A victory after a fight could not have given me greater pleasure than when the fid was in its place, and support spread like a cobweb. Fair readers, forgive my attempting to describe the event; such a thing can never happen again. Nor should you hear of it now, had I not registered a vow to tell the “truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me ----.” By the 31st we were in Gibraltar Bay, and soon got rid of every vestige of our mishap. [Sidenote: Gibraltar, Feb. 4.] 12.30.--Weighed and steamed out, having received orders to rejoin the Fleet at Lisbon, without delay. [Sidenote: Feb. 5.] 3 P.M.--Observed the fleet in the Tagus, Rear-Admiral Corry having shifted his flag from blue to white. 4.30.--Came to in 12 fathoms off Belem Castle, having eight days’ quarantine to complete from the time of leaving Gibraltar. [Sidenote: Feb. 6.] De Crispigny promoted to rank of Lieutenant, and appointed to _James Watts_. Put him on board _Desperate_ as she steamed past on her way home. [Sidenote: Lisbon, Feb. 12.] 11 A.M.--Weighed, rejoined fleet, came to off Packet Stairs. [Sidenote: Feb. 15.] Weighed and made sail as per signal. Hove to for fleet at noon; filled and took station in line-of-battle astern of flag, _Duke of Wellington_ leading division. [Sidenote: At Sea, Feb. 21.] 9 A.M.--Fleet formed ahead of lee column. Hove to; laid out targets and exercised at general quarters. [Sidenote: Mar. 1.] Arrived Spithead. Found _Princess Royal_ with flag of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier; _Edinburgh_, flag of Rear-Admiral Chads; _Boscawen_, _Hogue_, _Odin_, _Leopard_, _Magæra_, _Dragon_, _Simoom_, and _Frolic_. 5 P.M.--Sailed _Simoom_, one of our early magnificent class of transports, with First Battalion Scots Fusilier Guards _en route_ to Crimea. Manned rigging and cheered. [Sidenote: Mar. 2.] Completed water. Sent Phipps, one of our promising youngsters, to the hospital. Laid out, and had constant practice at target (an exercise which continued to end of the chapter!). [Sidenote: Mar. 5.] Arrived _Royal George_, Codrington. [Sidenote: Mar. 10.] Arrived _Duke of Wellington_, and hoisted flag of Admiral Sir Charles Napier. Manned yards, fired royal salute, and cheered as Her Majesty passed through the fleet. [Sidenote: Mar. 11.] 12.30--The Queen visited the fleet in the _Fairy_ yacht. Cheered from the rigging as Her Majesty passed. Later, signal from the yacht for Admirals and Captains to be presented to Her Majesty by the First Lord of the Admiralty. Each ship had friends on board. I had my due proportion of visitors. Among them Brierly, nephew Bury; Edward, now Lord Digby; young Harry Stephenson, whose father, my brother-in-law, had quarrelled with me not long before for having offered to take one of his boys to sea. He now was the greatest child, dancing a hornpipe on the forecastle in Hessian boots! His son Harry, too young to enter the Navy, was stowed away, and remained with me, as did Brierly and Bury.