[Sidenote: Plymouth, April 30.] Exchanged salutes with Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Sir Barrington Reynolds, K.C.B. 3.30 P.M., having embarked His Excellency Sir George and Lady Grey, Captains Speke and Grant, African travellers, friend Boileau, and others, weighed and left the Sound. [Sidenote: May 9.] 3 P.M.--Came to in Funchal Roads, Madeira. While steaming in exchanged salutes 13 guns, with Flag-Officer Inman, whose flag, blue at the mizzen, was flying on board United States corvette _Constellation_, the first United States “Officer’s Flag” we had seen. Saluted also the Portuguese flag with 21 guns, and English Consul Erskine on his leaving the ship. [Sidenote: May 12.] Ship was visited by Lord and Lady Fortescue and family, also my kind friend of long standing, the late Consul, Mr. Stoddard. As soon as they were landed, weighed and made sail. [Sidenote: May 24.] Celebrated Her Majesty’s birthday by a dinner on the poop. At 8 P.M. that celebrated old beast, Neptune, hailed the ship, burning lights, etc., and then came on board amidst the usual downfall of water, and promised to pay his respects on the morrow to all such as had not before passed through his dominions, comprising three-fourths of those on board. He then took his departure for the night, to the relief of some and inconvenience of all, amidst fire and water-works, the light of his car being visible astern for an hour afterwards. [Sidenote: May 25.] His Oceanic Majesty came on board and performed the usual ceremony. [Sidenote: June 3.] 10 A.M.--Steamed into Rio de Janeiro harbour. Returned salute from _Madagascar_. While running in, and after coming to, had to return and exchange no end of salutes. Brazilian Flag, 21 guns; Admiral’s salute, 13; French man-of-war brig, 13; and Prussian Commodore, 13. [Sidenote: Rio, June 4.] Passengers disembarked and proceeded to Petropolis. _Tribune_, 31, Captain Geoffrey Hornby, arrived from Pacific and exchanged salutes. [Sidenote: June 7.] Passengers returned. Weighed and stood out of Rio harbour. [Sidenote: June 8.] 12.5 P.M.--Henry Hill, seaman, fell overboard while the ship was going 10 knots under sails and steam. Cutter fitted with Clifford’s admirable apparatus for lowering was down in the shortest time and the man saved. [Illustration: Forte _at Rio._] [Sidenote: June 9.] An untoward event occurred during the first watch. Under extreme pressure from Captain Turnour and the surgeon, who stated that the Governor would either commit suicide or murder his wife, I consented to return to Rio Janeiro, and reached that port on the evening of the 12th. Next morning, having landed the Governor, Lady Grey, and maid, sent an officer to know when His Excellency would be ready to embark. He sent word he was then ready, and that if I would not write home what had occurred he would not. I kept _my_ word. [Sidenote: June 13.]