CHAPTER LXIII

THE _RALEIGH_

[Sidenote: 1856. Sept. 1.]

Portsmouth.--Dined with Admiral-Superintendent to meet First Lord and Board.

[Sidenote: Sept. 2.]

Morning’s post brought letters for the Commodore! Dined with Sir Charles Wood and Board of Admiralty at George Hotel; jolly on the whole.

[Sidenote: Sept. 3.]

Admiralty Board off to town.

[Sidenote: Sept. 4.]

Took up commission for _Raleigh_. Pennant hoisted by boatswain’s wife--good-looking woman, ought to bring luck!

[Sidenote: London, Sept. 5.]

No end of business at Admiralty getting officers appointed, etc.

[Sidenote: Chichester, Sept. 13.]

Breakfast and shot with Sir Maurice Berkeley; 11½ brace between us. Dined and slept there.

[Sidenote: Sept. 19.]

Started on parting visits. By 8 P.M. train from Euston Station for Aberdeen. Travelling all night, and still whirling along.

[Sidenote: Sept. 20.]

[Sidenote: Gordon Castle, Sept. 21.]

From Aberdeen by train to Huntly. Picked up there by Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar in britzska and conveyed to Gordon Castle; cordial welcome by everybody to this delightful place.

[Sidenote: Sept. 22.]

Drove with Duke and Duchess to the Sea. Lord and Lady Churchill arrived. Deer-shooting party going some distance, was allowed with keeper to shoot in park; made capital shot at a buck. Time passing only too quickly.

[Sidenote: Sept. 24.]

Walk to bridge to see swollen Spey.

[Sidenote: Sept. 25.]

Shot another buck, cleverly too! Took leave of kind Duchess and friends.

[Sidenote: Sept. 26.]

Posted to Huntly; train to Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Put up at Graham’s Hotel; oyster supper.

[Sidenote: Sept. 27.]

By train to Carlisle 9 A.M. Met Isteads, Horrocks, and Campbell. Posted to Netherby. Kind and hearty welcome by Sir James and Lady Graham. Bishop of Oxford here.

[Sidenote: Sept. 28.]

Forenoon service at Longtown, sermon by Bishop: an excellent and forcible preacher as well as a most agreeable man.

[Sidenote: Sept. 29.]

Went out shooting with young Graham; 20 brace partridges.

[Sidenote: Ashwarby Park, Sept. 30.]

Early fly to Carlisle. Train to Newcastle, York, and Grantham. Posted to Ashwarby Park. Whichcote away shooting, not having received my letter. Lady Whichcote at home, three Miss Yorkes, and Mrs. Turner.

[Sidenote: Oct. 2.]

Rode to Syston; found Cecilia Yorke and Mrs. Broke Turner. Lady Thorold very nice; men shooting. After luncheon with ladies to Grantham. I to Newark and Lincoln by train and dogcart--joined Whichcote’s party--shooting over pointers: turnips, holding water by bucketsful. George Fitzroy, Freke, G. Bentinck. Party bagged 80½ brace. After dinner in dogcart to Lincoln. Slept at Great Northern.

[Sidenote: Norfolk, Oct. 3.]

By 7 train to Peterborough; on to Ely. Saw Cathedral. On by train to Harling Road. Met by Eyre and family--my best friends.

[Sidenote: Oct. 4.]

After luncheon conveyed to Quidenham. Susan and girls, George, Mrs. and Miss Trotter, Miss Hamilton, Mrs. Holford. Dear girls, my nieces. Am again under the paternal roof. Slept in the room brother Francis died in. To forenoon church, brother Edward performing.

[Sidenote: Oct. 7.]

By train to London. Business at Admiralty.

[Sidenote: Oct. 9.]

By express to Portsmouth. _Raleigh_ progressing.

[Sidenote: Oct. 10.]

Dined with Commander-in-Chief Admiral Sir George Seymour.

[Sidenote: Oct. 14.]

Before 10 superintended paying off _Cæsar_. Remained till 6 P.M.

[Sidenote: Oct. 15.]

