December 20th.—­Eleven A.M.—­Our difficulty yesterday was not unexpected,... but we were compelled to make the attempt.  The mud was very soft, and as we pressed against it, kept breaking away; but the difficulty was, that as we moved the shoal, the tide was forcing us towards it, and preventing our getting clear of it.  At night we fixed the ship securely by three anchors, and left it to make its own way, which it did so effectually, that at 4 A.M. we slipped into deep water.  We did not get off till 10 A.M., and the first thing we had to do was to turn in a channel which was exactly the length of the ship, and not a foot more.  This very clever feat we performed with the help of an anchor dropped from the stern, and are now in the main river.... Two P.M.—­We have anchored below Kew-kiang, at the spot where we anchored on November 30th.  The ‘Dove’ met us an hour ago with the ominous signal, ‘Afraid there is no passage.’ Six P.M.—­Captain Osborn has returned from an exploration, which will be continued to- morrow.  It would be very sad if the ‘Furious’ had to be left behind.  Meanwhile I landed and took a walk.  It is a pretty country, on the right bank, consisting of wooded hillocks with patches of cultivated valley, and sometimes lakes of considerable size.  Cosy little hamlets nestle in most of the valleys; the houses built of sun-dried bricks, and much more substantial than those we saw yesterday, &c., where the walls generally were made of matting, probably because of the inundations.

[Sidenote:  Taking to the gunboats.]

December 23rd.—­Noon.—­At about six Captain Osborn returned from an exploration of the north channel, which he found rocky, and twelve feet of water the utmost that could be found.  Captain Bythesea was disposed to try and lighten the ‘Cruiser;’ but I determined that I would run no risk of the kind.  As yet no harm has happened to any of our ships, and the delay at this point of some of the squadron for three months, is more an inconvenience to me than a disadvantage in any other way.  On public grounds it will even be attended with benefit, as it will insure the Yangtze being kept open; for supplies will be sent up to them from Shanghae, and they will have an opportunity of examining the Poyang Lake besides.  If any of the vessels were lost or seriously injured, it would be a very different matter.  I have therefore resolved that we shall all pack into the ‘Lee’ (the ‘Dove’ being crammed already), and with the aid of two junks for servants and baggage, make our way to the ‘Retribution.’  We shall have to pass Nganching, but it is to be hoped that the Rebels will not repeat the experiment they made when we were on our way up. Au reste, Dieu dispose.

December 24th.—­Noon.—­On board the ’Lee.’_—­We have just passed the shallow behind which we were anchored for three days; but we have passed it only by leaving our big ships behind us.  At 10 A.M.