With the flag were five ships of the line the commissions of whose Captains were dated before I was born: The _Edinburgh_, 74, Captain Richard Dacres (January 1806); _Caledonia_, 120, Captain Thomas Brown (January 1802); _Thunderer_, 84, W. Wise (May 1806); _Canopus_, 84, Hon. Jos. Percy (September 1806); _Talavera_, 74, E. Chetham (October 1807). Of these, _Caledonia_, three-decker, was the most imposing. _Canopus_ was a French ship, by far the handsomest, as well as the fastest sailer. She carried a glass star above the truck, which on a sunshiny day could be seen long before a vestige of the fleet. The _Edinburgh_ was a fine ship. _Thunderer_, a finer, but last from England, and likely to be second to none. _Talavera_, not much to look at, but improving. _Malabar_, 74, Captain Sir William Montague, was away to the westward, a most comfortable and happy ship. The _Vernon_, 38, finest frigate in the world, and exceeding in beam any of the line-of-battle ships built by Sir William Symonds. _Tribune_, 24, razéed frigate. I did not think much of her or her Captain. _Volage_, 24, donkey frigate, with George Martin, the best of good fellows, as Captain. There were _Tyne_, 28, a good fellow as Captain, Lord Ingestre (was much with him later, on coast of Spain), and six smaller vessels, of which _Childers_ was one, constantly on the move. While lying here I was joined by a very smart youngster from the Naval College, Edward Rice. While with the flag we were not allowed to be idle, and continued trials of rates of sailing on a wind. We held our own, as the _Childers_ was quick in stays. This was great fun for a while. But we all knew that there was scarcely a bush on shore that did not hold a woodcock. [Sidenote: October.] Of course, there was rivalry throughout. _Caledonia_ had the advantage of being chief, and knowing what next would be done. _Canopus_ followed our style of paint, and looked perfection, but on our returning from a sea-voyage, _Edinburgh_ and _Thunderer_ were the first to hoist boom-boats out, and fill us smaller craft with stores, water, and provisions. Weighed and made sail, _Madagascar_ in company. We beat her in short tacks working out of the bay. [Sidenote: Oct. 15.] Came to in Lante Bay. [Sidenote: Oct. 19.] A fresh steamer, the _Spitfire_, arrived with despatches; we sailed to rejoin the Admiral. [Sidenote: Oct. 24.] Weighed at daylight, and worked for Vourla Bay. 1.30 P.M.--Came to in 11 fathoms in centre of the fleet. [Sidenote: Nov. 5.] Weighed at daylight with _Scout_, _Columbine_, and _Medea_ to try rates of sailing. _Scout_ bound to Alexandria; being senior, and not able to keep up, gave us permission to part company at sunset. [Sidenote: Nov. 6.] Just before sunset, coming on to blow from the northward, stood in between Augusta and Green Islands until jib-boom was over the land, and let go the anchor in 4 fathoms.