[Sidenote: May 2.] We left Plymouth on May 2, and following day came to in Carrick Roads at Falmouth. Mails to most parts of the world were carried from here in men-of-war, chiefly brigs, commanded by senior lieutenants, and a few by distinguished old warrant officers. There were thirty-six of these vessels, some with high-sounding names, such as _Prince Regent_, _Duke of Marlborough_ as well as of _York_, two _Dukes of Kent_, _Ladies Wellington_, _Queensberry_, _Mary Pelham_, etc. They were all in first-rate order. In the important town of Falmouth the Commanders had a society peculiarly their own, ladies taking precedence according to the seniority of their husbands on the Navy List--luckily, not that of the names of the ships their husbands commanded. _Of course, there was no quarrelling among the grass-widows._ We were here four days. [Sidenote: May 10.] Arrived in the magnificent Cork Harbour, we saluted the flag of Rear-Admiral of the White, the Right Hon. Lord Colville, Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty’s ships in Ireland. There was a great deal of smuggling all round the coast, and some of our smartest cruisers employed. Among the most fortunate was the _Gannet_, 18; she went by the name of the _“Golden” Gannet_. The Admiral was tall and imposing-looking; as gig’s midshipman I had many opportunities of seeing him. He paid almost daily state visits from his residence in the Cove of Cork to the dockyard on Haulbowline Island, dressed in full uniform. He wore his cocked hat athwartships, gold epaulettes, white pantaloons and Hessian boots. On his stepping into the state barge, the coxswain, standing up behind him, piped the time for each solemn stroke of the oars; the yards of the flagship were manned, while the marines, ranged across the poop, presented arms. The distance was short, but I thought the ceremony grand. _Semiramis_ was an old 42-gun frigate. Being light, and floating high out of the water, she was painted with two tiers of ports, and had the appearance of a ship of the line suitable to the flag she had to carry. No merchant ship trading between Cork or any port would attempt to pass without lowering her upper sails. Before leaving, the _Pylades_, 18, Commander Fead, arrived with a smuggling lugger, a beautiful vessel with a crew of over fifty fine-looking men. The Commander-in-Chief while on the station made nearly £9000 prize-money, his share being one-eighth, after expenses paid. Mr. Dunsterville had charge of Haulbowline, with a charming wife and family. A nice boy joined us as mid, deliciously Irish. With them I made excursions to Cork, and I enjoyed a lunch at the same time at the mess of the 13th Hussars.