October 23.—­Portsmouth; arrived here in the evening.  Found the Barham will not sail till 26th October, that is Wednesday next.  The girls break loose, mad with the craze of seeing sights, and run the risk of our losing some of our things and deranging the naval officers, who offer their services with their natural gallantry.  Captain Pigot came to breakfast, with several other officials.  The girls contrived to secure a sight of the Block manufactory, together with that of the Biscuit, also invented by Brunel.  I think that I have seen the first of these wonderful [sights] in 1816, or about that time.[478] Sir Thomas Foley gives an entertainment to the Admiralty, and sends to invite [me]; but I pleaded health, and remained at home.  Neither will I go out sight-seeing, which madness seems to have seized my womankind.  This ancient town is one of the few in England which is fortified, and which gives it a peculiar appearance.  It is much surrounded with heaths or thin poor muirs covered with heather, very barren, yet capable of being converted into rich arable and pasturage.  I would [not] desire a better estate than to have 2000 acres which would be worth 40 shillings an acre.

October 24.—­My womankind are gone out with Walter and Captain Hall.  I wish they would be moderate in their demands on people’s complaisance.  They little know how inconvenient are such seizures.  A sailor is in particular a bad refuser, and before he can turn three times round, he is bound with a triple knot to all kinds of [engagements].  The wind is west, that is to say contrary, so our sailing on the day after to-morrow is highly doubtful.

October 25.—­A gloomy October day, the wind inflexibly constant in the west, which is fatal.  Sir James Graham proposes to wait upon us after breakfast.  A trouble occurs about my taking an oath before a master-extraordinary in Chancery; but such cannot easily be found, as they reside in chambers in town, and rusticate after business, so they are difficult to catch as an eel.  At ten my children set off to the dockyard, which is a most prodigious effort of machinery, and they are promised the sight of an anchor in the act of being forged, a most cyclopean sight.  Walter is to call upon the solicitor and appoint him to be with [me] by twelve.

About the reign of Henry VIII. the French took the pile, as it was called, of——­,[479] but were beat off.  About the end of the American war, an individual named John Aitken, or John the Painter, undertook to set the dockyard on fire, and in some degree accomplished his purpose.  He had no accomplice, and to support himself committed solitary robberies.  Being discovered, he long hung in chains near the outward fortifications.  Last night a deputation of the Literary and Philosophical Society of [Portsmouth] came to present me with the honorary freedom of their body, which I accepted with becoming gratitude.  There is little credit in gathering the name of a disabled