[Sidenote: Jan. 4.] Called with Brooke on Lord Ellesmere. Dined with Lord Auckland: agreeable company. [Sidenote: Jan. 5.] Early boat to Gravesend and Chatham. Ship beginning to look well. [Illustration: Mæander _Fitting_.] [Sidenote: Jan. 6.] Splendid boats; nearly finished. _Hydra_, friend Grey Skipwith sailing for Rio in command; good fellow as well as seaman. [Sidenote: Jan. 7.] Order from Admiral, to move to Sheerness. Private letters from Admiralty to remain where we are! Cabins building for passengers. [Sidenote: Jan. 11.] Bent sails. [Sidenote: Jan. 16.] At 8.30 taken in tow by the _Charon_ steamer. Master attendant no nerve to move ship under canvas! [Sidenote: Jan. 18.] A party of friends and relations from London: a jovial party. Gave them the best I could, Admiral kindly lending his steam tender to take many of them back as far as Chatham. [Sidenote: Sheerness, Jan. 19.] Attempt to get out, but pilot not willing. Jolly party still on board. My brothers remaining; also old Rouse, of Naval College 1822, and now from Greenwich school, as well as other friends. [Sidenote: Jan. 20.] Slipped moorings at 11.30, and with the assistance of steam got as far as Little Nore. Brother George obliged to leave with his boy. Saluted Admiral, Sir Edward Durnford King. [Sidenote: Jan. 21.] Stephenson and his boys, Augustus and Sussex, not able to remain longer. [Sidenote: Jan. 22.] Early morning, the Launch paddled alongside with her small engine puffing away. Admiral had ship inspected by Captain Price, as much to his satisfaction as to mine. [Sidenote: Jan. 23.] Steamer alongside and fore and aft sails set--our nervous pilot got under way--nice breeze; made sail over the flats and cast off steamer, in which old friend Rouse went. [Sidenote: Jan. 24.] Brothers Tom and Edward, as well as Harvey, delighted with their sail. Nine, anchored at Spithead; breeze too fresh for wife to land in boat. Admiral kindly sent his tender. Dined with Admiral, Sir Charles Ogle. [Sidenote: Jan. 25.] To London by express train. Business at Admiralty. [Sidenote: Jan. 26.] Returned to Portsmouth. [Sidenote: Jan. 27.] At two o’clock Board of Admiralty, consisting of Lord Auckland, Lord John Hay, Milne, Eden, Ward, and Berkeley, with Lady Ellesmere and two charming daughters, came on board. [Sidenote: Feb. 1.] Leave-takings over, weighed from Spithead. [Sidenote: Feb. 2.] Party on board--Sir James Brooke, Mr. and Mrs. W. Napier, daughter and baby; Mr. Hugh Low, Mr. Spencer St. John, Mr. Scott, Captain Hoskins, Mr. Gwynne, my guest; Captain Peyton, and Lieutenant Müller, the latter a Norwegian naval officer. [Sidenote: Feb. 3.] Breeze freshening from westward. Came to in Plymouth Sound at 10 P.M. with watch. [Sidenote: Plymouth, Feb. 4.] Landed with Lieutenant Oldfield. Met his father, who invited us to drive on the morrow. Visited George Goldsmith, now Flag Captain to Lord Dundonald on board _Wellesley_. [Sidenote: Feb. 5.]