Dinner at a Kamiesch restaurant--Duberlys, Vansittart, St. George Foley, Charlie Windham, and Lewis and Earle, A.D.C.’s, Prince Victor and Thompson, Sir William Gordon and Lord Dunkellin. [Sidenote: Oct. 23.] Dined on board _Belgravia_ with Lady Paulet, Mrs. Mitchell and Lady Manson. [Sidenote: Oct. 24.] Review of cavalry and horse artillery: none like them in the world: near 3000 strong. [Sidenote: Oct. 28.] Picnic at Baidar--_Belgravian_ ladies, Prince Victor, T. Duberly, etc. Former lost their way coming back. [Sidenote: Oct. 29.] Started with Thompson for Kazatch. My “Rajah” kicking him in play, had him carried off on stretcher to Connell’s camp. [Sidenote: Nov. 3.] We formed a cheery party for a ride towards Bilbek, consisting of Prince Victor, the Duberlys, Mark Kerr, Coleraine, Vansittart, and self, about 13 miles distant. The country hilly, grassy, and bushy; weather perfect. The attendants had arranged our picnic on a flat space on a hilly point. We had arranged ourselves to feed, when one of our party found we had disturbed a cavalry vedette of our own countrymen on an adjacent point. A ravine between, they could not conveniently get at us. [Illustration: _Sketched from life by Hon. Col. W. Colville. 1855._ _A Vidette of Cossacks._] While things were getting ready rode to the western edge of our selected spot and found we had likewise disturbed a nest of Cossacks. Our small party were not long in packing up this nice little picnic. Being well mounted, I waited to take a farewell peep, and from my position saw a greasy Cossack, about 30 feet below me, looking about with his carbine across his saddle, I suppose for something to eat. Being hungry myself, I overtook our party about to picnic a quarter of a mile off, Mark Kerr riding, as usual, without his hat. [Sidenote: Nov 4.] Accompanied Lady Paulet to breakfast with Windham. Rode afterwards to Kazatch; dined with Beauchamp Seymour. [Sidenote: Nov 5.] Breakfast with Sir E. Lyons. Transacted business, rode back to Balaclava, putting up a large covey of partridges by the way. [Sidenote: Nov 6.] 8th Hussars embarking. Shall miss them and Mrs. Duberly. [Sidenote: Nov 8.] With Wenny Coke to look after covey of partridges seen by me. While preparing luncheon, observed a French soldier stalking a bird that flew from bush to bush. Asked Wenny to shoot the bird for him while I prepared luncheon. When he came back I asked if the man was pleased. He replied, “I don’t know! I have the bird in my pocket.” I said “What a brute you are,” when he produced a woodcock, which we at once cooked. [Sidenote: Nov 11.] With my Admiral to headquarters. Took leave of General Sir James Simpson, also Willy Colville, who accompanies him to England. Mark Kerr was there. Admiral and I dined with Dupuis. [Sidenote: Nov 15.]