Ran ahead of Fleet and came to before 8, off Kazatch Bay. Cutter capsized in sailing on shore. Pilkington in her. No one drowned. Rode “Bashi” up to headquarters. Returned with Admirals. Blowing fresh, so did not dine with them. [Sidenote: May 8.] Arthur Williams came on board, having arrived in _Himalaya_ from India with his charming wife. All smallpox cases being in hospital, could put my friends up on board. Admiral Houston-Stewart to call upon Mrs. Williams. [Sidenote: May 9.] Williams, Colville, and Foley down from camp to dine. Friends Talbot, Horton, and others to dinner. Found Arthur Taylor had called on board, having arrived in charge of artillery in cargo transport. [Sidenote: May 12.] Dined with Admiral H. Stewart to meet Commander-in-Chief. Foley and Colville coming down from camp. [Sidenote: May 13.] Held survey on and invalided Captain Sir George Broke. After divine service, sent friends in launch and took Mrs. Ives in gig to Streletska Bay; landed and visited French trenches and left attack. Dined in Wardroom. [Sidenote: May 14.] Dined with Pasley. Received pictures of Nelson and Lyons. Foley and Colville took their departure for camp in the afternoon. [Sidenote: May 15.] Dined with Pasley--best cook in the Fleet. [Sidenote: May 16.] Friends from camp--Wenny Coke, Bob Lindsay, Thynne of Rifles, Baillie, and Fraser, the Master of Lovat, to dinner. Jolly party, having killed the last of my Southdowns. Baillie and Fraser returning at night. [Sidenote: May 17.] Commander-in-Chief promising to dine, prepared accordingly. Admiral Stewart sending me turtle soup and fish. Lord Rokeby down too in time from camp. Baillie. Seventeen to, for these times, a first-rate dinner. [Sidenote: May 18.] Dined with Commander-in-Chief, to meet Mrs. F. Grey. [Sidenote: May 20.] With Admirals to visit by water, in _Telegraph_ steamer, Prince Woronzoff’s place Onianda Aloupka, the Emperor’s Palace, and village of Yalta. Mrs. F. Grey, Mrs. and Miss Stewart, Lady George Paget, Lord Burgesh, Rose, and others, an agreeable party. Admiral, however, was obliged to go to headquarters. Found _Enchantress_ yacht, Sir Thomas Whichcote, with Freke and George Bentick on board; offered to tow him to Kertch! Another expedition decided on. [Sidenote: May 21.] Dined with Wardroom officers to celebrate two years in commission. [Sidenote: May 22.] Called on board _York Herald_, Captain Furber, meeting Mrs. Pentland, and Miss Furber. [Illustration: _Map of Crimea._] CHAPTER LVII SECOND EXPEDITION TO KERTCH [Sidenote: 1855. May 22.] I thought this would be a pleasant trip for my yacht friends in the _Enchantress_, and advised Whichcote to be prepared after dark to pick up the end of a hawser with as little noise as possible, which he would find over the stern of the _St. Jean d’ Acre_, and not cast off until he heard from me; and gave _Stella_ the option of doing likewise.