1844.] SINGAPORE. 147 



the northward or southward of Borneo, should endea- 

 vour to make Bintang Peaks, on a W.N.W. bearing, 

 and not attempt to cross the straits current until within 

 five miles of the N.E. end of the Bintang Island. We 

 found ourselves set as far north as Pulo Aor, and lost a 

 day in regaining the entrance of the strait. Here we 

 met with the East India Company's Steamer, ' Phlege- 

 thon ', towing a distressed junk. 



Arrangements were now made for landing me at the 

 Recorder's house, usually allotted to the Senior Naval 

 Officer, when not occupied by the Recorder, and on the 

 evening of the 29th, I was comfortably lodged, free from 

 the noise and routine duties of the ship. We found here 

 H.M. brig ' Harlequin ', with my kind friend Captain 

 the Honourable E. Hastings, and the Erench corvette 

 ' Sabine ', shortly increased by H.M. brig ' Serpent ', 

 ' Driver ' steamer ; ' Alligator ' Troop Ship, the Erench 

 frigate ' Sirene ' and corvette, ' Victorieuse ', the former 

 having on board Monsieur Lagrene, Ambassador and 

 Plenipotentiary to the Court of China. M. Lagrene 

 most kindly paid me a visit, and was followed by the 

 Commanders of the different Erench vessels in port. 



On the 10th of July, H.M.S. 'Iris', Capt. Mundy, 

 arrived from England; and on the 13th, Commodore 

 Chads, in H.M.S. 'Cambrian', from China, thus render- 

 ing the place unusually gay. On the 16th, our numbers 

 were diminished by the departure of the French squadron 

 and the ' Iris ' for China ; but again increased by the 

 addition of my good friends, Captain the Honourable 

 H. Keppel, in ' Dido ', and Giffard, in ' Vixen.' ' Cam- 

 brian ' quitted as for Trincomalee, on the 20th, where 



L 2 



