Heligoland light--north and by west--so many leagues--wind baffling
weather hazy--Lady Passengers on deck for the first time.

Arrived in the Downs--ordered by signal from the guard--ship to proceed to
Portsmouth. Arrived at Spithead--ordered to fit to receive a general
officer, and six pieces of field artillery, and a Spanish Ecclesiastic,
the Canon of-----. Plenty of great guns, at any rate--a regular park of
artillery.

Received General-----and his wife, and aide--de--camp, and two poodle
dogs, one white man--servant, one black ditto, and the Canon of-----, and
the six nine--pound field--pieces, and sailed for the Cove of Cork.

It was blowing hard as we stood in for the Old Head of Kinsale pilot boat
breasting the foaming surge like a sea gull--"Carrol Cove" in her tiny
mainsail--pilot jumped into the main channel a bottle of rum swung by the
lead line into the boat--all very clever.

Ran in, and anchored under Spike Island. A line--of--battle ship, three
frigates, and a number of merchantmen at anchor--men of war lovely craft,
bands playing--a good deal of the pomp and circumstance of war. Next
forenoon, Mr Treenail, the second lieutenant, sent for me.

"Mr Cringle," said he, "you have an uncle in Cork, I believe?"

I said I had.

"I am going there on duty to--night; I daresay, if you asked the Captain to
let you accompany me, he would do so." This was too good an offer not to be