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

June 4th 1855
Monday. Left Hobson’s Bay at 12 o’clock in the ship “Essex” for London. Calm, very fine day. All well and in good spirits. Thermometer 59°. (Note: Hobson’s Bay at Melbourne; the ship “Essex”, 776 tons gross, built 1839 London, owned by Wigram, Master in 1855 T Martin – information provided by the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF.)

5 Tuesday
SW wind blowing hard last (night). Great sickness. Very few manage breakfast. The vessel steers SE ½  E.

6 Wednesday
Wind SW. Rough. Great many sick. Going 5 knots.

7 Thursday
N wind. Lat. 44-55 South, long. 147-00. Distance 176 miles. Nothing to be seen.

8 Friday
Fair wind, Steer east, 10 knots, Lat. 44-33, long. 131-38. Distance (  ). Everybody all well. No ship in sight.

9 Saturday
Fine day. Little north wind, Lat. 47-52 S, long. 152-32E. Distance 133. Thermometer 52. Nothing to be seen only sea. All doing well. Busy cooking all day and sometimes a great many things (are) 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, (a) little better now.

11 Monday
Little wind. Steer east. Lat 48-24 S, long. 159-2, Distance 47 miles. The weather keeps mild and damp. We saw New Zealand yesterday evening from a distance. Here we are walking through, others up and down all day, some complaining (that they do) not get enough to eat, others not room enough to sleep and others scowling the cook for not cooking his food right and the cook cursing that the galley is too small. Great noise from children crying. Just begin playing cards.

12 Tuesday
Fair wind, slow. Lat. 48-42, long. 161-42. Distance 108. Thermometer 49. Nothing extra.

13 Wednesday
Lat. 48-49, long. 160-42. Distance 47.

14 Thursday
Fair wind, good breeze. Lat. 49-15, long. 167-42. Distance 159. Thermometer 44. Ship in sight from Adelaide bound for Callao.

15 Friday
Fair wind. Lat. 49-50, long 172-56. Distance 206, I could not write well at all. No light. The days are getting very short from 20 to 30 minutes a day shorter. No ship in sight.

16 Saturday
Fair wind. Good breeze, Weather gets very cold. In consequence of passing Medira there are two days with the same date. Therefore this is

June 15 Friday
Lat. 50-33, long. 179-57. Distance 274. Fair wind, 11½ knots. The weather begins to get very cold. Thermometer 41. (Note: Medira – probably meridian – the International Date Line.)

16 Saturday
Fair wind. Little rain, slight. The ship rocked very much last night. Lat 50-57 S, long. 175-8 W. Distance 198. All well. Some call today Saturday, others call it Sunday.

17 Sunday
Very little wind. Fine day, Lat. 51-15 S, long. 171-53 W. Distance 123. We had heavy rain last night and very cold. We have (had) no Service read yet. Sunday just like another day.

18 Monday
Fair wind with rain and cold. Lat. 51-30 S, long. 167-12 West. Distance 178. Thermometer 43. Nothing in particular.

19 Tuesday
South-west wind, good breeze. 10 knots. Lat. 51-47, long. 161 W. Distance 235 20m. Fine weather but very cold today. We had our rations weighed out. Great grumbling. Some get too little, others too much etc.

20 Wednesday
South-west wind, good breeze heeling. Lat. 52-5 S, long. 155-13 W. Distance 211, Getting into colder weather every day.

21 Thursday
Fair wind North-west, Rain this morning. Lat, 52-20, long. 150-37 W. Distance 170 miles.

22 Friday
8 o’clock a.m, N.W. wind, good breeze. 10 knots, Lat. 52-38 S, long. 145-42 W. Distance 181. 3 o’clock p.m. we had a heavy gale for a short time from the South-west along with heavy rain or hail. Very cold. The days are very short now.

23 Saturday
Very little breeze this morning. 8 a.m. fine weather. We had snow last night. Lat. 52-56 S, long. 140-43 W. Distance 185. We are making good progress. We have at this rate 2500 (miles) yet to Cape Horn. 6 p.m. N.W. wind. Going from 9 to 10 knots.

24 Sunday
N.W. wind. 9 to 10 knots. 10 a.m. all busy cooking dinner, some rice, some duff, some beef, pork and grease etc. Lat. 53-15 S, long. 134-14 W. Distance 220 miles. 6 p.m. rough weather but making good progress, All in a good state of health. Sunday 24 June: distance from Melbourne 3266 miles. 10
o’clock p.m. blowing a gale of wind. Boxes, cans and casks kick up an awful row all night. We had all the sail double-reefed.

