24 QUIT THE NORE. \April. 



caused by the ' Pioneer' running into us. Here we were 

 joined by the 'Basilisk' and 'Desperate/ reserve war- 

 steamers, commanded by Commander Gardiner and 

 Lieutenant Stevens, ordered to accompany us as far as 

 the 20th meridian west ; the ' African ' to tow for six 

 days from the Nore. 



Commodore Hope came off in the steam-tender 

 ' Sprightly,' and, in order to expedite our supplies, I 

 accompanied him to the Dockyard, the ' Monkey' and 

 ' African' also running in to coal. 



Having paid my respects to the Admiral's lady and 

 family, and invited them to visit the ship during our de- 

 tention, her daughters, as well as those of my old friend 

 Sir Charles and Lady Colville, availed themselves, with 

 other visitors, of the opportunity. 



At three o'clock, our defects having been made good, 

 we took leave of our friends, the Commodore passing 

 under the stern of each vessel, giving and receiving in 

 return our three last and most exciting cheers ; for here 

 we felt that the final knot was cut which connected us 

 with civilized England. 



Our anchors were tripped, and, towed by our respec- 

 tive tugs through the lowering mists which hung over 

 the embouchure of the Thames, we took our last look 

 at the shores of Kent, and dived to our cabins, to me- 

 ditate on the great work we had undertaken ; not 

 in pride of command, but in the feeling that we were 

 merely following up the clue which others had barely 

 left us enough to hold on by hardly enough to warp 

 ahead with. 



