_Colossus_ off the harbour by 7.30. Embarked 754 officers and men of the 44th Regiment. Old friend Colonel Charles Stanley in command. Out and away at 10.30. Percy Herbert and Romaine on board. [Sidenote: June 26.] Ran past Constantinople during the afternoon, telegraphing to Flag, without stopping, the regiment and number of troops on board. Clear away without a trooper in tow! [Sidenote: June 27.] _Centurion_ full of fuel, and with a clean bottom, steamed past us this morning in an unpleasant manner. Clear of Dardanelles. Found a slashing north-easter blowing. [Sidenote: June 28.] I have often thought how easy it would have been with our united fleets to have stopped up the mouth of Sevastopol Harbour between Forts Nicholas and St. Michael. We had material enough in useless old ships to block the entrance assisted by the débris from the aforesaid Forts, where during the winter months, mud washed down from the rivers and adjacent streams would have formed a lake, to be continually renewed until it became arable, and in some future time the farmer’s plough might strike the _Vladimir’s_ funnel or remove the head of the _Twelve Apostles_. [Sidenote: June 29.] Passed through the Doro passage in middle watch and rounded Cape St. Angelo. Fuel falling short: obliged to economize, always a bore! Was in too great a hurry passing Constantinople. Divine Service to troops and seamen. 4 P.M.--Fell in with a collier consigned to French Government, she not knowing of her whereabouts eased her of fifty tons. [Sidenote: Malta, July 1.] Arrived at Malta before 8 A.M. Admiral the Hon. Sir Montague Stopford in command. Coaled, and off by 4 P.M. [Sidenote: July 2.] Rounded Cape Bon. Impatient I! [Sidenote: July 8.] 6 A.M.--Anchored at Gibraltar. While coaling passed time pleasantly enough between George Grey and Pagets. Dined with the General. Got everybody on board by 11 P.M. Weighed at midnight. [Sidenote: Spithead, July 18.] At daylight passed the Needles, and at an early hour anchored at Spithead, within two hours of _Centurion_. George Lennox dined with me on board, returned his binoculars. Her Majesty passing through Spithead came close by _Colossus_. Great cheering. [Sidenote: Spithead, July 19.] Disembarked troops. No men could have behaved better than our 44th throughout the voyage. Dined with the good Admiral, Sir George Seymour. [Sidenote: July 21.] _Colossus_ coming into harbour, accompanied Admiral and family to Cowes. Wrote my name in lodge-book at Osborne. [Sidenote: July 23.] By 2.30 train to London; put up with Harry Stephenson. To Haymarket, by appointment with Lord William Paget. [Sidenote: July 24.] Edward Eyre to breakfast. Hack cab to Twickenham to dine with Dowager Lady Albemarle. [Sidenote: July 29.] Letter from Sir Charles Wood announcing his intention of giving me a broad pennant in India. Started by train for Chichester. Thomas and I to Goodwood Races. Sent traps to West Dean, walked there from races.