Pages 703-751 of James McRae's journal and papers: James McRae's journal, part 5
Information
Title - Pages 703-751 of James McRae's journal and papers: James McRae's journal, part 5
Record type - Archive
Original Reference - RHS/Col/6/1/8
Date - 25 Jan-15 Mar 1826
Scope & content - Pages 703-751, entitled 'Part 5 continued from 24th Jan 1826': Narrative of James McRae's journey, describing the journey on HMS Blonde from Saint Helena to England. The journal includes a description of the shipwreck of the Francis Mary, from which the crew of the Blonde saved six survivors in the North Atlantic, north of the Azores. The journal continues from part 4 [RHS/Col/6/1/7]
This item is bound in the volume comprising journal and papers of James McRae. This is the fifth of five parts of McRae's journal. All five were subsequently bound together in the same volume. For descriptions of the earlier parts, 8 Sep 1824-24 Jan 1826, see RHS/Col/6/1/4-7
Written on rectos only
(25 Jan 1826, continued) [Here the first part of the entry for 25 Jan is repeated from the last entry in RHS/Col/6/1/7, with some alterations in the phrasing and additions to the content] A fine morning. Rising at dawn and setting off with Mr Cameron [James Cameron, East India Company gardener at St Helena] for the governor's country house, about three miles uphill from the town. The roadsides barren with only a few Ficus religiosus [Ficus religiosa] and nithida [Ficus benjamina], newly planted by Cameron on the sides of the roads for shade, 'much wanted on all the elevated parts on the island'
The governor's house 'pleasantly situated' at the head of a valley, surrounded by fir trees with a 'neat lawn' at the front and several shaded walks around the house and the garden. The house large, but with no view, being surrounded by trees, giving it 'the pleasant resemblance of many parts at home'. Being introduced by Lord Byron [George Anson Byron, captain of HMS Blonde] to the governor, General Walker [Alexander Walker, British governor of St Helena]. Walker giving McRae permission to see his gardens and pleasure grounds in the valley. Seeing a small pineapple house next to the gardener's house, with 'a few sickly plants, some of which were in bearing'. The garden irregular and 'indifferently stocked' with fruit trees and vegetables, including apple and pear trees (the trees 'slender & unhealthy'), a small plantation of banana and plantain and some young mango trees. Seeing several hundred mulberry plants, 'raised for the breeding of the silkworm, who have been lately introduced with a view to establish them on the island, under the management of a half-pay officer of the company's [East India Company] service, who has already destroyed two or three importations from his over-eagerness to hatch their eggs by steam'. Seeing, in addition to several varieties of fir, many large oak trees and two fine, young Araucaria excels [Araucaria columnaris], Araucaria longifolia [?Araucaria cunninghamii] and 'many other interesting Chinese & East India plants'
Continuing the journey to Diana's Peak [Saint Helena, British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha], the highest hill on the island, with a view of the sea all around the coast. The peak narrow, with an abrupt fall on both sides, thickly covered with Dicksonia arborea and a few other ferns, low trees and shrubs. Seeing a 'pretty, low, shrubby' white Campanula growing along the ridge at the top. Visiting Longwood [Longwood House, Napoleon's residence during his exile to Saint Helena] on the return journey in the afternoon. Being given permission by the 'sergeant in charge of the place to go through the different apartments of both the old & new house that had belonged to Boniparte [Napoleon Bonaparte, former French emperor, who was exiled on Saint Helena from 1815 until his death in 1821]'. The new house, never inhabited, a 'handsome', low, square building with 52 rooms, a front veranda and a small courtyard with a water cistern in the middle, supplied by pipes. The old house ('where Boniparte lived & died') being converted into a farmhouse or barn by the company [East India Company], with a few low trees growing at the front, and some neat flower shrubberies, their care supervised by Cameron
