THE CAPE COMMAND
[Sidenote: 1860. Jan. 1.]
At Windsor Castle. Ladies-in-Waiting--Lady Caroline Barrington, Hon.
Mrs. Bruce, and Lady Ely, while the Maids of Honour were Hon. Beatrice
Byng and Hon. Emily Cathcart.
[Sidenote: Jan. 5.]
Shooting with the Prince Consort were the Prince of Wales and Duke
of Cambridge, while in attendance were Colonel F. H. Seymour,
Major-General Hon. R. Bruce, Captain George Grey, Colonel Clifton, and
myself. Earl de Grey was of the party.
[Sidenote: Jan. 10.]
Finished my turn in waiting by hunting with the Prince Consort’s
harriers.
[Sidenote: Jan. 17.]
To Berkeley Castle. Kind welcome from Sir Maurice and Lady Charlotte.
[Sidenote: Jan. 18.]
Hounds met at Sir G. Jenkins’s, who gave me a good breakfast. Woodland
country; plenty of foxes killed.
[Sidenote: Jan. 20.]
Wild-goose shooting: novel and interesting, but hard work.
[Sidenote: Jan. 21.]
Hunted from Berkeley Castle. Colonel “the giant” in great force.
[Sidenote: Jan. 23.]
Daily hunting; foxes often found in trees!
[Sidenote: Jan. 24.]
My appointment to Cape command. By rail to London; put up with sister
Mary Stephenson.
[Sidenote: Jan. 28.]
_Forte_, commissioned by Captain E. Turnour; Commander V. C. Buckley
joined. Officers and men joined by end of week. Ship being manned by
drafts from various ports; not allowed to enter seamen for ourselves.
[Sidenote: Feb. 11.]
Sunset, hoisted flag, white at mizzen.
[Sidenote: Feb. 12.]
Saluted flag of Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Edward Harvey. Issued
contract; made clothing according to recent regulations, hats included:
a mistake.
[Sidenote: March.]
Had some difficulty in getting Admiralty to exchange the heavy old
launches for the new forty-foot pinnaces which are now supplied to all
other ships. Considerable difference in the stowage of this ship and
that of the _Raleigh_.
[Sidenote: Mar. 13.]
Joined Marquis of Queensberry, naval cadet, and Mr. Stephenson, mid.
Dockyard people building a small poop for the accommodation of the
captain, secretary and flag-lieutenant--the poop not to show above the
hammock netting, and not to occupy more of upper deck than just abaft
the after gun. Screw to be raised as in line-of-battleships: the best
arrangement under all circumstances that could be made.
[Sidenote: Mar. 23.]
Cabins had already been fitted for the conveyance of Sir George Grey
and staff. An order to prepare cabins for Lady Grey and maid, coming so
late, deprived me of half my accommodation.
[Sidenote: April 3.]
In consequence of Her Majesty’s kind consideration, attended at Windsor
as Groom-in-Waiting.
[Sidenote: Windsor, April 5.]
Attended confirmation of Prince Alfred. Lord George Lennox as Lord of
Bedchamber to the Prince Consort.
[Sidenote: April 7.]
_Forte_ left Sheerness for Spithead. Cheered by the Norfolk Militia.
[Sidenote: April 10.]
Prince of Wales left for the Continent, attended by Hon. R. Bruce and
Captain George Grey.
[Sidenote: April 12.]
My little happy holiday over, Her Majesty kindly hoping to see me back.
Rejoined _Forte_ at Spithead and rehoisted flag. Salutes exchanged with
Admiral Commander-in-Chief Wm. Bowles, C.B. Was informed that on way
round from Sheerness a leak was discovered in the screw aperture.
[Sidenote: April 16.]
Steamed into harbour; secured alongside _Sultan_ hulk. Transported guns
forward and all heavy weight to discover the leak.
[Sidenote: April 20.]
Ship taken into steam basin, preparatory to being docked. In taking her
in, dockyard people managed to carry away jib-boom. No smoking allowed;
shifted ship’s company to _Victorious_ hulk.
[Sidenote: April 21.]
Hauled into No. 7 dock, dockyard people stopping leak.
[Sidenote: April 23.]
