I was introduced to several of the Captains, and among them were some whom I was destined to draw years after as Admirals for _Vanity Fair_. On the evening of the inspection the Duke gave a return dinner-party on board the _Hercules_. Admiral Hood was, of course, the principal guest, and I had the privilege of being placed next him at dinner. The _Hercules_ having no band of its own, that of the _Minotaur_ was lent for the occasion, and several of the leading officers were present, notably Captain Heneage of the _Achilles_--known as "Pompo"--who was certainly the _beau_ of the combined fleets. The immaculate appearance of this distinguished officer in these days at sea was certainly one of the distractions of the voyage, and as Admiral Sir Algernon Heneage, he is still to be seen in the West End, an ornament and a great favourite in London Society. Eventually he came to my studio and I made a characteristic drawing of him. As we were still waiting for the _Bacchante_ (with the young Princes on board) to join us, H.R.H. arranged a fishing excursion to Blackwater for an off day. Commander Le Strange was to conduct us. The _Lively_ weighed anchor at 7 a.m., and we arrived at Blackwater at 10 o'clock. Unfortunately as a bag containing my fishing-rod, footgear and other articles of wearing apparel appropriate to a voyage of this kind had failed to reach me yet from Cork, I was altogether unprepared for the excursion. The Duke hearing of my predicament, very kindly offered to lend me a rod, at the same time he impressed me with the fact that he valued it greatly, and that I must take great care of it. It had been a birthday present given to him by the Prince Consort, and bore an inscription in silver to that effect. Mr. Mahony, the landowner, drove to Blackwater to meet us, and from there took us to Loch Brine, where the fish were plentiful. He with H.R.H. went out in a boat to fish leaving us to pursue our sport from the bank. I scrambled on to a rock from which I cast my line, when alas the rubber soles on my shoes played me false, and I was in the water, and the rod in pieces. What was to be done? All sport was at end for me! I turned to my companion who advised me to say nothing about it, and give it to the coxswain to mend. In a weak moment I resolved to keep my own counsel, but imagine my consternation a little later, when the Admiral joined us for luncheon, and exclaimed, "You are a nice fellow, breaking my rod!" I had quite forgotten how water carries sound. Every word of the discussion had been overheard by H.R.H. I was non-plussed and the matter passed off without further comment. Then we all sat down to lunch with a good appetite, but it was a poor day's sport for me, and we returned to the _Lively_, and dined at 9 o'clock.