I started by mail with my monkey, and the following evening was at Quidenham. Jacko appeared to take possession. The excitement he caused was great. At first he would not trust himself out of my reach, but was only too much at home afterwards. The ship was again wanted for service. I had not time to visit my sister Anne, who had in February 1822 married Mr. Coke. [Sidenote: Mar. 8.] I was much vexed, when I got back, to find that some good-natured messmate had on Sunday afternoon given my brother at the College a small bottle of first-rate Jamaica. Now Tom’s position in the ranks at prayers was, unfortunately, just in front of the Governor. During the short service the poor boy lost his balance, and prostrated himself on the floor. The next morning in the cupola he ascertained what a birch administered by a Blue Marine sergeant was like. [Sidenote: Mar. 21.] We sailed in company with a small experimental squadron. Got as far as Lymington and back, through Spithead to off Dover, Dungeness, and Downs. In the latter anchorage lay the _Ramillies_, 74. In addition to her Captain and officers, she had 103 lieutenants and 33 assistants borne for coastguard service. She was a show ship, and for the convenience of ladies getting on board had a large cask fitted with a seat. On the bottom, outside, was painted a clown’s grinning face, which made people laugh, while the occupant in mid-air believed her little ankles were being seen. [Sidenote: Mar. 27.] We were ordered to Harwich, where we embarked Rear-Admiral Plampin, and saluted him with 13 guns. It was the end of the week before we had embarked suite and luggage and sailed. [Sidenote: April 1.] Still no hurry, and, with occasional anchorings it was April 1 before we reached Cork to assume the command in place of Lord Colville, who had sailed in the _Semiramis_, which ship returned on May 7 without his lordship, when we transferred our flag. We were glad to get back among our kind and hospitable friends. We had, however, a visit from a pedlar, whose wares were various. He was rash enough to venture on the lower deck of a man-of-war, whose inhabitants were mixed. Now, Dobree, who, I suppose, had got tired of snuffing the purser’s dips with his fingers, invested in a pair of plated snuffers. Unluckily, before the pedlar had cleared out, and on the third time of asking, the plating came off the snuffers. The pedlar bolted, and his box followed, the contents dispersed in front of the marines’ mess. Luckily they spread no further and were recovered. I believe I was the only loser, inasmuch as the pedlar lodged a complaint with the kind and good Mrs. Dunsterville. The pedlar knew no names, he could only describe his enemy as the “foxy-headed gintleman.” As I was the only “gintleman” with red hair Mrs. Dunsterville knew, my invitations to that cheery establishment ceased, and her son John, my messmate, never came on board if he knew of it. [Sidenote: May 8.]