The fleet and the officers and men from it who came ashore during the day have been closely scrutinized and gazed at, parties having been on board the flagship, it became a question of interest as to what they would do at night. At sunset a gun was fired from the Admiral’s ship, at the sound of which, as if by magic, the flags dropped from the stern of every vessel at the same instant, though the topyards did not go down as was expected. That was about half-past eight o’clock, and at nine bang went another gun from the Admiral’s ship followed by the rattle of musketry on board the others, and seamen said, ‘There’s the old Admiral a-fallen down the main hatchway,’ that being the correct nautical form of indicating that the hands were ordered to ‘turn in.’ At about the same time lights were shown in front and at the sterns of the ships, producing a brilliant and lively spectacle, taken in conjunction with the hundreds of lights on small craft lying at anchor, and as shown by the screw colliers which were ever and anon passing through the fleet and flowing out dark volumes of smoke. With Saturday Mr. Swann’s contract to supply beef at 4½d. per lb., luckily for him, expired, and he agreed, we believe, to execute the orders of the fleet at 6½d.
Sunday morning, as had been anticipated by the Yarmouth innkeepers and others, brought an immense number of people into the town, the trains from Norwich being very lengthy. The weather was fine, and as the fleet still remained in the Roads, there was every prospect of enjoyment. As the excursionists came into the town they proceeded, after refreshing the inner man at the earliest opportunity, either to the beach or on board the three steamers of Fill and Co. (Chesapeake, Volunteer and Florence Nightingale), which were ready, as soon as filled, to start for a journey round the fleet. The Chesapeake was the first to start, and as she steamed down the harbour the excursionists had a good view of the quays and shipping, and also of the hamlet of Gorleston. As soon as the bar was crossed, the great ships were all plainly visible, their sides bristling with guns, and alive with seamen, who, on the visitors approaching, exchanged a few friendly shouts with them. From the middle of the two lines in which they were moored, the ships had a noble and awe-inspiring effect upon those who had not before seen such wonders of the sea—they were, in fact, so many towers of strength filled with dauntless warriors. The Mersey, the smartest, the swiftest, and most powerful frigate of the fleet, was greatly admired, as was also the Royal Albert, and many thought—