On a fine day in June we performed one of those feats that astonished our shore-going friends. On the 3rd at 3 A.M. the _Galatea_ was lying at Spithead with royal yards across, and ready for sea. By noon she was stripped to her gantlings, and the service on the collars of her lower rigging was repaired. By 7 P.M. she was re-rigged and decks cleared, supposed to be ready for sea. [Sidenote: June 27.] Hoisted colours half-mast on the death of His Majesty George IV. [Sidenote: June 28.] Yards manned, and a double royal salute fired on the accession of King William IV. [Sidenote: July 15.] Fired thirty minute-guns on the interment of His late Majesty George IV. [Sidenote: July 25.] While off Brighton people visited the ship; mine was by way of being the show cabin. I was struck by the appearance of a remarkably handsome couple--alas! now no more. It was some time after that I found out they were the parents of the present Admiral Heneage and his sister the Countess of Essex. [Sidenote: Aug. 16.] On my father acquainting the king that he had three good horses for the Goodwood Cup, asked by which horse His Majesty wished to win. “Win by all three,” said the king. The horses came in in following manner: Fleur de Lis, 1, Zingaree, 2, and Colonel, 3. Our Captain had a hobby, which was that he could propel a ship with paddles which could be easily fixed or withdrawn from a ship’s side. They were to be propelled by iron winch-handles attached to stanchions on either side of the main-deck. They did not succeed against the slightest head-wind. He was much chaffed by the way he spelt the word “winches” in his semi-official despatch to the Admiralty, which, he said, “only required stout hands to lay into them.” In those days any peer visiting a man-of-war was entitled to a salute. It was my afternoon watch, when a boat from Ryde came alongside with a party, which turned out to be Earl Spencer; no name better known or more respected. On finding that the Captain was on shore, he inquired if there was not a Lieutenant Keppel in the ship. Nothing could have been kinder; he wanted to take me on shore with him to dine, but I happened to be the senior officer in charge. I had the honour of manning yards, and firing the last salute of many his lordship had had. I need not say that I was relieved in ample time to enjoy an excellent dinner. Lady Spencer, who was equally fond of the Navy, would have taken care of me, but I had an appointment that night on the top of Portsdown, where the famous fair was going on, having secured a four-oared boat to cross the water, and a horse to take me to the hill.