About noon an extra heavy squall struck the brig, throwing her on her beam ends; main yard under water. The First Lieutenant, Goldsmith, standing on the hammock-netting, holding on to the topmast backstay, was thrown off his legs. He sang out: “Put the helm up!” I, sticking to the weather-quarter like a limpet, called out, I am afraid: “The helm be d----d! I see the keel.” For a few seconds, which appeared like minutes, the brig lay like a log. The squall over, the tight little craft righted, but with loss of half-ports, hammock-netting and rails, port watch of hammocks, harness-cask, and everything movable from under the forecastle. The wind had shifted to a fair point, and in a few minutes we were running free, under all sail. [Sidenote: Jan. 12.] Arrived at Malta on 12th. Secured to a buoy in the Quarantine Harbour, with nineteen days to ride out; time to refit. Shortly afterwards the fleet, with Commander-in-Chief, arrived in the Grand Harbour. [Sidenote: Jan. 28.] On the morning of the 28th, having reported “brig ready,” quarantine expired. Signal was made for “boats to tow,” which always caused an amount of emulation from the vast number of ships. Not only were two tow-ropes passed along, but the leading boats were partly up the Grand before the _Childers_ was clear of the Quarantine Harbour. “Helm be d----d! I see the keel,” was my greeting from the old Captains. On securing to a buoy, we were not a little proud of our brig. I knew that all idle glasses were fixed on her. Such ships as were ready had sails loosed to air or dry. Of course, it was important that _Childers_ should “follow motions.” On the sails being let fall, two great rats dropped out of the bunt of our mainsail, showing a hole you might push your fist through. One rat dropped into the chains, the other overboard. But, as Jack remarked, “they had not got pratique,” and were knocked on the head. However, that did not save me from the chaff of my brother small craft for having reported “_Childers_ ready.” [Sidenote: Feb. 3.] _Tribune_, 24, arrived from Smyrna with despatches from our Ambassador at Constantinople, requiring the presence of the fleet again to the eastward. Signal made, “Prepare for sea.” Many of the ships were dismantled; some had even their tanks on shore. Every ship was, however, ready within forty-eight hours. Owing to northerly winds, they were detained until the afternoon of the 8th, when the _Medea_ and _Confiance_ steamers towed them out. At 8 P.M. the fleet made sail, forming in two lines; small craft on flag’s weather beam. [Sidenote: Feb. 11.] Ran through Cerigo passage; sailed between Zea and Therima; through the Douro passage on 12th, and outside Ipsera. [Sidenote: Feb. 13.] Made sail per signal to proceed to Smyrna. Wind headed after rounding Cape Karabonu. [Sidenote: Feb. 14.]