Diary/Letter, 4 June – 13 September 1855 (unedited transcript)

June 4th 1855
Munday
left Hopson Bay 12 clock in the ship Essex for London calm very find day, all well in good spirit Theomomitar 59

5 Tuesday
S W wind blowing hard last great Sickness. Very few manage breakwast the Vessel stear S E ½  E

6 Wednsday
wind S W Rough great many Sick going 5 knots

7 Thirsday
N wind lat 44 55 South long 147-00 distance 176 miles nothing to be seen

8 Friday
fair wind Stair east 10 nots lat 44 33 long 131-38 distance every body all well no ship in seight

9 Saderday
fine day little north wind lat 47-52 S long 152-32 E distance 133 Theomomitor 52 nothing to be seen only sea all doing well beasey cooking all day and some times great many things short

10 Sunday
very calm lat 48-12 long. 157-23 distance 108 we are all in good health plenty to eat Owen has been very bad with sea sickness little better now

11 Munday
Little wind Stear East lat 48-24 S long 159-2 distance 47 miles
the whither keeps mild and damp we have seen New Sealand yesterday evening from a distance here we are walking through other up and down all day, some complaining not get enough to eat others not rome enough to sleep and others scouling the cook for not cooking his food right and the cook cursing that the galley been too small (great noise from children crying) gest begin playing cards

12 Tuesday

fair wind slow lat 48-42 long 161-42 distance 108 Theomomitor 49 Nothing extra

13 Wednsday
lat 48-49 long 160-42 distance 47

14 Thirsday
fair wind good breeze lat 49-15 long 167-42 distance 159 Theomomitar 44 ship in seight from Adelaide bound to Callio

15 Friday
fair wind lat 49-50 long 172-56 distance 206 I could not write well at all no leight the day is get very short from 20 to 30 minits a day shorter no ship in seight

16 Saderday
fair wind good breese whether gets very cold In consequence of passing opposite Medira there is two days the same date therefore this is

June 15 Friday
lat 50-33 long 179-57 distance 274 fair wind going 11½ nots the whether begins to get very cold Theomomitar 41

16 Saderday
fair wind little rain (slight the ship recked very much last neight lat 50-57 S long 175-8 W distance 198 all well some call today Saderday other call it Sunday

17 Sunday
very little wind find day lat 51-15 S long 171-53 W distance 123 we had heavy rain last neight and very cold we have no service read yet Sunday gest like another day

18 Munday
fair wind with rain and cold lat 51-30 S long. 167-12 West distance 178 Thermomitar 43 nothing particular

19 Tuesday
South west wind good breeze 10 nots latitude 51-47 longditude 161 West Distance 235 20 m findf whether but very cold today we had our ration weight out great grumbling some gets to little others get to much &c

20 Wednsday
South West wind good breese healing lat 52-5 South long 155-13 West distance 211 get into colder whether every day

21 Thirsday
fair wind North west Rain this morning latitude 52-20 longtitude 150-37 West Distance 170 miles

22 Friday
8 clock a m N W wind good breese 10 nots lat 52-38 South long. 145-42 West distance 181 3 clock P M we had heavy gale for short time from the South West along with heavy rain (or hails) very cold the day is very short now

23 Saderday
very little breese this morning 8 a m find whether we had snow last neight lat 52-56 South long 140-43 West distance 185 we are making good progress we have at this rate 2500 yet to cape horn 6 PM N W wind going from 9 to 10 nots

24 Sunday
N W wind 9 to 10 nots 10 a m all beasey cooking Diner some rice some duff some Beef Pork and grease &c lat 53-15 South 134-14 West distance 220 miles 6 P M rough Whither but making good progress all in good state of health Sunday 24 June distance from Melbourne 3266 Miles 10 Clock P M Blowing gale of wind Boxes cans and casks kick up awful row all neight we had all the sail double reifed

25 Munday
4 clock a m I was wolked in bed by cold watter run under me in bed came through the window 12 noon very rough see going well lat 53-35 South long. 128-43 West distance 220 miles I could not write to dark and the vessel is rowing very much some time almost all under watter 6 P M rough see making rapid progress the see is coming down to our cabin my bed is pretty wet

26 Tuesday
a m half North wind stear E & …. Suoth we had very un easey neight in bed great rowing & Misserable wet see come in to us lat 54-35 South long 118-32 West distance 366 miles 6 P M Blowing gale of wind from W b N close riff topsol

27 Wednsday
W b N wind blowing gale lat 55-40 South long 109-43 West Distance 309

28 Thirsday
W b N wind blowing heavy gale of wind all last neight 9 clock a m shoner from some part of Scotland close to us and the see was like mountains all round us 1 clock P M lat 56-3 South  – lon 104-43 West Distance 192 snowing all day awful cold