Seeing a racecourse near Longwood, about one and a half miles long, 'kept up by the sporting characters of St Helena [Saint Helena]'. Seeing Napoleon's tomb about two miles towards the town at the end of the valley, under some willow trees, enclosed with a low wooden railing. The grave marked simply with a plain slab without an inscription and enclosed with an iron railing and 'under the charge of an old sergeant, like the new house at Longwood, who, like the other, expects a trifle from strangers visiting the place, & for giving them permission to carry away slips of the willow trees & of a geranium hedge planted near the tomb, where there is also a small well of excellent water, which Boniparte had been accustomed to drink, & is never forgotten to be tasted by all persons coming to the place'
Finding on the island, despite its 'dreary, black, barren appearance' from the sea, 'many pleasant valleys, with gentlemen's seats built on the declivities in the English style', surrounded by plantations of fir trees and flowers, mainly from the Cape [Cape of Good Hope, South Africa], East India and China. The estates belonging to gentlemen such as Sir William Duffton [William Webber Doveton, member of the council of St Helena, official of East India Company and a slave holder] and Mr Brook [Thomas Henry Brooke, member of the council of St Helena, historian], both with cattle and other livestock farms, 'chiefly attended to & worked by slaves & Chinese under the management of English farmers, who are often unsuccessful in obtaining good crops, as the island is irregular to favourable seasons'. Seeing the common blackberry growing everywhere on the island, 'depriving the landowners of a great part of their pastureland'. Hedges of 'the common English furze [gorse]' being planted lately, thriving and in full flower. 'St Helena is noted by sailors for its abundance of watercress and potatoes, but the bananas, plantains, yams, or rather Arum esculentum [Colocasia esculenta], with other vegetables which grow on the island, are but indifferent, & like the butchers' meat of all kinds, are also in general very dear, on account of the unfavourable climate, & the great number of population, who depend chiefly for supplies from England & the Cape of G. Hope [Cape of Good Hope, South Africa], & rice from India. The latter is issued from the company's [East India Company] storehouses at a very reasonable rate'
Returning to the town at dusk. Dining with James Cameron and going afterwards to see the Chinese chapel and other places with Cameron's friends, 'who politely received us at their houses'. Temperature 73°-76°
(26 Jan 1826) A fine morning. Rising at dawn. Putting plant specimens collected the previous day in paper. Visiting James Cameron's gardens in the town to collect more specimens and seeds. Both of the gardens belonging to the company [East India Company] and managed by Cameron, small and neatly laid out 'in clumps, with good walks', but with less variety than the garden at the governor's house. The gardens' location dry and 'very unfavourable for plants', stunting their growth. The plants including the St Helena almond (Terminalia catappa), some mimosas, Barringtonia speciosa [Barringtonia asiatica], coconut and two or three palm trees and Melia ziderach [Melia azedarach]. Going to the country with 'several gentlemen from the Blonde' on their way to Longwood. By Boniparte's [Napoleon Bonaparte] tomb, 'four or five of the party had bread & cheese with water from Boniparte's well, while sitting over his grave'. Returning to the town at dusk without having found many plants. Temperature 72°-78°
(27 Jan 1826) A fine morning. Going on board the Blonde with James Cameron, who wanted to see McRae's plants and the ship, never having been on board a manawar [man-of-war] before. Returning on shore in the afternoon to 'put up a few parcels of seeds, which was to be entrusted to my care for the Society'. The ship intending to sail the following day for England, having completed taking in water and other supplies. McRae 'not sorry to leave St Helena so soon, where everything is wretchedly dear but watercress, & the town dull, without anything interesting to amaze strangers, unless it be billiard tables kept at the expensive taverns'. The capital Jamestown [Saint Helena] located in a narrow, deep valley near the sea, with two barren hill ridges, one with a fort looking over the town and the harbour. The town small, with only one 'regular street through the middle', with houses built in the English style. The public buildings consisting of the governor's house, the company's [East India Company] buildings and the soldiers' barracks, a public school and a hospital. The majority of the inhabitants being soldiers and 'other servants of the companies', the population, 'including Chinese & slaves', about 3,000. Temperature 73°-74°
