It was not until we were homeward bound that the Duke succumbed to the ordeal of a second sitting for his portrait. He was an interesting subject; I made two drawings of him, the portrait which he had commanded, and which I understood was intended as a birthday present for the Duchess, and I also made a water-colour drawing in similar style to that which had pleased him of Sir Reginald Macdonald: which represented him at full length in Admiral's uniform.
After I had thanked H.R.H. for all his kindness and hospitality and the cruise was at an end, I said good-bye, and returned to London with Wentworth-Cole.
When I arrived in London, amongst the first letters I received was one from H.R.H. containing a handsome cheque in payment of the portrait.
Some little time after I was at work one morning in my studio in William Street, Lowndes Square, when the hall porter announced "a gentleman to see you, sir," and in walked the Duke of Edinburgh carrying a parcel under his arm, which proved to be a photograph of the Duchess, which he suggested I should study and left with me, for he was most anxious that I should make a drawing of Her Royal Highness, and suggested that later on her time would be less occupied, but I gathered that the proposal had escaped her memory.
Sir Reginald Macdonald's caricature.--H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh's invitation.--The _Lively_.--The _Hercules_.-- Admiral Sir William Hewitt.--Irish excursions.--The Channel Squadron.--Fishing party at Loch Brine.--The young Princes arrive on the _Bacchante_.--Cruise to Vigo.--The "Night Alarm."--The Duke as _bon voyageur_.--Vigo.--The birthday picnic.--A bear-fight on board the _Hercules_.--Homeward bound.--Good-bye.--The Duke's visit to my studio.
Some years before my cruise on the _Hercules_ I had caricatured a young man of whom "Jehu Junior" prophesied a career of no mean order. Lord Charles Beresford has performed all that was expected of him, but it is difficult to recognize in him to-day my subject of 1867. When he came to my studio I was struck by his characteristic stride, and asked him to walk up and down my studio while I endeavoured to capture some impression of his rolling gait, curly hair and jolly laugh. He was willing to be made fun of, and his excellent company aided me in arriving at a result which may best be gathered from the following letter, which I received from him on the completion of the caricature.