Orders to prepare ship for reception of troops, and proceed to the Crimea. Seeing no other chance I started for London before their arrival, and was followed by a most kind letter from the First Lord to dine _en famille_ and so meet his son on Christmas Day. What could have been more agreeable? But I had to take leave of a dear shipmate, Fred Horton, of whom the doctors gave a bad account, to prepare to receive a General and Staff, and embark 1200 troops at Cork for the Crimea. [Sidenote: Dec. 26.] Slipped moorings and proceeded under steam into the Sound. [Sidenote: Dec. 30.] Received the following from Admiralty:-- _December 30, 1854._ MY DEAR KEPPEL--Make haste or you will be too late for the fun. Admiral Lyons writes in high spirits, date 13th inst. Admiral Seymour, to whom I have written, will do all that is right about cabins for your passengers. Lyons is not the man I take him for if he does not find you something to occupy you, even if you are not in time to charge the barrier across Sevastopol Harbour.--Yours sincerely, (Signed) M. F. H. BERKELEY. CHAPTER LV THE CRIMEA PLYMOUTH SOUND. [Sidenote: 1855. Jan. 1.] 2 P.M.--Slipped moorings. Came to in the Sound. Obliged to close lower deck ports to prevent watermen pitching parcels on board for the Crimea. New Year’s dinner with Admiral Sir William Parker, my old Chief in China. [Sidenote: Plymouth, Jan. 2.] Glad to meet again, residing here, Mrs. Keith Stewart; accompanied her to lunch with Lord Mount Edgcumbe. Dinner with the Charles Edens to meet my passengers, Generals Barnard and Lord Rokeby. [Sidenote: Jan. 3.] Lord George Lennox down to sail to Cork with us. 3 P.M.--Crimean Generals came alongside in a steamer. Was obliged to leave young Graham, Birch, and George Wodehouse to follow. [Sidenote: Cork, Jan. 4.] Arrived in afternoon at Cove of Cork, saluting flag of Admiral Carrol. Generals and I dined with him; Miss Carrol managing her father’s house. Received 645 troops, drafts for different regiments in the Crimea, consisting of the following:-- 63rd Regt., 51 men, Lieuts. Hunt and Hand. 30th Regt., 51 men, Capt. Robertson, Lieut. Hill. 33rd Regt., 97 men, Capt. Ellis, Lieut. Wallis, Ensign Ellis. 47th Regt., 67 men, Capt. Elgee. 41st Regt., 109 men, Capt. Bertram, Lieuts. Lambert and Nowlan. 17th Regt., 122 men, Capt. Colthurst, Lieut. Thompson, Ensigns Travis and Disbourne. 50th Regt., 17 men. 68th Regt., 17 men. 55th Regt., 39 men, Lieut. Hannay. 49th Regt., 67 men, Lieut. Eustace. 57th Regt., 9 men, Capt. Brown, Lieut. Ashwin. Not sorry to receive telegram to wait for Graham. So need not sail on Friday. [Sidenote: Jan. 5.] Shifted berth into Fairway. Schetky, late drawing master of Royal Naval College, breakfasted with me. [Sidenote: Jan. 6.]