29 Friday
S W wind very cold snow this morning 1 P M lat 56-13 South long 99-20 West Distance 190 miles

30 Saderday
wind south half West lat 57-7 long 93-23 West distance 204 we had very hard whether this last 4 day some time heavy gales of wind & hails snow and frost we are in miserable state under decks the see coming inn through the hatchway my bed is very wet the sea came in through the window the day is very short we only see the son for 5 or 6 hour there are some feel ill by this cold whether theomomitar 38

Sunday July the first 1855
a m 8 clock slight wind going 5 or 6 nots fine cold dry morning we are going under full sail I dont feel quite well this morning 1 P M lat 57-10 South long 88-27 west distance 163 miles nothing particlar

2 Munday
7 clock a m find morning cold & dry little wind going 6 knots lat 57-15 South long 81-9 West Distance 230 2 P M I went to bed feel rather ill

3 Tuesday
fair wind good breeses since 8 clock last neight 1 clock P M lat 57-15 South long 74-30 distance 210 ship in sight goin west an American ship

4 Wednsday °
good wind followed with cold heavy rain 1 P M lat 57-20 south long 66-30 west distance 252
lat 56-38 South long 60-02 distance 216

Friday 6^th July 1855
1 P M lat 50-20 South long 54- West distance 190 miles
the remainder of the day we suffer great cold

7 Saderday
8 a m very cold doing very good progress lat 53-54 South long 59-09 West distance 204

8 Sunday
10 a m square yards going about 7 nots study wind I have been very ill since this day week this morning feel much better thank God cold and damp 1 P M lat 50-00 South long. 44-14 West distance 273

9 Munday
we are going now every day to warmer climate this morning much warmer but very damp 1 P M lat 48-14 South long 43-01 West distance 125 we are going slow 5 not
7 P M good breese spring up

10 Tuesday
stear ne blowing gale of wind the sailors are beasey reffing 1 P M lat 44-14 South long 38-36 West distance 217 rain

11 Wednsday
blowing and raining heavy lat 44-00 South long 33-38 West distance 217 the wind moderate in the evning

12 Thirsday
find dry morning lat 41-8 South long 30-30 West distance 241 miles I am improving in my health every day

13 Friday
N W wind steering –N E b E Find morning making fast progress 1 P M lat 39-56 South long 25-37 West distance 168

14 Saderday
we had very rough neight last neight blowing gale of wind all neight followed with heavy rain 1 P M lat 37-38 South long 23-33 West Distance 216 – blowing very hard

15 Sunday
blowing hard all neight
8 a m moderate fear wind tearing N E half N 1 P M lat 34-11 South long 22-15 W Distance 215 find day going 9 nots 9 P M allmost calm doing but very little

16 Munday
8 a m N wind good breese the first head wind we had since left stearing N W 4 points out of our course expect to meet the South East treads now Theomomitar 56 lat 32-44 South long 22-45 West distance 105

17 Tuesday
blowing gale of wind from North one of the first caban passengers died 5 P M yesterday put him in his watter grave 8 am blowing hard
1 P M lat 32-12 South long 21-41 West distance 60 3 P M we lost our gib boom the vessel pitched right underneath the watter untill the gib boom was carried away wind very near fair stear N E

18 Wednsday
stear our reight course N E by N wind moderate since last neight find morning lat 30-3 S long 21-00 West distance 136 6 P M calm.

19 Thirsday
calm all last night the whether begin to come hot
1 P M lat 28-34 South long – 20-35 W distance 98

20 Friday
good wind since 2 P M yesterday very find morning 1 P M lat 25-34 South long 19-11 West distance 195

21 Saderday
fine morning little wind 11 a m we gest had the South East trades follow with little rain lat. 23-34 South 18-37 long West distance 130

Sunday 22 day of July 1855
This morning we were cheer up with the South East wind going 9 not we had heavy fall of rain last evning 1 P M lat 21-10 South long 18-40 West distance 146

Munday 23
fair wind Stearing North 1 P M lat 17-45 South long 15-41 West distance 205 miles

Tuesday 24
lat 14-49 South long – 20-30 West distance 209

Wednsday 25

find morning good breese stearing N ½ W 1 P M lat 11-9 South long 22-50 West distance 245 tiard some life here I hope that this wind will keep with us untill will be in London we have seen whale this morning play about the ship and some flying fish

Thirsday 26
we have been favour with a good breese for another day fair wind Stear North lat 7-22 South long 24-00 West distance 238

Friday 27
find whether good breese stearing N N E lat 3-20 South long 24-04 West distance 242

Saderday 28
1 P M lat 00-22 South long 24-15 West distance 282 cross the lince this morning

Sunday 29
we have been favour once more with find Sunday morning fair wind and making fast progress towards home the Capt read for us this morning churge service and every body are very sivl lat 3-1 North long 24-20 West distance 202 We had great dancing last neight and spree after crossing the lince

Munday 30^th July 1855
lat 6-00 North long 24-15 West distance 179

Tuesday 31
Stearing N ½ E good breese lat 8-44 North long 24-15 West distance 162 we have seen 3 ships spoke with one Schooner belonging Sothannburge out of copenhagn

