Letters from shipmates, down to my old steward, William White, now an Admiralty messenger, came pouring in, together with applications from and about officers to be appointed, giving me more than enough to do. Besides the Prince of Wales, the Dukes of Buccleuch and Richmond, as well as my kind kinsman, Peregrine Cust, interested themselves in getting me employment. King, in command in China, had expressed a wish to be relieved without delay. His flagship, the _Princess Royal_, was ordered down to Singapore so as to save the last of the northerly monsoon, bringing the _Salamis_, commanded by my old friend and shipmate, Francis Suttie, to receive my flag. I was ordered a passage by the overland route, to leave Southampton on February 20, 1867. Risk, paymaster in the _Alert_, then in the Pacific, and Harry Stephenson, commanding a gunboat on the Lakes of Canada, were ordered home as my Secretary and Flag-Lieutenant, and I selected friend Heneage as Captain. I was invited by the Prince of Wales to Sandringham to take leave, and afterwards accompanied their Royal Highnesses to Holkham for the Christmas week. On the way back stopped a day at Quidenham, and one with friend General Eyre, who had taken Garboldisham. [Sidenote: 1867. Jan. 21.] On January 21 went to Sheerness and hoisted flag on board the _Cumberland_, which was in due form saluted by the flagship of Sir Baldwin Walker, who kindly took us into Admiralty House. At the same time was hoisted the pennant on board _Rodney_, then in the basin. [Sidenote: Jan. 22.] Returned to London. Having received a letter from Cowell stating that he had received Her Majesty’s command to invite me to Windsor on February 25, to stay till the following day, the Admiralty ordered my passage _viâ_ Marseilles instead of Southampton, giving me four or five days’ grace. Went by invitation, to Miss Burdett-Coutts at Torquay to take leave of my valued friend Rajah Brooke, who had lately had a paralytic stroke. Found him partially recovered, but spirits good and his powerful mind apparently unaffected. (I never saw him again.) Left early to join wife, staying with the Custs at Bournemouth. Taking leave of these most kind and hospitable relations we returned to Bishopstoke for the last days. General Charles Fox had kindly offered his house, Addison Road, Kensington: our likenesses being painted by Henry Graves had yet to be finished. [Sidenote: Feb. 24.] Farewell dinner with H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. [Sidenote: Feb. 25.]