(28 Jan 1826) A fine morning. Going on board the ship at 10am. Sailing at 3pm with moderate southerly and south-easterly breezes. Temperature 71°-77°
(29 Jan 1826) A fine day with light southerly and south-easterly winds. Planting willow and geranium, brought by the officers from Boniparte's [Napoleon Bonaparte] tomb. Temperature 74°-75°
(30 Jan 1826) A fine morning with light southerly and south-easterly winds. The 'articles of war' read at 10am, and seven men punished for disobedience or drunkenness. The plants 'looking much worse'. Temperature 74°-76°
(31 Jan 1826) A fine day with south-easterly and southerly winds. Temperature 76°-77°
(1 Feb 1826) A fine morning with light southerly and south-easterly winds. The ship's sides and the boats being painted 'to look smart [for] when we reached Portsmouth'. Temperature 75°-76°
(2 Feb 1826) A fine day with south-easterly and southerly winds. Temperature 76°-79°
(3 Feb 1826) A fine day with southerly and south-easterly winds. Encountering the ship Atlas from India and the Cape [Cape of Good Hope, South Africa], with about 30 passengers on board. The captain sending letters on board the Blonde to be forwarded 'to their friends' in England. Temperature 77°-78°
(4 Feb 1826) A fine day with south-easterly winds. Luther Barlow, a 36-year old seaman, dying in the afternoon, 'who after the usual ceremonies being performed, was committed to the deep at eight in the evening. Several on board are lately confined to their hammocks from severe colds'. Temperature 76°-80°
(5 Feb 1826) A fine, but foggy day with southerly and south-easterly breezes. Lightning in the evening. Temperature 78°-81°
(6 Feb 1826) Foggy and variable winds with occasional rain and lightning in the evening. The ship's baker being punished 'for neglect of duty'. Temperature 75°-79°
(7 Feb 1826) South-westerly and south-easterly winds. Crossing the Equator during the night, 'now the fourth time'. Temperature 78°-80°
(8 Feb 1826) Cloudy and light north-easterly winds, with heavy rain later and lightning in the evening. Seeing a waterspout [column of rotating cloud and wind above water] and lowering the stay sails and top gall sails 'for fear of being upon it'. The waterspout appearing to 'run along the surface, forcing up a thick mist resembling smoke, which kept twisting round in the same manner with eddy winds on shore'. Temperature 79°-80°
(9 Feb 1826) Rain with light variable westerly and north-westerly winds. Lightning in the evening. Temperature 77°-80°
(10 Feb 1826) Cloudy with light westerly and northerly winds. Rain and lightning during the night, the winds shifting to easterly and south-easterly and the rain clearing. Temperature 76°-80°
(11 Feb 1826) Easterly, north-easterly and northerly winds with some rain and clouds. Temperature 75°-80°
(12 Feb 1826) A fine day with northerly and north-easterly breezes. Temperature 76°-80°
(13 Feb 1826) A fine day with moderate northerly and north-easterly breezes. Four of the crew being punished for drunkenness, fighting or neglect of duty. Hoping to make 'a good passage to Spithead' with the north-easterly trade winds. Temperature 71°-78°
(14 Feb 1826) A fine, cloudy day with northerly and north-easterly breezes. The plants 'keep dying fast every day' from exposure to saltwater during the washing of the deck in the mornings. Temperature 77°
(15 Feb 1826) A fine day with moderate north-easterly and northerly winds. Preparing the sails for the rough weather in the Channel [English Channel]. Several of the sails coloured red by the sand from the African coast. Temperature 75°-76°
(16 Feb 1826) Hazy, with fresh north-easterly and easterly breezes. Temperature 74°-75°
