Two diaries from 1876 to 1877 by Admiral Rowley Lambert on board the HMS NARCISSUS as Commander-in-chief of the Detached Squadron. The diaries followed the route of Colombo - Trincomalee - Calcutta - Bombay (14 February 1876) - Singapore (31 October) - Hong Kong (7 April 1876; tension with China) - Shanghai - Amoy - Japan - Chefoo - Talien - Hong Kong (November - 5 December) - Singapore (27 December) - Mauritius - Cape of Good Hope - St Helena - Ascension (1 April) - St Vincent (15 - 19 April) - Plymouth (11 May 1877.) Within the diaries are many cut out newspaper clippings stuck in the front of the 1876 diary and a report of United Service Proprietary College North Devon; a Chinese Calendar for the 1876 and 1877 Table of High Tides at Shanghai; a table of arrivals and departures of ships from England to Madeira, St Helena and Table Bay 1876-1877 and a printed Agreement between the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the Governments of Great Britain and China signed at Chefoo on the 13 September 1876 in English and Chinese.

Administrative / biographical background
Appointment of Captain: 22 April 1847 National Archives ADM 196/1/479 Appointment of Vice Admiral 25 April 1863 The National Archives ADM 196/36/1957