Attended divine service in the open air. 4th Division of the army square formed. Parson with moustache! Ride with General Barnard to the site of the charge at Inkerman. Dined with the general, meeting Charles Windham, who agrees with me about employing the ships to draw fire off the trenches. Interesting view of the town, also the fortifications recently made by the Russians. [Sidenote: Mar. 26.] Attended races of 3rd Division. Curious and novel sight: soldiers and sailors only. Put up on board _Gladiator_, Captain Broke, now Sir George, and son of the famous _Shannon_ and _Chesapeke_ hero. [Sidenote: Mar. 27.] Returned on board after inspecting stables and my new old pony. Walk with Thompson: had to bob to a Russian shell, my gold lace cap having, they said, attracted attention. Two 10½-inch Russian shells not exploded, had them conveyed on board. Pasley, M‘Cleverty, and Elphinstone to dine. [Sidenote: Mar. 28.] [Sidenote: Mar. 29.] Another case of smallpox. Admiral suggested our getting under weigh, by way of cutting off communication. Thought it advisable to have mids and youngsters vaccinated; having the necessary lymph on board, they were ordered to my cabin. Some, seeing the doctor’s preparations, rather hesitated, on which I requested the surgeon to perform on me first, when all went on smoothly. [Sidenote: Mar. 30.] Weighed at daylight, running past the entrance of the harbour, and came to off Eupatoria. Hoisted quarantine flag. George Hastings came alongside. Omar Pasha’s army is encamped in the town. [Illustration: _Omar Pasha’s Arab._] CHAPTER LVI _ST. JEAN D’ ACRE_ [Sidenote: 1855. Eupatoria, April 3.] Landed yesterday and paid a visit to the Turkish Admiral and Omar Pasha. He is a fine-looking man. It is astonishing the excellent earthworks his army have thrown up round Eupatoria during the last fortnight. The place is now secure against surprise or assault. Omar mounted me on his favourite charger, an Arab said to be very valuable. Never saw so beautiful an animal. Rode with a party and visited the Turkish advanced cavalry picquets. The country round Eupatoria is a vast open plain, with here and there hillocks supposed to be of Roman construction. On these the advanced Turkish picquets were stationed in pairs. A short distance beyond them were the advanced Russian picquets, looking warlike. Behind them again were different squadrons of cavalry, all ready mounted for work. But on Omar’s charger I was safe. He has more than 45,000 men, 7000 of which are cavalry and artillery. I cannot say when I have had so interesting a day. Had party on board to dine. Colonel Simmonds, Ogilvie, and Commanders present. Weighed at midnight. Nineteen cases of smallpox. Took Surgeon with me to the Admiral, and got permission to land on a small uninhabited island and build huts. [Sidenote: April 4.]