My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

—170 MY LIFEbooks, and had spent much of my spare time at theBritish Museum, examining the collections, andmaking notes and sketches of the rarer and morevaluable species of birds, butterflies, and beetles ofthe various Malay islands.It was, I believe, in the latter part of January, 1854,that I received a notification from the Governmentthat a passage had been granted me to Singaporein the brig Frolic, shortly sailing for that port, andthat I was to communicate with the captainCommander Nolloth—as to when I should go onboard. I think it was about the middle of Februarythat I went to Portsmouth with all necessaries for thevoyage, my heavy baggage having been sent off bya merchant ship some time previously. The Frolicwas anchored at Spithead and I went on board atonce. I was kindly received by the captain andofficers and found my quarters very comfortable.Sailing orders were expected every day, as theship was quite ready, with the stores she was taking outto the East all on board ; but day after day and weekafter week passed, signals were exchanged with theadmiral, but we seemed no nearer sailing than whenI came on board. Then at last, one day the captaininformed me that he had received fresh orders tocarry stores to the Crimea, where the great war withRussia was about to commence. He said I hadbetter leave the next morning, and that no doubt theGovernment would provide me a passage in someother vessel. So I bade farewell to him and hisofficers, none of whom I ever met again.On returning to London, I at once called on SirRoderick Murchison, and through his representationsI received in a few days a first-class ticket to Singaporeby the next Peninsular and Oriental steamer, which