Cape. Dined with Brigadier Burville on board _Moira_. Among those whose acquaintance I made and served with afterwards on the staff of the Plenipotentiary was Harry Parkes. Included in the staff was a clever German missionary, by name Gütslarfe. He was obliging to every one. Sailors are prone to give nicknames, and our friend rejoiced in that of “Happy Bowels.” [Sidenote: June 3.] Took Rice and Armytage with me in Company’s steamer _Hooghly_ to Macao. Found there nephew Henry Coke, with Mr. Kerr, merchant, at whose house I dined and slept. Rode after dinner across the barrier. [Sidenote: June 4.] Returned to Hong Kong. My old friend and shipmate, Grey Skipwith, was now on board the _Cornwallis_, and from him I received a note, advising me to lose no time in joining the flag. I had to take charge of convoy transports, with the _Serpent_ for whipper-in. There was a nice breeze through the Formosa Channel. [Sidenote: June 7.] To keep company with my fleet I had to lower topsails on to the cap. [Sidenote: June 9.] Copy of a proclamation issued by Mandarin Linn: “Reward for the taking alive a commanding officer and the chief commander of a great ship of war is $5000--also for the murder of a Barbarian officer; one-third of the above for arresting him.” [Sidenote: June 12.]