(17 Feb 1826) Fresh north-easterly and easterly breezes. Seeing no more of the fine red sand. Temperature 73°-74°
(18 Feb 1826) Cloudy, with fresh north-easterly breezes. Temperature 71°-73°
(19 Feb 1826) Hazy, with fresh easterly and north-easterly breezes. Temperature 71°-75°
(20 Feb 1826) Fine and hazy, with fresh easterly and north-easterly breezes. Temperature 71°-75°
(21 Feb 1826) Cloudy, with fresh easterly breezes. Seeing 'great quantities' of seaweed. Temperature 71°-73°
(22 Feb 1826) Hazy, with fresh easterly, northerly and north-easterly breezes. Temperature 69°-70°
(23 Feb 1826) Cloudy, with fresh easterly and north-easterly breezes. Temperature 67°-71°
(24 Feb 1826) Fine weather with light easterly breezes. Seeing a sail at 6am to the north. Temperature 65°-68°
(25 Feb 1826) Cloudy, with light south-easterly breezes, calming later with heavy rain: 'the air feels now sensibly colder every day'. Temperature 65°-66°
(26 Feb 1826) Hazy, with fresh north-easterly and northerly breezes. Temperature 63°-66°
(27 Feb 1826) Cloudy, with moderate north-easterly breezes. Temperature 59°-61°
(28 Feb 1826) Cloudy, with moderate north-easterly breezes. Temperature 59°-62°
(1 Mar 1826) Fine weather with variable light winds and occasionally calm, with a light westerly breeze at dusk. Temperature 61°-66°
(2 Mar 1826) Fine weather with moderate north-westerly, westerly and northerly breezes. Examining the plant boxes and finding 'so many dead, that the expenses of the boxes removed from the ship to London would exceed their worth'. Replanting the live plants, thereby reducing the number of boxes from five to three. The roots of the plants rotten and stripped of bark, probably due to their exposure to saltwater 'that is every morning dashed underneath them in the most careless way while washing the ship's decks'. The plants lost included avilana or hazelnut [Corylus avellana], two kinds of shrubby Calceolaria, three kinds of Stereoxylon and Chile strawberry
A wild species of rhubarb having died, collected from the marshes at Conception [Concepcion, Chile] and commonly sold at the markets alongside cultivated vegetables, its leaves and stalks larger than those of the common garden rhubarb, with 'prickles': 'the natives always cut the stalks raw after stripping off the outer skin, which has a more pleasant acid taste than the common cultivated rhubarb'. McRae had received some stalks from Captain Maling [Thomas Maling, captain of HMS Cambridge] 'to be made tarts of for him afterwards, to give me his opinion how it differed from the rhubarb of the English gardens, who on meeting with him some days after, declared it to be much better, & would now in future make his steward always procure it for tarts' [annotated the blank verso page: 'Captain Maling deserved the notice of the Society for the kind manner he offered to give accommodations on board his ship while I wished to remain on the coast in the service of the Society']. Temperature 63°-65°
(3 Mar 1826) Rainy with fresh, variable winds. Seeing a 'strange sail' and firing a gun 'to make her show us her colours, when she proved to be an American'. Temperature 57°-73°
(4 Mar 1826) Hazy with a light south-easterly wind, later foggy and rainy. Strong southerly breezes with squalls in the evening. Temperature 55°-57°
(5 Mar 1826) Hazy with fresh north-westerly and northerly breezes. Seeing a ship. Temperature 56°-60°
(6 Mar 1826) Cloudy with fresh northerly and north-westerly breezes, later foggy, rainy and squally. Seeing a ship Temperature 51°-55°
(7 Mar 1826) Hazy with fresh westerly breezes, occasional squalls and rain. Seeing a vessel in distress at 4pm. Sailing towards it 'to take off those on board', the vessel being water-logged with only some of the masts standing. Discovering that only six people, four men and two women, remaining alive on board, and that 'the poor suffering survivors had been cast away for 32 days', having encountered a strong gale in latitude 43°30'N, longitude 36°30'W, after sailing 10 days from New Brunswick [Canada], and drifting for 615 miles to the east. The Blonde finding the ship in latitude 44°16'N and longitude 23°8'W
