Our party was to have consisted of George Fitzroy, with his wife and children, Conolly, from the Peking Legation, and the Commodore. Fitzroy had remained too long in Shanghai, and was obliged to start earlier than he intended for a cruise in the P. and O. _Benares_. They had reached Yokohama the day before I arrived from Hong Kong in the _Rodney_ (Mrs. Fitzroy was with him, the children remaining at Shanghai). I persuaded him to embark immediately on board _Rodney_, where he could have the advantage of the best medical advice. Doctor Hill took charge of him. We sailed from Yokohama on May 19, and arrived at Nagasaki, May 28, passing through the inland sea, and unfortunately landed Fitzroy apparently no better than when he embarked. The _Salamis_ arrived on 11th from Cheefoo, bringing Conolly, who had found his way from Peking. _Basilisk_ (6), Captain Hewitt, arrived on 14th, bringing our mail and the Commodore. Dr. Hill pronounced Fitzroy in too precarious a state to embark, and kindly volunteered to remain behind. [Illustration: _Map--Northern China, with Coast of Siberia._] We had two other passengers, who promised to be of much use to us in Russian waters. One was a Mr. Esche, the tenant of a large extent of the coal district in the Island of Saghalien, himself a German, but speaking the Russian language fluently; the other, Mr. Adams, the contractor, who had before been attending a Russian squadron in these seas in that capacity, a kind-hearted jolly personage, known in the gunroom by the name of “Beef and Vegetables.” From Sir Rutherford Alcock I received a letter addressed to himself from the Russian Minister, Mr. Vlangali, stating that he had written to Admiral Jean Furnhjelm, Governor of the Province and Coast, on the subject of my intended visit, that although he had not yet received an answer, he was sure that orders would everywhere be given, “pour faire à votre Amiral tous les soins qui lui sont dûs.” [Sidenote: June 3.] Leaving the _Rodney_ at Nagasaki, I took a week’s cruise in the _Sylvia_, surveying vessel, Commander Brooker, during which we passed through Hirado or Spex Strait, Commander Brooker having just completed a survey of it. [Sidenote: June 17.] Soon after daylight we weighed in _Rodney_ and steamed out of Nagasaki Harbour, steering for the beautiful passage through Hirado Strait, which, since Brooker’s excellent survey, I considered perfectly safe with so good a Staff-Commander as we had in Harris. Successfully performed this feat. _Rodney_ must have been by far the largest ship that ever went through. We then shaped a course to the westward of Iki, through the East Korea Strait, and to the northward along the Korean coast. [Sidenote: Novogorod Harbour, June 20.]