Pleasant dinner with Lord Saltoun. Met Colonel Colin Campbell, of 98th; also Wade, same regiment, who became a wonderful Chinese scholar. [Sidenote: July 22.] _Agincourt_ (nicknamed _’Gincourt_) doing “small craft,” cruising about the harbour. During the afternoon she got on shore, and _Dido_ was signalled to go to her assistance. [Sidenote: July 24.] Got orders to take station at Whampoa, first communicating with Plenipo. Consul stupid. Asked him to dinner. He came, although too ill to wait on me before. [Sidenote: Whampoa, July 27.] _Dido_ causing sensation among handsome and fast opium clippers. Amoy, name of an old Chinese woman keeping a tanker-boat here, has $40,000, made by smuggling opium. [Sidenote: Aug. 1.] $188,000 taken on board on Government account. [Sidenote: Aug. 3.] Another instalment of half-million dollars. Settled cases of mutiny on board merchant ships. [Sidenote: Aug. 6.] Heard last evening death of our valued friend and shipmate, Dr. Simpson, at Singapore. Our Chinese beef-contractor, being anxious that I should visit his curiosity-shop, on my stating that I had no money, exclaimed, “Hai yah! Wot can do? S’pose got no money, how can make handsome face? How get command fine ship, all same _Dido_.” For company I had a French corvette, _L’Alcmène_, 26, Captaine Le Comte Fourinier. We were good friends; generally breakfasted together. One morning his approach was announced rather later than usual, but in full uniform. I had to listen to a complaint. During his morning’s pull he happened to pass through Blenheim Reach, and to his astonishment (_and_ mine) he found six British men-of-war--three of them ships of the line. He stated that by treaty we were limited to a certain number, and seemed to think he had been hardly used by my not having let him know this fact before. I took him by the arm and conducted him down to breakfast; then informed him that what he had seen were merely our “tea-chests.” But, he exclaimed, that happening to be there at eight o’clock, he had seen them cross topgallant yards, hoist colours, while the bands played “God save the Queen.” I told him that three of them might _once_ have been ships of the line. They were now our tea-chests, and came from Calcutta during northerly monsoon with cotton, and perhaps a bit of opium, and went back by the southerly monsoon with tea, and perhaps a few curios. We had great fun, and he enjoyed the gay parties in Blenheim Reach as much as we did. [Sidenote: Sept. 1.] Young Partridge came to dine, many of the name down in Norfolk this day. I wish I could get my good bird promoted. [Sidenote: Sept. 4.] Among the cheery parties, few better than that given by Captain Baker on board the _Earl of Balcarres_. Did not get home before the usual “daylight.” [Sidenote: Sept. 7.] Mr. Consul Hamilton arrived from Canton to take up his quarters. _Chez moi!_ No spare room. He found _Dido_ too hot. Billeted him on board the _Lowjee Family_.