25 Monday
4 o’clock a.m. I was woken in bed by cold water running under me in bed. It came through the window. 12 noon very rough sea. Going well. Lat 53-35 S, long. 128-43 W. Distance 220 miles, I could not write – too dark, and the vessel is rolling very much. Sometimes it is almost all under water. 6 p.m. rough sea, making rapid progress. The sea is coming down to our cabin. My bed is pretty wet.

26 Tuesday
a.m, half North wind. Steer E & …. South. We had a very uneasy night in bed. Great rowing and miserably wet. The sea came in to us. Lat. 54-35 S, long. 118-32 W. Distance 366 miles. 6 p.m. blowing gale of wind from W b N. Close-reef topsail.

27 Wednesday
W b N wind blowing a gale. Lat. 55-40 S, long. 109-43 W. Distance 309.

28 Thursday
W b N wind blowing heavy gale of wind all last night. 9 o’clock a.m. a schooner from some part of Scotland (came) close to us and the sea was like mountains all around us. 1 o’clock p.m. lat. 56-3 S  – long. 104-43 W. Distance 192, Snowing all day, awfully cold.

29 Friday
SW wind, very cold. Snow this morning. 1 p.m. lat. 56-13 S, long. 99-20 W. Distance 190 miles.

30 Saturday
Wind south half west. Lat. 57-7, long. 93 23 W. Distance 204. We (have) had very hard weather these last 4 days. Sometimes heavy gales of wind and hail, snow and frost. We are in a miserable state under decks, the sea coming in through the hatchway. My bed is very wet. The sea came in through the window. The day is very short. We only see the sun for 5 or 6 hours. There are some who feel ill in this cold weather. Thermometer 38.

Sunday July the first 1855
a.m. 8 o’clock slight wind. Going 5 or 6 knots. Fine cold dry morning. We are going under full sail. I don’t feel quite well this morning. 1 p.m, lat. 57-10 S, long. 88-27 W. Distance 163 miles. Nothing particular.

2 Monday
7 o’clock a.m. fine morning, cold and dry. Little wind. Going 6 knots. Lat. 57-15 S, long. 81-9 W. Distance 230. 2 p.m. I went to bed, feeling rather ill.

3 Tuesday
Fair wind, good breezes since 8 o’clock last night. 1 o’clock p.m. lat. 57-15S, long. 74-30. Distance 210. Ship in sight going west – an American ship.

4 Wednesday
Good wind followed with cold heavy rain. 1 p.m. lat. 57-20 S, long. 66-30W. Distance 252. (Note: Cape horn passed.)

(5 Thursday)
Lat. 56-38 S, long. 60-02. Distance 216.

6 Friday
We had a very good night’s rest. She was going rapidly and very steady. 8 a.m. very cold and dry. I am very much troubled by inflammation of the kidney. Under the doctor’s hands. 1 p.m. lat. 50-20 S, long. 54-00 W. Distance 190 miles. The remainder of the day we suffered great cold.

7 Saturday
8 a.m. very cold, making very good progress. Lat. 53-54 S, long. 59-09 W. Distance 204.

8 Sunday
10 a.m. square yards. Going about 7 knots. Steady 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 S, long. 44-14 W. Distance 273.

9 Monday
We are going now every day to warmer climates. This morning much warmer but very damp. 1 p.m. lat. 48-14 S, long. 43-01 W. Distance 125. We are going slowly – 5 knots. 7 p.m. good breeze springs up.

10 Tuesday
Steer N.E. Blowing gale of wind. The sailors are busy reefing. 1 p.m. lat. 44-14 S, long. 38-36 W. Distance 217. Rain.

11 Wednesday
Blowing and raining heavily. Lat. 44-00, long. 33-38 W. Distance 217. The wind moderates in the evening.

12 Thursday
Fine dry morning. Lat. 41-8 S, long. 30-30 W. Distance 241 miles. I am improving in my health every day.

13 Friday
N.W. wind, Steering N.E. b E. Fine morning. Making fast progress. 1 p.m. lat. 39-56 S, long. 25-37 W. Distance 168.

14 Saturday
We had a very rough night last night. Blowing gale of wind all night followed by heavy rain. 1 p.m. lat. 37-38 S, long 23-33 W. Distance 216, Blowing very hard.

15 Sunday
Blowing hard all night. 8 a.m. moderate fair wind. Steering N.E. half N. 1 p.m. lat. 34-11 S, long.
22-15 W. Distance 215. Fine day. Going 9 knots. 9 p.m. almost calm. Doing but very little.

