Dido—China

Read Lieutenant Horton’s commission to ship’s company. Harangued and forgave all culprits.

Surveyed invalids on board North Star. Some bad cases, poor fellows!

Got under weigh; Belleisle first. Fine breeze. Came to; invited Sir E. Home, Henry Seymour, Freemantle, Horton, and Rice to dine.

Weighed at six, and passed Belleisle hard and fast on the bar, at the top, nearly, of high-water.

Arrived at Chapoo. Found Nias with his Herald. Not being well, he came on board, and did me no good.

Pelican arrived, bringing orders for Dido to go to Chusan. Troops to evacuate citadel.

Walked round the fortifications and over the town of Shanghai; natives civil.

Chinamen mustering courage on the strength of peace. Hundreds of large picturesque junks coming down the river. Chinese soldiers smart in taking possession of citadel as our troops marched out.

Weighed at daylight, reaching Chusan in four hours. Walk on shore with Rundle Burges Watson of Modeste, 18. Watson was a clever artist; he came on board to breakfast, and left afterwards to take a sketch of my Dido. We had been at the Naval College together. Having been in the early part of the war, he had succeeded Captain Harry Eyres in command of the Modeste.

Before storming one of the forts, Watson tried the experiment of putting his uniform cap on the point of his sword and thrusting it through the embrasure, at which the Chinese muskets exploded and he took possession. I have his drawing of the Dido now.[5]

Dined with Frederick Grey. Had an attack of fever and ague.

Heard last evening of the death of my brother-in-law, Lord Leicester, fifty-five years my senior. Admiral arrived, and Columbine, 16, another of Symonds’ handsome brigs. Nias sick and growling as usual.

Plenipo arrived. Visited him. Rode into the city.

To breakfast with Frederick Grey. He, Skipwith, Henry Seymour, Hall, and Molesworth, dined with me.

Improved weather. Sick-list reduced to twenty-five. Nice little dinner with Bouchier; like him.

Dined with Admiral Sir William Parker. Our Master, Aylen, appointed to Endymion. He sorry to leave, and we to lose him.

Heard that Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane had been at Hong Kong since June 19. Took an early trip with Plenipotentiary (Sir Henry Pottinger) and young Harry Parkes, on board Queen steamer, breaking the monotony of daily routine.

With Grey and Hope, Phlegethon in company, across shoal; the shortest way to the sacred island of Potoo. Some pretty sites for joss-houses and Chinese graves. Returned to Plenipo’s steamer Queen for dinner—large party.

Returned to Dido in Phlegethon.

Herald sailed for England. Heavy job getting captured guns on board Forth transport. Brass guns good as money.

Early ride with Admiral and two Generals, with staff, etc., over a beautiful part of Potoo Island. Good breakfast in a joss-house. Dined with Bouchier.

Dined with the Admiral, who talked of sending me Senior Officer to the Straits. Like the idea much. Several fatal cases of cholera on shore and afloat.

Our sick-list under twenty. Walk in city with Grey Skipwith; had him and other old “Childers” to dine—Rice, Coaker, and Comber.

On board Phlegethon steamer to join Admiral and party to Ning Po. Blonde sailed for England. Got to Ning Po in five hours—one of the largest and finest towns I have seen in China. Dined on board steamer, slept in a joss-house. The party consisted of Fred. Grey, Sir Hugh Gough, and some military officers from Chusan. The shops were exceedingly pretty.

Much pleased with Ning Po and my trip. Saw more of China and the Chinese than in any other place. Took an early ride with the Admiral, C. Hope, F. Grey, Henry Seymour, and Skipwith. Bringing up the rear of the party, I saw many nasty-looking snakes rise suddenly from under our horses’ feet and dash into the bushes on either side.

Preparing to convoy transports. Grand dinner with the Admiral, Generals, and Plenipotentiary.

Prior to our departure with transport, Dido had an early visit from Admiral, who was much pleased with the ship, as I think he ought to have been.

9.30 A.M.—Came to in Hong Kong. Saluted flag of Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, flag flying on board Agincourt. Found Endymion and transports. Hong Kong now a British possession. Counted upwards of seventy ships in the anchorage.

Dinner with Lord Saltoun—best fellow, if not the best soldier, in the expedition; good dinner.

Invited Grey to dine with me, but did so with him instead on board Endymion; he had been inspected a good deal by Sir Thomas Cochrane without seeming to enjoy it.

I dined with the Rear-Admiral and four Generals—dinner good—footmen in plush breeches. Grey and I got leave to go to Macao.

Dundas taking care of Grey; I to my old quarters with Dent. Pleasant to be in a comfortable English-furnished house after six months in the Yang-tse-Kiang. Noticed a live Bird of Paradise in a cage eating large grasshoppers, breaking off their long prickly legs first.

Visited the tomb of my late much-respected Chief, Lord John Churchill, who died here June 3, 1840, while in command of Druid, during the early part of the war with China.

After breakfast at Dent’s, Grey in a hurry returned to Hong Kong, arriving there by sunset.

Visited Rear-Admiral; reported Dido ready for sea. Dined again on board Belleisle with old 98th friends.

Sir Thomas Cochrane inspected Dido; manned yards, mustered. He inspected every part of her—at quarters, firing at a mark, doing good practice; he ordered us under way, making all sail, on and off the wind, etc. Came to, re-manned yards, inspection over. Dined with Sir Thomas; great spread.

Weighed at daylight, with several 98th good fellows on board; ran over to Macao. Saluted Governor with 17 guns. Good dinner at Dent’s.

Left my Dido for her to return to Hong Kong with officers of 98th. In Proserpine steamer with Sir Hugh Gough for Canton. Heard of riots and burning of factories; orders for Dido to come up; arrived off Canton late at night.

Landed early; found British factories burned down; dead Lascars lying about; encampment of Chinese soldiers round remaining residences; populace in a state of excitement. Put up at Mr. Beale’s; loaded firearms and prepared for defence.

Continued excitement. Visited Chinese encampment; pretty and curious.

Attended American Presbyterian Divine service, performed by Dr. Parker. He prayed; we listened. Service not like ours. Obliged to detain steamer by way of protection.

Returned to Hong Kong.

Weighed with Endymion in charge of convoy of transports. Wolverine and East India Company’s steamer Queen in company. Endymion leading convoy. We remained to see the last two transports out, which took us until after sunset.

When outside saw nothing of Endymion or fleet. Nice breeze. My transports, fast sailers, took inner and shorter passage. Dido under three topsails and jib.

Think we are ahead of the fleet.

At 4 A.M., with my part of convoys, came to in Singapore Roads.

Endymion arrived with convoy, not well pleased at finding Dido in first.