Hauled out of basin, only just in time, ship hung in entrance. Another
two minutes, and she must have grounded, as well as two three-deckers.
Sundry sheets of copper were rubbed off on port side. Obliged to heel
the ship to repair damage.
[Sidenote: April 27.]
Came to at Spithead.
[Sidenote: April 28.]
Noon, weighed, running for the Needles.
[Sidenote: April 29.]
10 P.M.--Came to in Plymouth Sound.
[Sidenote: Plymouth, April 30.]
Exchanged salutes with Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Sir Barrington
Reynolds, K.C.B. 3.30 P.M., having embarked His Excellency Sir George
and Lady Grey, Captains Speke and Grant, African travellers, friend
Boileau, and others, weighed and left the Sound.
[Sidenote: May 9.]
3 P.M.--Came to in Funchal Roads, Madeira. While steaming in exchanged
salutes 13 guns, with Flag-Officer Inman, whose flag, blue at the
mizzen, was flying on board United States corvette _Constellation_,
the first United States “Officer’s Flag” we had seen. Saluted also
the Portuguese flag with 21 guns, and English Consul Erskine on his
leaving the ship.
[Sidenote: May 12.]
Ship was visited by Lord and Lady Fortescue and family, also my kind
friend of long standing, the late Consul, Mr. Stoddard. As soon as they
were landed, weighed and made sail.
[Sidenote: May 24.]
Celebrated Her Majesty’s birthday by a dinner on the poop. At 8 P.M.
that celebrated old beast, Neptune, hailed the ship, burning lights,
etc., and then came on board amidst the usual downfall of water, and
promised to pay his respects on the morrow to all such as had not
before passed through his dominions, comprising three-fourths of those
on board. He then took his departure for the night, to the relief of
some and inconvenience of all, amidst fire and water-works, the light
of his car being visible astern for an hour afterwards.
[Sidenote: May 25.]
His Oceanic Majesty came on board and performed the usual ceremony.
[Sidenote: June 3.]
10 A.M.--Steamed into Rio de Janeiro harbour. Returned salute from
_Madagascar_. While running in, and after coming to, had to return and
exchange no end of salutes. Brazilian Flag, 21 guns; Admiral’s salute,
13; French man-of-war brig, 13; and Prussian Commodore, 13.
[Sidenote: Rio, June 4.]
Passengers disembarked and proceeded to Petropolis. _Tribune_, 31,
Captain Geoffrey Hornby, arrived from Pacific and exchanged salutes.
[Sidenote: June 7.]
Passengers returned. Weighed and stood out of Rio harbour.
[Sidenote: June 8.]
12.5 P.M.--Henry Hill, seaman, fell overboard while the ship was going
10 knots under sails and steam. Cutter fitted with Clifford’s admirable
apparatus for lowering was down in the shortest time and the man saved.
[Illustration: Forte _at Rio._]
[Sidenote: June 9.]
An untoward event occurred during the first watch. Under extreme
pressure from Captain Turnour and the surgeon, who stated that the
Governor would either commit suicide or murder his wife, I consented
to return to Rio Janeiro, and reached that port on the evening of the
12th. Next morning, having landed the Governor, Lady Grey, and maid,
sent an officer to know when His Excellency would be ready to embark.
He sent word he was then ready, and that if I would not write home what
had occurred he would not. I kept _my_ word.
[Sidenote: June 13.]
Sailed, and arrived at Simon’s Bay on 4th July, 8 P.M. His Excellency
was in such a hurry to convey to Admiral Sir Frederick Grey the fact
of his arrival, that, unseen, he dropped himself into a shore boat and
landed at Admiralty House.
[Sidenote: Simon’s Bay, July 5.]
Landed, after usual salutes, to pay respects to Admiral Sir F. Grey. I
mentioned the Governor’s message to me at Rio, to the effect that if
I would not write home what had occurred he would not. I ascertained
that in his statement to Sir Frederick he made out that the proposition
not to communicate home came, in the first place, from me to him. This
untruth accounts for my subsequent treatment.
[Sidenote: July 8.]
The _Forte_ requiring a thorough refit, shifted flag to my friend
Captain Algernon de Horsey’s ship, the _Brisk_, and with our
travellers, Speke and Grant, prepared to visit the East Coast.