21st Sept., 1810.—Capt. Moore told us that one day at Rio Janeiro when Sr. Sidney Smith presented Capt. Schomberg to the Prince Regent, the Prince said he was exceedingly happy to see Capt. S. again, as he was the first Englishman he had seen after he left Lisbon.[357] This was said by the Prince in a particularly marked manner, as if he meant it to convey an indirect contradiction of Ld. Strangford’s account in the Gazette of what passed on that occasion. Capt. Schomberg was Sir S. Smith’s Captain when the Portuguese Court embarked for Brésil, and was sent in a boat to the Prince’s ship, on board of which he went after it was on the outside of the bar. Sir S. Smith and Ld. Strangford went afterwards on board the P.’s ship together. Capt. Moore is persuaded that Strangford never saw the P. R. till he went on board of his ship with Sir Sidney. Capt. Moore saw the Confiance, on board of which was Ld. S., attempting the night before to get over the bar, and observed to someone near him that Yeo (the commander of the Confiance) would not get to Lisbon before it was dark. The Prince weighed anchor next morning before it was light. We knew from Setaro how Strangford passed that night, and that the Prince had left his palace and embarked with an intention of sailing with the first fair wind two days before.

We have also seen Don Tomaso Blanco, the 2nd-in-command on board the Algescias; he is the cousin of the author of the Español. He gave me the news of Mde. Ariza having returned to Madrid, where she was acting a considerable part owing to the influence she possesses over Urquijo.[358] He was a dependent originally of the Alba family, and owed his station in life to their favour and influence, which she now avails herself of by claiming in return his protection. The Town Major, who is under our roof, dined with us. Ld. Amelius Beauclerk,[359] a nephew of Ld. Bessboro’s, and very like a Cavendish in his appearance and demeanour. Capt. Irwin, the commander of the Puissant, a sheer hulk, on board of which Charles was mustered during the period of his residence at Dr. Burney’s at Gosport.

THE FRENCH PRISONERS

Great alarm prevails amongst those military in office, such as General Whetham and Sr. Roger Curtis,[360] in regard to the French prisoners. There are 17,000 at Gosport, and, in the hulks 4000 convicts lie very close to them, and Governt., by some strange mismanagement, has allowed French officers on their parole to live in this neighbourhood. They say there is a general system of organisation, that each officer has his corps, that a correspondence is maintained between them and Napoleon’s Govt., and that it is his policy to keep them in this country so that they might assist him in the case of an invasion. There was in the winter 40,000 prisoners; the number is increased to 70,000 at present.

We drive and walk out in the morning, and our evenings are usually employed in reading or hearing Mr. Dumont read French. The Lively was wrecked on the rocks near Malta; the fault is ascribed to the Lieut. of the watch and the Master. The former neglected his official duty of apprising the captain when they made land. This accident happened early in Sept.; it made my heart ache, notwithstanding Charles is safely deposited in another ship. Capt. Stewart, of the Seahorse, now stationed at Palermo, to whom Charles was recommended by Gen. Fox and Ld. Keith (it being our intention that he should join him in the Mediterranean), being apprised of his sailing in the Lively, immediately upon hearing she was wrecked sent express to Malta to order him a supply of money and proper equipment, and also to secure a speedy passage from thence to him. All this was done in a most obliging and gentlemanlike manner, so as to leave a strong desire upon my mind of returning the civility whenever any opportunity should occur.

He describes the situation of Sicily as insecure, and the prospect of a speedy and inglorious termination to our career in it.[361] The Queen is hostile to the English; which she manifests in every way by opposing all propositions for the defence of the Island, by influencing the inhabitants in ascribing to their profuseness and extravagance the high prices of all the articles of life, and by maintaining a correspondence with the enemy’s Courts in Italy. Murat, with his 40,000 men, was encamped within sight, and whenever the Toulon fleet can assist him a descent may be expected upon the Island, and already the blockading fleet has been driven twice from Toulon as far down as Nice. I have also a letter from Lady Amherst[362] written in great trepidation.

Miss Fox and Miss Vernon came to us; we lodged them in a tolerable apartment in the High Street; they arrived on the 10th October.

On Saturday, 13th, we set off to spend a few days at Mr. Beauclerk’s. Slept one night in our way at Arundel Castle. The alterations are not completed, the whole is done upon a grand scale, but without much taste, and without any comfort. The party was very numerous and far from select, a mêlée of neighbours and various dependents. Sr. Arthur Pigott[363] was the only person I was acquainted with. Met at Beau.’s, Major Capel. He was in the Galician campaign, and considered the retreat as so disgraceful, that had the Commander survived many general officers, for their own justification, would have insisted upon inquiry.

News of the brilliant repulse of the French at Busaco brought by the Apollo in 100 hours from the Tagus.[364]

Slept a night on our return at Worthing, to see Lord and Lady Lansdowne. Returned to Portsmouth on Saturday, 20th October; remained till 27th, and went to St. Anne’s, where we spent two nights. Returned home on the 30th, and went to the play.