After luncheon yesterday, Parkes accompanied me on board _Ocean_, where I went to receive the Captain of the _Galatea_; afterwards went unofficially on board _Galatea_ to talk over arrangements for landing, etc. H.R.H. looking well, after his wound at Sydney, and courteous, as he well knows how to be. We left him to read the contents of three mails. Parkes and Stanhope dined with us, and made all sorts of arrangements, which were upset by His Royal Highness this morning. At 11 A.M. he landed at the bottom of the grounds to let me know his plans. Accompanied the Prince to call on Colonel Norman, Acting Commander-in-Chief, and found Mrs. Norman. On arrival of the _Galatea_, I was astonished to find His Royal Highness and crew clean-shaved, H.R.H. not having heard of the Admiralty permission to grow beards, the order having reached Yokohama a few days previous to his arrival--a proof of H.R.H.’s strict idea of discipline, although he knew very well that I should not have interfered with the internal discipline of his ship. CHAPTER CII CLOSE OF CHINA COMMAND [Sidenote: 1869. Yedo, Sept. 1.] Here I am in the Mikado’s summer palace at Yedo. Invited by H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, at whose disposal this delightful residence was placed but yesterday. Proceedings have first to be recorded. The day commenced with heavy rain, which continued, but the Duke had decided on hoisting the royal standard at 8 A.M., landing in state, and holding a levée for Britishers and Foreign Ministers at the Legation at 11. Having previously gone on board and been saluted by all the men-of-war present at 10.30, we left the _Galatea_ in the Prince’s barge. Yards manned and another royal salute. H.R.H. was received on landing by a guard from the 10th regiment, another of French marines, while the road was lined up to the Legation by the 10th and Japs together: contrast good. The Prince was cheered from the yards of his own ship on leaving, which was repeated by such ships as he passed in his way. Had the weather been anything but rainy, the whole thing would have had a grand effect. After the levée we had luncheon at the Legation, then the Prince, putting on shooting jacket and _Rodney_ hat, proposed a walk in Curio Street. H.R.H. having visited my wife, we mounted ponies and had a very fair inspection; many things were selected and put aside for future bargainings. [Sidenote: Sept. 2.] I was on board _Galatea_ by 9 A.M. At 10 we started in steam launch for Kanagawa, where Parkes had sent his carriages and mounted escort. In the first were H.R.H., Parkes, myself, and Mitford (latter told off expressly for attendance on the Prince); the other brought Elliot Yorke, Haig, and Adams.