Having a strong ebb tide, stronger perhaps from the late heavy rains, we pushed on, and in a few minutes found ourselves plunging into a head sea, the rollers breaking heavily. We saw at once that retreat was too late, our only chance being to have steerage way enough to keep the boat’s head to the sea, which at every plunge broke angrily into her, threatening to extinguish the fires. Our only propelling power lay in steam, as, with the engine in the boat, no room is left for the oars to work, only a portion of the crew being sent on such occasions. Besides, we all knew that in case of the boat filling, the weight of the engine was sufficient to take her down like a stone. We were not long in casting off the _Sylvia’s_ cutter to take care of herself. We hoped to find less sea when once across the bar. In that we were mistaken. In spite of pumps and baling the water was gaining on us, and as the boat got heavier it appeared as if each plunge must be the last. We had, too, the mortification to see that the current had carried us past the _Sylvia_, and we dared not turn the boat’s head in that direction without certain destruction from the seas that would inevitably have broken over her broadside. The next few were anxious minutes, until we came under the lee of _La Place_, French frigate, which providentially lay just on our line ahead. We were drenched, bitter cold, and those who were not sea-sick very hungry. Nothing could equal the kindness and attentions of Captain Emot and the officers of _La Place_. To get on board the frigate was out of the question, although she rigged out her spanker-boom with a Jacob’s ladder suspended from the end. [Sidenote: Hiogo.] However, by means of waterproof cases they supplied us with all we required, even a tin of sardines, which the natives helped to get rid of, and mulled wine. Between 10 and 11 P.M. a lull took place, and we succeeded in getting to the _Sylvia_, and in the morning weighed for Hiogo, having first ascertained that the cutter was safe inside the river. We afterwards heard that within a minute of being cast off she filled with a second sea, but being fitted with air-tight compartments as a life-boat, she was sufficiently buoyant to bear the weight of the engine. By holding up the portion of an awning in the fore part of the boat they succeeded in getting her head round, and drifted in again before the wind. The following morning Admiral Bell, the American Commander-in-Chief, attempted to cross the bar in his twelve-oared barge, which capsized, when himself, Flag-Lieutenant Read, and ten seamen were drowned. We sailed in _Rodney_ on the 11th; arrived at Yokohama on 13th. [Sidenote: Yokohama, Jan. 19.]