Wednsday first day of August 1855
find morning but little wind very close in bed every neight 1 P M lat 10-48 North long 24-15 West distance 124 miles we have seen 2 ship this morning so far to speak 1

Thirsday 2
little wind and very heavy rain last neight this is first calm whether we had since left Melbourne very close in bed every neight lat 11-18 North long 24-49 distance 43

Friday 3 August
lat 12-7 North long 26-00 West distance 90

Saderday 4
good breese – what they called North East treades stear N N W at 14-00 North long 25-40 W distance 120

Sunday 5
good wind Stearing N N W 10 A M we had churge service read by Capt 1 P M lat 16-20 North long 28-40 West distance 180

Munday 6
good breese the North East trade blowing away for the royal this morning 1 P M lat 19-16 North long 32-20 West distance 259 miles

Tuesday 7 day Augst
we are making fast progress towards old England lat 22-20 N long 34-9 West distance 218

Wednsday 8 day August
we are doing well Stearing N by W Vessel in seight 12 noon we are overtake this ship spoke with her Marry Harrisson London from Calcutta out 150 day lat 25-17 N long 36-10 W distance 206

Thirsday 9
we have lost the N E trades last neight very little wind this morning Stearing our reight course N E lat 27-14 North long 37-18 West distance 136 3 ships in seight

Friday 10
almost calm doing little progress we are seeing the same ships this morning home wards bounds there is great raffling here now almost every day I won nugget weight 1 oz 5/0 member there is another to be raffeled 2 P M 5 oz at 20/ Member 1 P M lat 27-59 N long 37-34 W distance 40 miles 3 P M the raffel came out I won the nugget we are now close to ship from west coast of Africa cargo boil mole boat came from her to our Dr there was man on board her very ill he went on board to see him after came back send some some midson to him

Saderday 11 August
calm dont do much progress lat 29-00 N long 37-31 W distance 60 miles

Sunday 12
first thing this morning the chief mate caught shark masurd 11 ft there is 3 or 4 vessel in seight but far off 1 P M lat 29-32 North long 38-01 West distance 40 miles
we had very hot day wish if I was at home get my dinner this is wareing life theomomiter 92

Munday 13 August
little wind follow with heavy shoers of rain lat 30-10 North 37-30 longditute distance 44 miles

Tuesday 14 August 1855
another calm day 8 ships in seight all most all forreign lat 30-11 North long 37-20 West distance 44 miles 7 P M shower of rain follow by nice breese of wind but it soon died away very hot day Themomaturr 92

Wednsday 15
heavy shower rain follow with good breese from E – E N E wich I hope will soon shift more South we are stear N but our course N E lat 31-29 N long 37-25 distance 38 miles

Thirsday
head wind from N E Stearing N N W The carpinder deid 4 clock a m To be put over in his watter grave 5 P M he is laying on deck all day sowed up in piece of canvas covered with one flag nobody care move them if he was some animal
1 P M lat 33- N long 38-40 W distance 111 miles
5 P M the diad body was put in his watter grave Cap red funeral service He was unwell when left consumption and cold whether round Cape Horne finish him

Friday 17 August
head wind still N E Stear N W W I am sick and tiard of this long passage wish if I was at home now for harvest
1 P M lat 34-49 N long 39-27 W distance 120 miles
6 P M calm

Saderday 18
another calm day doing nothing lat 35-25 N long 41-20 W distance 88 miles

Sunday 19
very calm service as – useal 12 clock lat 36-2 N long 41-50 W distance 7 or 8 ships in seight

Munday 20
calm 14 vessel in seight 12 clock lat 36-49 North long 41-18 West distance 51 miles sceine 4 large wales this morn

Tuesday 21 day of August 1855
7 a m find morning with nice leight breese from West we are going 3 or 4 nots 16 or 17 vessels in seight 12 clock lat 37-2 North long 40-45 West distance 41

Wednsday 22
head wind from East we are now in very find climate not to hot 12 clock lat 37-42 North long 39-00 West distance 82 miles great many porpers jumping round the ship

Thirsday 23
lat 37-37 North long 38-48 West distance 12 miles

Friday 24
lat 37-40 North long 38-20 West distance 15 miles

Saderday 25
I think we are on the start once more fair wind 6 a m america ship past close to us 10 a m Past Duch ship spoke with her lat 38-45 N long 36-34 West distance 113

Tuesday 4
very rough whether Head wind followed with showers rain lat 46-00 North long 12-6 West distance 116 miles

Wednsday 5
Do. D. lat. 45-45 North long. 10-24 West distance 89 miles

Thirsday
lat 48-18 N long 10-7 W distance 38 miles Sciley Island 250 miles

Friday 7
find day and head wind lat 48-14 North long 10-43 West distance 119 miles

Sept Tuesday 11
we have seen headenson leight and start point

12
St. Cathrine leight

13
Durnnunness and folkston .