16 Monday
8 a.m. N, wind. Good breeze. The first headwind we have had since we left. Steering NW 4 points out of our course. Expect to meet the South-east trades now. Thermometer 56. Lat. 32-44 S, long. 22-45 W, Distance 105.

17 Tuesday
Blowing gale of wind from the North. One of the first-(class) cabin passengers died 5 p.m. yesterday. Put him in his water grave. 8 a.m. blowing hard.
1 p.m. lat. 32-12 S, long. 21-41 W, Distance 60. 3 p.m. we lost our jib-boom. The vessel pitched right underneath the water until the jib-boom was carried away. Wind very near fair. Steer NE.

18 Wednesday
Steer our right course NE by N. Wind moderate since last night. Fine morning. Lat. 30-3 S, long. 21-00 W. Distance 136. 6 p.m. calm.

19 Thursday
Calm all last night. The weather begins to become hot. 1 p.m. lat. 28-34 S, long. 20-35 W. Distance 98.

20 Friday
Good wind since 2 p.m. yesterday. Very fine morning. 1 p.m. lat. 25-34 S, long. 19-11 W. Distance 195.

21 Saturday
Fine morning. Little wind. 11 a.m. we just had the South-east trades following with little rain. Lat. 23-34 S, long. 18-37 W. Distance 130.

22 Sunday
This morning we were cheered up with the South-east wind. Going 9 knots. We had a heavy fall of rain last evening. 1 p.m. lat, 21-10 S, long, 18-40 W. Distance 146.

23 Monday
Fair wind. Steering North. 1 p.m. lat. 17-45 S, long. 15-41 W. Distance 205 miles.

24 Tuesday

Lat. 14-49 S, long. 20-30 W. Distance 209.

25 Wednesday
Fine morning. Good breeze. Steering N ½ W. 1 p.m. lat. 11-9 S, long. 22-50 W. Distance 245. Tired. Some life here! I hope that this wind will keep with us until we are in London. We saw a whale this morning, playing about the ship, and some flying fish.

26 Thursday
We have been favoured with a good breeze for another day. Fair wind. Steer North. Lat. 7-22 S, long. 24-00 W. Distance 238.

27 Friday
Fine weather. Good breeze. Steering NNE. Lat. 3-20 S, long. 24-04 W. Distance 242.

28 Saturday
1 p.m. lat 00-22 S, long. 24-15 W. Distance 282. Cross the Line this morning. (Note: the Line – the Equator).

29 Sunday
We have been favoured once more with a fine Sunday morning. Fair wind and making fast progress towards home, The Captain read for us this morning at church service and every body is very civil. Lat. 3-1 N, long. 24-20 W. Distance 202. We had great dancing last night and a spree after crossing the line.

30 Monday
Lat. 6-00 N, long. 24-15 W. Distance 179.

31 Tuesday
Steering N ½ E. Good breeze, Lat. 8-44 N, long. 24-15 W. Distance 162. We have seen 3 ships. Spoke with one schooner belonging to Gothenburg, out of Copenhagen.

Wednesday first day of August 1855
Fine morning but little wind. Very close in bed every night. 1 p.m. lat. 10-48 N, long. 24-15 W. Distance 124 miles. We have seen 2 ships this morning so far, one to speak with.

2 Thursday
Little wind and very heavy rain last night. This is the first calm weather we have had since leaving Melbourne. Very close in bed every night. Lat. 11-18 N, long. 24-49. Distance 43.

3 Friday
Lat. 12-7 N, long. 26-00 W. Distance 90.

4 Saturday
Good breeze – what they call North-east trades. Steer NNW. Lat. 14-00 N, long. 25-40 W. Distance 120.

5 Sunday
Good wind. Steering NNW. 10 a.m. we had church service read by the Captain. 1 p.m. lat. 16-20 N, long. 28-40 W. Distance 180.

6 Monday
Good breeze, The North-east trade was blowing away for the royal this morning. 1 p.m. lat. 19-16 N, long. 32-20 W. Distance 259 miles. (Note: royal – an upper sail placed immediately below the skysail.)

7 Tuesday
We are making fast progress towards Old England. Lat. 22-20 N, long. 34-9 W. Distance 218.

8 Wednesday
We are doing well. Steering N by W. Vessel in sight. 12 noon we are overtaking this ship. Spoke with her – the Mary Harrison of London, from Calcutta, out 150 days. Lat. 25-17 N, long. 36-10 W. Distance 206.

