I shall say no more of the doings of the English fleet in the Baltic during that year.  Suffice it, that if ever open mutiny was displayed—­not by the crews of the ships, but by many of the captains, men who attained the highest rank in their profession—­it was during the cruise in the Baltic in 1854:  and no wonder.

Many gallant deeds were performed by single ships, but the fleet did absolutely nothing, except help to capture Bomarsund.  I returned to England disgusted and disheartened.  The next year the commander-in-chief was changed; I was appointed to his ship, and we went again to the Baltic, taking with us all the necessary appurtenances for bombarding forts and attacking the enemy’s coast.

As soon as the melting of the ice permitted we arrived off Cronstadt, and found that the Russians had not been asleep during our absence for the winter months; for they had defended the approaches to that place to such an extent, that an attack was considered (and on this occasion there was no difference of opinion) most unadvisable.  So we fell back on Sveaborg, which place was bombarded by the combined fleets, I venture to think most successfully, and I believe, had we had a force to land, we could have taken possession of that large and important fortress.

Our losses during the operation were small on board the squadron of mortar-boats which I had the good luck to command—­some fifty-eight men hors de combat.

In this service I received my promotion to the rank of commander, and returned to England.

Peace was made between Russia and England, previous to which, however, I was appointed to a vessel in the Mediterranean which formed part of the fleet off Sebastopol.  Unfortunately, I arrived too late to see much active service there.

While serving as a commander in the Mediterranean, I was principally under the command of Sir Wm. M——­, a man whose reputation as being the smartest officer in the navy, I must venture to say, I think was greatly exaggerated, though he was doubtless what is called a ‘smart officer.’

His idea was to rule with a rod of iron, and never to encourage anyone by praising zealous and active service.  He used to say, ’I am here to find fault with, not to praise, officers under my command.’  So many a fine fellow’s zeal was damped by knowing that no encouragement would follow in the way of appreciation from his chief, however much he might have merited it.

I cannot refrain from recounting a very amusing incident that occurred in connection with my command of H.M.S. F——­ .  I may mention that, differing as I did most materially with the system of discipline followed by the commander-in-chief, I was no favourite of his.