At Admiralty: met Sir Edmund Lyons, who had been promised a command. He was trying to find out what ship they would give him. He was just then the only flag officer I would care to serve in the capacity of flag captain, and offered ship and self for that purpose. On ascertaining that I really meant what I said, he appeared to be equally satisfied and went direct to the First Lord, but without success. [Sidenote: Oct. 18.] Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane visited and inspected without notice. [Sidenote: Oct. 25.] 4 P.M.--Weighed. Steamed into Portsmouth Harbour and secured alongside _Camperdown_. [Sidenote: Nov. 12.] Not sorry to receive enclosed:-- ADMIRALTY, _Nov. 10, 1853_. MY DEAR KEPPEL--When _St. Jean d’ Acre_ is ready for sea you will be ordered on a cruise to the southward in order that you may get your ship’s company into proper training, and I quite agree with you of the necessity for doing so.--Always yours sincerely, HYDE PARKER. [Sidenote: Nov. 14.] Turned over to hulk. [Sidenote: Nov. 15.] In steam basin, additional false keel having been placed from 3 inches forward to 9 abaft, exactly what I wanted. [Sidenote: Nov. 19.] Noon.--Ship out of basin to hulk. Steam up at 9 A.M. for amusement of dockyard officials. Ship coaling. Cleaning hulk, and shifting over. [Sidenote: Nov. 26.] Dressed ship masthead flags. Ships in harbour manning yards and saluting on Her Majesty’s embarking from Royal Clarence Victualling Yard. Ships at Spithead doing same on _Fairy_ passing through _en route_ to Osborne. [Sidenote: Dec. 3.] 11.20 A.M.--Cast off from hulk and steamed out of harbour. Saluted flag of Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane. Proceeded to Stokes Bay. Tried speed under steam at measured mile. Mean of six trials just under 12 knots per hour. 3.30 P.M.--Came to at Spithead. [Sidenote: Dec. 5.] Got on board powder and shell. Received supernumeraries for fleet at Lisbon. [Sidenote: Dec. 6.] 3 P.M.--Weighed and made sail, standing towards St. Helens. [Sidenote: Plymouth, Dec. 7.] 8.40.--Came to in the Sound. Found _Hogue_ and _Magicienne_. [Sidenote: Dec. 12.] Commodore-Superintendent Michael Seymour came on board and paid advance to newly raised men. Crew complete. 7 P.M.--Weighed; made sail and stood out of the Sound to join fleet in Tagus. [Sidenote: Off Tagus, Dec. 18.] Took pilot on board and ran into the Tagus by northern passage. Pilot informing me there was no quarantine, ran past Belem without picking up health boat. 3 P.M.--Shortened, and while furling sails, signal from flag to take up a different berth from that for which we were prepared.