9 Thursday
We have lost the NE trades. Last night very little wind. This morning steering our right course NE. Lat. 27-14 N, long. 37-18 W. Distance 136. 3 ships in sight.

10 Friday
Almost calm. Doing little progress here. We are seeing the same ships this morning, homeward bound. There is a great deal of raffling here now, almost every day. I won a nugget, weight 1 oz. 5/0 member. There is another to be raffled at 2 p.m., 5 oz. at 20/0 member. 1 p.m. lat. 27-59 N, long. 37-34 W. Distance 40 miles. 3 p.m, the raffle came out. I won the nugget. We are now close to a ship from the west coast of Africa cargo boil mole. A boat came from her to our doctor. There was a man on board her who was very ill. He went on board to see him. After he came back he sent some medicine to him.

11 Saturday
Calm. Don’t do much progress. Lat. 29-00 N, long. 37-31 W. Distance 60 miles.

12 Sunday
First thing this morning the chief mate caught a shark (which) measured 11 feet. There are 3 or 4 vessels in sight but far off. 1 p.m. lat. 29-32 N, long. 38-01 W. Distance 40 miles.
We had a very hot day. I wish I were at home getting my dinner. This is a wearying life. Thermometer 92.

13 Monday
Little wind followed with heavy showers of rain. Lat. 30-10 N, long. (   ). Distance 44 miles.

14 Tuesday
Another calm day. 8 ships in sight. Almost all foreign. Lat. 30-11 N, long. 37-20 W. Distance 44 miles. 7 p.m. shower of rain followed by nice breeze of wind but it soon died away. Very hot day. Thermometer 92.

15 Wednesday
Heavy shower of rain followed with a good breeze from N-ENE which I hope will soon shift more south. We are steering N but our course (is) NE. Lat. 31-29 N, long. 37-25. Distance 38 miles.

16 Thursday
Head wind from NE. Steering NNW. The carpenter died at 4 o’clock a.m. To be put over in his water grave at 5 p.m. He is lying on deck all day sowed up in a piece of canvas covered with one flag. Nobody cares to move them as if he was some animal.
1 p.m. lat. 33-N, long. 38-40 W. Distance 111 miles.
5 p.m. The dead body was put in his water grave. The Captain read the funeral service. He was unwell when (we) left. Consumption and the cold weather round Cape Horne finished him.

17 Friday
Head wind still NE. Steer NNW. I am sick and tired of this long passage. Wish that I was at home now for the harvest.
1 p.m. lat. 34-49 N, long. 39-27 W. Distance 120 miles.
6 p.m. calm.

18 Saturday
Another calm day, Doing nothing. Lat. 35-25 N, long. 41-20 W. Distance 88 miles.

19 Sunday
Very calm, Service as usual. 12 o’clock lat. 36-2 N, long. 41-50 W. Distance (    ). 7 or 8 ships in sight.

20 Monday
Calm, 14 vessels in sight. 12 o’clock lat. 36-49 N, long. 41-18 W. Distance 51 miles. Seen 4 large whales this morning.

21 Tuesday
7 a.m. fine morning with nice light breeze from West. We are going 3 or 4 knots. 16 or 17 vessels in sight. 12 o’clock lat. 37-2 N, long. 40-45 W. Distance 41.

22 Wednesday
Head wind from East. We are now in a very fine climate, not too hot. 12 o’clock lat 37-42 N, long. 39-00 W. Distance 82 miles. A great many porpoises jumping round the ship.

23 Thursday
Lat. 37-37 N, long. 38-48 W. Distance 12 miles.

24 Friday
Lat. 37-40 N, long. 38-20 W. Distance 15 miles.

25 Saturday
I think we are on the start once more. Fair wind.
6 a.m. American ship passed close to us.
10 a.m. Passed a Dutch ship. Spoke with her, Lat, 38-45 N, long. 36-34 W. Distance 113.

Tuesday 4 September 1855
Very rough weather. Head wind followed with showers. Rain. Lat. 46-00 N, long.
12-6 W. Distance 116 miles.

5 Wednesday
Ditto. Ditto, Lat. 45-45 N, long. 10-24 W. Distance 89 miles.

6 Thursday
Lat 48-18 N, long. 10-7 W. Distance 38 miles. Scilly Isles 250 miles.

7 Friday
Fine day and head wind. Lat. 48-14 N, long. 10-43 W. Distance 119 miles.

11 Tuesday
We have seen the Eddystone Light and Start Point.

12 Wednesday
St. Catherine’s Light

13 Thursday
Dungeness and Folkestone