To London. Saw my father; well in health; going to Newmarket. [Sidenote: May 12.] Receiving a letter from Sir William Symonds, asking if he might nominate me to command his _Spartan_, started for Somerset House, and found from Edge that I was wanted, as in case of _Constance_, as a second string to his bow. [Sidenote: May 15.] Attended the meeting of the Committee for the Foundation of a Church Mission-House and School in Borneo. Some large subscriptions received. [Sidenote: May 21.] Again over to Greenwich; hard bargain with Mrs. Kemp. Georgie Crosbie and early dinner. [Sidenote: May 23.] Took my first lesson in steam at Woolwich. Hearing that a foreigner was inquiring after me, avoided him; it turned out afterwards to be an old Spanish friend, General Mazzerado of Barcelona, who stopped to dinner. By Templer heard of a most diabolical massacre committed in Borneo Proper. [Sidenote: May 25.] Commencing steam study in earnest. A Princess born. (Princess Helena.) [Sidenote: May 26.] Breakfast at half-past eight. Start at nine to be in Dockyard by ten. Pleasant enough while the weather is fine. Dined at Greenwich Hospital with Sir Robert Stopford to celebrate Her Majesty’s birthday. Pleasant party. [Sidenote: May 27.] Derby Day, and I not there. Won by Mr. Gully’s “Phyrrus.” [Sidenote: May 28.] The sad news of the massacre of Rajah Muda Hassim and family, and his gallant brother, Budrudeen. [Sidenote: June 2.] Greenwich Fair. Joined George King and his party in a small Whitebait dinner at the “Crown and Sceptre.” Paraded the Fair afterwards. [Sidenote: June 11.] Dined with Sir James Gordon, Lieutenant-Governor of Greenwich Hospital. Though he lost a leg in Hostes’ _Lissa_ frigate action, Gordon frequently walks from London. [Sidenote: London, June 13.] Attended the wedding of Amelia Williams and Mark Wood--also to _déjeûner_ given by the Bulkeleys. Lovely day; pretty wedding; good breakfast; everything right. [Sidenote: June 14.] Early dinner with the Hawleys. Tattersalls and Park afterwards. [Sidenote: June 15.] To Woolwich Dockyard, Dined with Colonel Parker to meet kind friend, his brother, the Admiral. [Sidenote: June 16.] Dined with Commander and Mrs. Dalyell in the Hospital. He was for nine years a prisoner of war at Verdun; released when Napoleon I. went to Elba. Anyone interested in the record of a sailor’s life during the end of the last century and early part of this should read that of my old friend, who was now a pensioner, with apartments in Greenwich Hospital.[1] [1] See O’Byrne’s _Naval Biographies_, 1848. The Dalyells are kind people and have exceedingly good taste. [Sidenote: June 17.] To Woolwich by steam, meeting on board _Lord Selkirk_, Captain Ross, and Ranelagh. Went to Arsenal. Georgie and Jack Crosbie and Grey Skipwith to dine. [Sidenote: June 18.] An impertinent letter from Wise: answered him. [Sidenote: June 19.] To Woolwich by steam. [Sidenote: June 21.]