We reached London at a quarter to six, got into our carriages, and arrived at Woolwich before seven. Albert and I immediately stepped into our barge. There was a large crowd to see us embark. The Duke of Cambridge, Lord Jersey, Lord Haddington, Lord Bloomfield, and Sir George Cockburn were present in full uniform. Sir George handed me into the barge. It was raining very hard when we got on board, and therefore we remained in our sitting-room.
I annex a list of our squadron:—
1. The ship “Pique,” 36 guns.
2. The sloop “Daphne,” 18 guns—(both of which join us at the Nore).
3. The steam-vessel “Salamander” (with the carriages on board).
4. The steam-vessel “Rhadamanthus” (Lord Liverpool and Lord Morton on board).
5. The steam-vessel “Monkey” Tender, which has towed us till nine o’clock (Mr. Anson and the equerries on board).
6. The steam-vessel “Shearwater,” which is now towing us (Sir James Clark on board).
7. The steam-vessel “Black Eagle” (which has the ladies on board, and which tows us in front of the “Shearwater”).
8. The steam-vessel “Lightning” (with the Jäger Benda, and our two dogs, “Eôs” and “Cairnach,” on board) in front, which has gone to take our barge on board from the “Pique.”