First visit to the Admiralty; well received. Found myself appointed to _Colossus_ and division of gunboats. Relieving old schoolfellow, Captain Robinson. Dined with Sir Maurice Berkeley. [Sidenote: Jan. 19.] Business at Admiralty, carpet-bag full of letters, no rest. Dined with First Lord; Lords Lansdowne and Stanley there. [Sidenote: Jan. 20.] By ’bus to visit Dowager Lady Albemarle at Twickenham; met Edwards, her trainer. [Sidenote: Jan. 21.] Visited Georgie Kennedy at Northbank. Jolly family dinner at Stephenson’s. [Sidenote: Jan. 22.] Called on Lady Fremantle and Lady William Paget, Arundels and Sir Edmund Lyons. By rail to Portsmouth. Lodgings at Chambers on the Hard. [Sidenote: Portsmouth, Jan. 23.] No uniform to hand, nevertheless visited privately Admiral Sir George Seymour and Admiral-Superintendent W. F. Martin. On board _Colossus_ and _Rodney_. [Sidenote: Jan. 25.] Took up commission for _Colossus_. Seven gunboats defective. Dined with Admiral-Superintendent. [Sidenote: Jan. 28.] Got through two courts-martial on engineer and assistant-paymaster, both pleading guilty, thereby saving our time, but not their sentences. D’Eyncourt, Bowyear, Moorsom, and Clifford taking chop with me. [Sidenote: Jan. 31.] Early telegraph from Lord Arundel, that Sir E. Lyons dined at home. But post brought order to dine with Her Majesty at Windsor! Just saved my bacon, buying a pair of shoes as I passed through London. [Sidenote: Windsor Castle, Feb. 1.] Invited by H.R.H. Prince Albert to shoot. Borrowed coat of Colonel Bowater. Shooting perfect. Back by 2 P.M. Visited Duchess of Kent at Frogmore. Went over Castle armoury, etc. Took Mrs. Phipps into dinner. Prince Albert taking leave over night. [Sidenote: Feb. 2.] By 10 o’clock train to London. Attended John Robb’s wedding and breakfast. [Sidenote: Feb. 3.] Long chat with Sir James Graham. At Harry Stephenson’s, another family gathering. Leicester and his brothers there. Edward Coke and wife, Archie Macdonald and wife, all jolly and happy. [Sidenote: London, Feb. 6.] Dined with Duke of Cambridge. All Crimean men. Have seldom seen a meeting of twelve men so well satisfied with their dinner as well as with one another. [Sidenote: Feb. 7.] Dined with Baldwin Walker. [Sidenote: London, Feb. 8.] Ascertained by this day’s _Gazette_ that I was to have the C.B. [Sidenote: Feb. 9.] By 5 P.M. train to Portsmouth. In same carriage as George Lennox; dined with him. [Sidenote: Portsmouth, Feb. 12.] Handsome mention made of me by Sir Charles Wood in house last night. [Sidenote: Saturday, Feb. 16.] By train to London. [Sidenote: Feb. 18.] Dined with First Lord. * * * * *