Two extracts are presented here from this manuscript, which continues the narrative of the Listons’ leave from Constantinople begun in the journal from which the preceding extract was taken. That journal ends on the last day of 1815 in Naples, with the Listons about to depart for Rome. This manuscript takes up the story in March 1816, with the Listons in Germany, still on their way back to Britain. Its last entry for 1816 is dated 24 June, by which time they had been in London for almost two months. The journal, which Liston paginated herself, resumes on folio 12 on 8 May 1817. After five months in Scotland, the Listons had left their cottage ‘with infinite reluctance, uncertain when we should return to it’ (NLS MS 5711 f. 12r) and proceeded to London, to await instruction from Lord Castlereagh as to whether Robert was to resume his post. The news came in February 1817 that he was to do so, but they did not sail until nearly three months later. The first excerpt from this manuscript given below was written in Dover just prior to their departure. By 24 May the Listons were in Paris: they then travelled south to Marseilles, and by 20 June were in Malta, where our second extract commences. Liston ends this journal at the close of this second extract, with a description of the Listons’ return to Constantinople on 19 July, after an absence of twenty- one months.

Small fragments of the manuscript are missing due to environmental damage and it has suffered significant discolouration, including signs of damp, mould, dirt and water damage.

Dover, 8th May 1817

The Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Lord Castlereagh, seemed purposely to delay replying to the repetition of Sir Robert's offer till the middle of February, when he acquainted him that it was thought best he should resume his situation at the Sublime Porte. The ostensible reason was the arrangement of the affairs of Parga with the Turks, and as an apprehension that the Russians began to wear a threatening aspect towards Turkey, and that the Turkish Ministry wished his return, but other reasons perhaps aided these. The opposition is ever disposed to find fault with everything done by the Ministry and the clamour was considerable.