Forenoon church. Wife and I received Holy Sacrament, administered by the Dean, perhaps last time. [Sidenote: May 25.] Visit from Rev. Charles Kingsley, the author, who stopped to dine with Dean, where we were. [Sidenote: May 27.] Forenoon church. Dear old Dean still reading, or rather repeating by heart, the prayers as far as the Litany, in which he included the Collect for the day--Trinity Sunday. [Sidenote: Bishopstoke, May 31.] Telegraph from friend, Page C.E. Off to London; knowing how much I wanted a job, he informed me of his having undertaken to raise a large ironship, the _London_, lying at the bottom of the Tay, below Dundee, and offered me the job of navigating her into dock, or some place where she could be got at for repair. [Sidenote: June 1.] Was invited by the Committee to fill the chair at R.N. Club dinner to celebrate the anniversary of Howes’s victory, anniversary also of action between _Shannon_ and _Chesapeake_. Poor little Fatshan forgotten! While sitting on bridge over the Itchen in garden, observed a tomtit’s nest in the muzzle of a gun captured on 1st of June in Fatshan Creek--curious the uses to which a gun may be put. [Sidenote: June 25.] By train to Dundee. Wife and I in possession of apartments at the Royal Hotel, where we expected to find Mr. Page. [Sidenote: Dundee, June 26.] Found Mr. Secretary Cooper; no further difficulties. Visited wreck near low water with working party. The _London_ belonged to the London and Dundee Steam Company; in December last came in collision with a steam trader, _Harvest Queen_; both vessels went down. _Harvest Queen_ got up, but being grounded on a bank, broke her back. Mr. Cooper, Secretary to the Company, very civil and obliging. Mr. Low, one of the Directors, also very civil. Page not arrived. Visited the _London_ in a steam tug. Two divers, under management of Mr. Gorman, Admiralty man. There is an ugly fracture on the starboard side, about fifteen feet to nothing, about three feet from the bottom iron, jagged on both sides, the fore side of fracture bent inward, on after side, outwards, supposed to be done at the time the _Harvest Queen_ separated by backing astern. Proposed to cover the hatchway on main deck with coverings secured. Divers report that seals have taken up their quarters in the state-rooms, and haddocks swim freely in the ’tween decks. [Sidenote: July 14.] Change of Ministry--Lord Derby, Prime Minister; Sir John Pakington, First Lord; Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, First Sea. _This_ does not break my heart. Saturday, a drunken day amongst workmen in Scotland, or the _London_ might, I think, have been lifted. 2 A.M. Sunday morning before we got back. * * * * * Raising the _London_ proved a failure, and after spending two months in Dundee, where wife and self were hospitably entertained by friends, we returned to Bishopstoke at the end of August, Colin and May having benefited by the bracing Scotch air.