During the time adrift, the survivors 'eat nine of their companions out of the eleven who died'. The survivors included the master, his wife, a female servant and three sailors: 'the females, on coming on board, was dressed in the clothes of the men who had died, & like the men brought on board with them, was so weak & emaciated to require all of them the assistance of two persons to support them on each side while getting them below. Nothing could exceed the feelings of sympathy for their sufferings by every person on board, on seeing the extreme reduced state of their bodies when come on deck, all of them bathed with tears of overjoy for their deliverance. When they had all got a small drop of brandy, plenty of warm water was soon got ready to wash them, who on being stripped, their bodies had the appearance of human skeleton, & the men's legs & arms full of sores, who when dressed by the surgeons were all of them placed in hammocks or cots with plenty of warm clothing, freely brought them by all persons on board to make them comfortable, but was otherwise prevented from giving them anything to eat, although continually all of them complaining of great hunger & thirst, & praying of everyone round them to bring them something to relieve them of their hunger, which on getting a little arrowroot, they then afterwards got more quiet during the rest of the night. At the time they had been taken off the wreck, & afterwards during the night the wind continued fresh & the weather stormy'. Temperature 51°-55°
(8 Mar 1826) Hazy with strong westerly and north-westerly breezes and heavy swell during the night, 'which, if we had not been fortunate enough to pick up the persons on the wreck last night, they would not from their weak state have stood out till this morning'. Seeing a whale boat at 2am. Rain and squalls in the evening
'The people saved from the wreck are this morning doing well, and complain most of hunger & thirst, which from their reduced state, food can only be given them but sparingly […] they also all complain of their mouths being sore from the effects of sucking the flesh & bones of those who died'
Writing an account 'collected from them at different times on board during our passage afterwards to Portsmouth for to be inserted in the Hampshire Telegraf ['Hampshire Telegraph'] newspaper on our arrival, when the captain had several times an interview with the editor to correct it before going to the press for publication' [the following account, presented as journal entries, 6 Feb-7 Mar, was subsequently published in various newspapers and periodicals, and copied here by McRae. The 'Hampshire Telegraph' published the account on 20 Mar 1826. Another account of the events, 'Narrative of the shipwreck and sufferings of Miss Ann Saunders', was published in 1827]:
'We have received the following account of the occurrences on board the Frances & Mary [Francis Mary] (398 tons burthen), John Kendal [John Kendall, captain of Francis Mary], master, laden with timber from St John's, New Brunswick [Canada], bound to Liverpool, consigned to Messrs Mackie & Campbell [mercantile agents in Liverpool]'
(Castaways' account) The ship sailed from St John's on 18 Jan, encountering strong gales and heavy sea on 5 Feb, carrying away the longboat, destroying much of the ship and washing a man overboard, later saved. The crew attempting to save any provisions 'by knocking the bow port out', saving 50lbs of bread and 5lbs of cheese. Taking the master's wife and the 'female passenger' to the top, where most of the people slept. At dawn, finding Patrick Cooney 'hanging by his legs to [from] the catharpins [short rope or iron cramp, used as a part of the support for a ship's masts] dead from fatigue: committed his body to the deep'
(6 Feb 1826, castaways' account) Seeing a strange sail and sending a distress signal: 'stranger spoke [to] us, & remained in company twenty-four hours, but received no assistance, the American making an excuse that the sea was running too high'
(8 Feb 1826, castaways' account) Seeing a brig. Strong gales
(9 Feb 1826, castaways' account) Seeing the brig again. Sending a distress signal: 'stranger bore up & showed American colours'
(10 Feb 1826, castaways' account) The brig asking how long they had been in that situation, and whether they intended to leave the ship: 'answered yes. He then asked if we had any rigging. Answered yes. Night coming on, & blowing hard, saw no more of the stranger'
