ad been one of six who in seven
days killed nine thousand quails on Capri Island, where in the month
of May some years they come in millions.... Got round Ischia at 10
o'clock P.M.......................................................

* * * * *

_Leghorn Roads, Wednesday, Dec. 20._--Employed all night beating into
Leghorn Roads.... At eight, pratique boat came off and gave us
pratique, and soon after the Governor of Leghorn came to pay his
respects to the King, with a fine large barge. His Majesty soon got
very impatient to go on shore, and would hardly give us time to make
the necessary preparations for sending him out of the ship with due
honours. At half-past nine he left the ship, accompanied by the
Duchess of Floridia.... Saluted with twenty-one guns, and manned yards
and cheered him as he left the ship. I accompanied him on shore, and
when about to take my leave he asked me to dinner. I went, therefore,
to the Grand Duke's palace, which is in the square; and when I got
there the Marchese di Ruffo soon arrived, and, desiring my company in
another room, produced the Order of St Ferdinand of the second class,
and told me he had the King's sanction to present me with it; and when
we were talking about it his Majesty came into the room and put it
over my neck, and then led me by the hand and presented me to the
Princess Paterna, when I returned my humble thanks to his Majesty,
knelt, and kissed his hand. The princess told me it was her intention
to send by me something as a present from her to my wife. The Marchese
di Ruffo then came in and told me he had something further to
communicate, and took me into the other room, when he gave me from his
Majesty a remarkably handsome gold snuff-box with his portrait on
it,--a very good likeness, set with twenty-four diamonds, some of them
large, particularly four at the corners. He gave me also two other
boxes, one for Captain Pellew and the other for the captain of the
_Fleur de Lis_, and informed me he meant to give 3000 ducats to the
_Vengeur's_ ship's company and 1500 to each of the frigates. Dined
with the King, and came off in the evening.

* * * * *

_Dec. 21._--... To Franschetti the banker to obtain the money given by
the King of Naples to the ships' companies; and after waiting a long
time and having a great deal of trouble with a very stupid old fellow,
we managed to get it from him.... Got my patent