CHAPTER XII
VOYAGE ON H.M.S. HERCULES
Sir Reginald Macdonald's caricature.—H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh's invitation.—The Lively.—The Hercules.—Admiral Sir William Hewitt.—Irish excursions.—The Channel Squadron.—Fishing party at Loch Brine.—The young Princes arrive on the Bacchante.—Cruise to Vigo.—The "Night Alarm".—The Duke as bon voyageur.—Vigo.—The Birthday picnic.—A bear-fight on board the Hercules.—Homeward bound.—Good-bye.—The Duke's visit to my studio.
In July, 1880, I received an invitation from H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh to go for a cruise as his guest on board H.M.S. Hercules, which he commanded, and which was the flag-ship of the Reserve Squadron.
It was not an opportunity to lose, although one which had arrived by chance. It happened that Admiral Sir Reginald Macdonald, a great favourite at court and in society generally, was a victim of mine in Vanity Fair. I had known him previously, and always found him most cheerful and entertaining, but on the publication of the cartoon his merriment frizzled away, and he became severe.
A letter arrived from him upbraiding me, and saying it was not the act of a friend to depict him as a drunkard. In short it was quite a furious epistle, and revealed him in an altogether new light.
I wrote at once in the endeavour to persuade him that his idea concerning the caricature was entirely misconceived, but some days had elapsed bringing no answer when one morning he dashed into my studio with a most injured air, and so full of his grievance that he did not observe his great friend the Duke of Hamilton, who was sitting to me for his portrait at the time.
