The Commodore, Conolly, Pusey, and self, dined with Madame Furnhjelm. Just before the dinner hour the steamer with Governor-Admiral hove in sight, but this kind lady declined to excuse us; she said two hours must elapse before the steamer could come up against the stream and anchor. We, however, withdrew in time not to be present at the first meeting after three months’ absence. The Admiral could not have been at home five minutes before he came in full costume to call on me, in his own house, after which we returned to tea with Madame. Admiral Furnhjelm is a hale, handsome man of about fifty, rather bald, gray hair, with very black eyebrows, manner most cordial and kind. I did not allude to the letter I had written relative to ascending the Usuri, but His Excellency remarked that he had heard of my visit, I suppose from his wife, and that there were many difficulties, but that he would give me an answer before ten o’clock the following morning. [Sidenote: Aug. 2.] We had made our arrangements for either route, but, I must confess, with some anxiety as to the result. No more novel or agreeable trip could be conceived than that we had proposed by river. Precisely at the appointed time, the Admiral, with a large map, at once laid before us what he conceived to be great difficulties. The insurrection and invasion to the southward by these Chinese rebels had caused them to withdraw all the horses along the post road for the use of the troops; that the rebels, although dispersed, were not subdued, and might be marauding the country, and that beyond the point called Bonsey, he could not be responsible for our lives. Most of these difficulties could, he said, in a couple of weeks, be overcome, and an escort got ready. However, kindly placed before us as it was, it was evident we were not wanted, so we put the best face on our disappointment, thanked him all the same, but declined attempting the journey. A parting breakfast was prepared for us, and our party having embarked, _Salamis_ weighed, and soon was passing rapidly down the river, assisted by the current. The battery saluted with fifteen guns, _Rodney_ having fired a similar number on arrival of the Admiral in Castries Bay without a return. Our pilot was an intelligent young officer who had himself planned and placed the numerous buoys and landmarks, without which no one, however experienced, could guide a vessel clear of the shoals. The landmarks are ingeniously arranged, being triangular whitewashed frames, showing the rear higher than the other. To place these the dark-looking fir-trees had been felled in the line, and the landmarks were seldom visible more than one pair at a time. [Sidenote: Aug. 3.]