Presented with handsome sword by much-esteemed young friend Henry Seymour. [By permission, have since worn no other.]

[Sidenote: Oct. 17.]

Dined with Commander-in-Chief Martin, Lady Elizabeth Smith, and Sir Charles Ogle, a fine old salt!

[Sidenote: Oct. 19.]

Dined on board _Nymph_ with Sir John and Lady Bayley.

[Sidenote: Oct. 20.]

Dined with Admiral to meet Oglanders.

[Sidenote: Oct. 23.]

Glad to find “Thomas” at lodgings. Harry Stephenson coming in afternoon.

[Sidenote: Oct. 27.]

Ship alongside hulk.

[Sidenote: London, Nov. 6.]

Lindsay up from West Dean. Took him to dine with Stephenson. Meeting Albemarle and Bury.

[Sidenote: Nov. 11.]

As Commodore, left the fitting-out much to old shipmate, Commander Turnour!

[Sidenote: Nov. 12.]

Wife and I by train to Portsmouth, where we put up at the comfortable Quebec Hotel. Joined by friends Rev. E. Eyre and wife.

[Sidenote: Nov. 13.]

Attended Admiral at a meeting at the Sailor’s Home; had to propose a resolution.

* * * * *

[Sidenote: Nov. 15.]

It was the kind Commander-in-Chief’s intention to give me a parting dinner on sailing of _Raleigh_. But to make clear a small _contretemps_, I must explain. Among the Wardroom officers of the _Raleigh_ was my old friend the Rev. Josias Thompson. He had been with me many years, and, as is usual among old shipmates, had established the nickname of “Thomas.” Many knew him, as did the kind Chief, by no other. The morning for our leaving the regular Admiralty pilot, whose name was Thomas, was on board. Two steam tugs ordered from Dockyard in attendance; the wind being fair, had no idea, in a sailing frigate, of being towed. Took charge, and was in the act of making sail, when the dear Chief, who had been to Haslar to attend the funeral of an old shipmate, suddenly appeared on board, and turning to me said, “Don’t let me interfere, but is Mr. Thomas on board?” I said he was. “Where is he?” “Forward on the starboard side, standing on a gun carriage.” I was too busy making sail to go with him--the tide was rising. On inquiring who had attended the Commander-in-Chief, I found that he had gone forward, and making a bow to the pilot, stated that, as the Commodore was going to take a parting dinner, he hoped to have the pleasure of Mr. Thomas’s company. The ship ran out like the beauty she was, saluting Admiral’s flag before coming to anchor.

Near dinner-time wife and self were among early arrivals. We noticed a gentleman standing on the rug by the fire with a white choker and new suit of clothes; no one seemed to know him. Dinner announced, the Admiral took in my wife, I, Lady Seymour. The turtle soup had been served, when the Admiral addressed our strange friend with, “Mr. Thomas, will you have the goodness to say grace?” The poor Pilot’s neighbour whispered to him, “Say ‘Thank God.’” Dinner over, the dear Admiral nudged my wife, saying, “That’s a queer parson of yours.” And then, in a louder voice, called out, “Mr. Thomas, have the goodness to return thanks.” I at the same time asking Lady Seymour “who Mr. Thomas was?” Lady Seymour turned to the butler and sent him to tell the Admiral that Captain Keppel had never seen that man before. At this moment some of the senior captains spotted our friend the pilot! He never afterwards met his friends in Portsmouth that they did not ask him to say grace.

[Sidenote: _Raleigh_, Nov. 17.]

Took leave of the clinker-built Quebec, the most comfortable hotel in Portsmouth. Brother Tom and I dining in gunroom.

[Sidenote: Nov. 18.]

Inspected by Commander-in-Chief Sir George Seymour.

[Sidenote: Nov. 19.]

Paid farewell visits. “Thomas” and I dined with George Lennox. Friend Edward Eyre arrived; embarked him and Lennox. After men’s dinner weighed and ran out by St. Helen’s. Brother Tom, in ill-health, going with me as far as the Cape of Good Hope.