The few days we have been here we have seen Tom Sheridan and his wife, Ld. Erskine, D. of Argyle, Ld. Robt., Gen. Tupper, Mr. Whishaw, Kemble, Gen. Fox, Caroline Fox. I went one night to the Haymarket and saw the _Iron Chest_. General Ferguson[352] has been compelled to leave Cadiz on acct. of his health; he is afflicted with a liver complaint which is always aggravated in a hot climate. He acted the part of a real friend to our dear boy,[353] he went out with him in the _Lively_, and assumed a parental authority over him. He also, upon arriving at Cadiz, removed him from that ship, and placed him with Capt. Codrington of the _Blake_, where he now is, and is gone up to Minorca to escort the Spanish ships from Cadiz thither. He confirms the stories of the desertions from the French armies, and himself conversed with _three_ native-born Frenchmen, who had deserted from want of pay and want of food, the most pressing want. On Thursday, -- August, left home for Portsmouth. Henry, &c., accompanied us; the girls were to follow a few days later. Mr. Dumont came with us; we slept at Liphook, and reached Portsmouth on Friday. The Government House is a very large, rambling habitation, and was formerly a Cistercian convent.[354] From the interior arrangement of the rooms, and very inconvenient distribution of space, one can still trace its monastic origin. The conventual church, now converted into the garrison chapel, communicates with the great apartment, and access is immediate into the tribune. In that church Charles the Second married the Infanta of Portugal. [Sidenote: CAPTAIN MOORE]