THE _RALEIGH_
[Sidenote: 1856. _Raleigh_, Nov. 20.]
A fine frigate has ever been the favourite class of ship with seamen as
well as officers, and I venture to state a finer crew never left a port.
List of officers:--
_Commander_--Edward W. Turnour.
_Secretary_--Matless G. Autey.
_Lieutenants_--James G. Goodenough, Viscount Gilford, H.R.H. Prince
Victor of Hohenlohe, James S. Graham, W. F. Johnson.
_Master_--William H. Williams.
_Captain of Marines_--Thomas Magin.
_Second Lieutenant of Marines_--Charles L. Owen.
_Chaplain_--Josiah Thompson.
_Surgeon_--John T. Crawford.
_Paymaster_--James G. G. Simmonds.
_Naval Instructor_--John L. Laverty.
_Assistant-Surgeon_--J. G. T. Forbes.
_Midshipmen_--Lord Charles Scott, Hon. Victor A. Montagu,
Hon. F. G. Crofton, Henry F. Stephenson, A. E. Dupuis,
F. R. Foster, Hugh B. Hammersley, Edward Pilkington,
A. Paget, Hardy M‘Hardy.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: At Sea, Nov. 20.]
Friends Henry Seymour, Eyre, and George Lennox enjoying themselves.
[Sidenote: Nov. 21.]
Late in the evening before we came to Plymouth Sound.
[Sidenote: Nov. 22.]
Saluted Sir William Parker’s flag at 9 A.M. Called on Newmans at Royal
Hotel, where I took a room. Visited Hartmans at Saltram, where I
found my cousins Mrs. Yorke and daughter. Dined with Sam Truscott--a
character.
[Sidenote: Nov. 23.]
Breakfasted with Caroline and Louisa Newman. In afternoon Prince
Victor, Graham, Lord Charles Scott, Harry Stephenson, and I to Saltram
to dine and sleep.
[Sidenote: Nov. 24.]
Returned after breakfast to Plymouth. Took Cecilia Yorke and Miss
Coryton on board _Raleigh_.
[Sidenote: Nov. 25.]
Was allowed to see Lord Mount-Edgecumbe; cruel wreck of a handsome and
intellectual man. Too down to dine anywhere. Tea with Newman girls.
[Sidenote: Nov. 26.]
Weighed at 11 and ran out of the Sound. What may not happen before I
again land in England!
[Sidenote: Madeira, Dec. 9.]
Anchored before 1 in Funchal Roads. Kindly received by friend Stoddard,
putting up brother Tom and four youngsters. Hired for the time a horse
Miss O’Rorke used to ride.
[Sidenote: Dec. 10.]
Drove Miss Stoddard in pony carriage. Before leaving my brother-in-law,
Harry Stephenson, commissioned me to bring home a pipe of the best
Madeira. I applied to my friend of many years, now Consul, Mr.
Stoddard. He had ceased to be a wine merchant, and the remaining pipes
of the best were put aside as part of the marriage portion of his
charming daughters; he left it to me to make interest with them to
obtain a couple of pipes of this precious wine. I had the pipes encased
in extra casks and stowed in the hold of the _Raleigh_. (It is well I
did so.)
[Sidenote: Dec. 11.]
Prince Victor, good fellow! wishing another day in Madeira, consented
to remain over Friday. Rio given up. Rode with Miss Lund. Evening at
Stoddard’s.
[Sidenote: Dec. 12.]
“Thomas” and I rode over to the Beans. Same hospitable couple I had
sojourned with in 1824.
[Sidenote: Dec. 13.]
Weighed early. Everybody pleased with their visit to Madeira.
[Sidenote: At Sea, Dec. 23.]
A marine fell overboard, and was saved by a gallant fellow of the name
of Moodie, second-class ordinary. The night was dark, and the two
life-buoys let go by a marine, stationed for the purpose, without first
pulling the igniting trigger, were lost.
[Sidenote: Dec. 25.]
Christmas Day. All the youngsters and warrant officers, including
Turnour, Autey, Thompson, and brother Tom, to dine--sixteen in all. How
many of us will meet next Christmas! “Qui en sabe?”
[Sidenote: Dec. 26.]
Neptune came on board and performed the usual ceremonies.