(17[?] Feb 1826, castaways' account) Seeing a large ship. 'At this time, all our provisions were out. Suffered much from hunger, having received no nourishment for nine days'
(21 Feb 1826, castaways' account) 'Departed this life James Clarke (seaman). Had prayers, & committed his body to the deep. We were at this time on half a gill [a gill is the equivalent of a quarter of a British pint] of water a day, & suffering much from hunger. During the whole period of being on the wreck, we were wet from top to toe'
(22 Feb 1826, castaways' account) John Wilson, seaman, dying: 'preserved the body of the deceased, cut him up in quarters, washed them overboard, & hung them up on pins'
(23 Feb 1826, castaways' account) 'J. Moore died, & was thrown overboard, having eaten part of him, such as the liver & heart. From this date to Saturday the 5th of March, the following number perished from hunger: Henry Davis (a Welsh boy), Alexander Kelly (seaman), John Jones (apprentice boy, nephew of the owner), James Frier, cook, Daniel Jones (seaman), John Hutchinson (seaman), & John Jones, a boy [John Jones is included twice in this list; John Jones was a cabin boy; a seaman, John James, was also among those who died, and it may have been his name McRae was intending to write]. Threw the last overboard, his blood being bitter. Also James Frier, who was working his passage home under a promise of marriage to the female passenger [Ann Saunders], who attended on the master's wife, & who, when she heard of Frier's death, shrieked a loud yell, then snatching a cup from Clark (mate), cut her late intended husband's throat, & drank his blood, insisting that she had the greatest right to it. A scuffle ensued, & the heroine (the words of the narrator) got the better of her adversary, & then allowed him to drink one cup to her two'
(26 Feb 1826, castaways' account) Seeing an English brig. The ship sailing toward them, but losing sight of it. Fresh breezes and light rain, with a smooth sea, 'but he went off, having shown English colours. Had he at this time taken us off the wreck, much of the subsequent dreadful sufferings would have been spared us'
(7 Mar 1826, castaways' account) Seeing HMS Blonde: 'words are quite inadequate to express our feelings, as well as those which Lord Byron and our deliverers most evidently possessed, when they found they had come to rescue six of their fellow creatures (two of them females), from a most awful, lingering, but certain death. It came on to blow during the night, a fresh gale, which would no doubt have swept us all overboard. Lieutenant Gambier [Robert Fitzgerald Gambier, lieutenant on HMS Blonde] came in the ship's cutter to bring us from the wreck. He observed to us 'you have yet, I perceive, fresh meat', to which we were compelled to reply 'No, sir, it is part of a man, one of our unfortunate crew! It was our intention to put ourselves on an allowance even of this food this evening, had not you come to our relief'
'The master's wife, who underwent all the most horrid sufferings which the human understanding can imagine, bore them much better than could possibly have been expected. She is now, although much emaciated, a respectable, good-looking woman, about twenty-five years of age. But what must have been the extremity of want to which she was driven, when she eat [ate] the brains of one of the apprentices, saying it was the most delicious thing she ever tasted, & it is still more melancholy to relate, the person whose brains she thus was forced by hunger to eat, had been three times before wrecked, but was providentially picked up by a vessel after being two & twenty days on the wreck, water-logged. But, in the present instance, he perished, having survived similar sufferings for the space of twenty-nine days, & then became food for his remaining shipmates!'
'Ann Saunders, the other female, had more strength in her calamity than most of the men. She performed the duty of cutting up & cleaning the dead bodies, keeping two knives in her monkey jacket [waist-length jacket commonly worn by sailors], & when the breath was announced to have flown, she would sharpen her knives, blow the deceased in the neck, drink his blood, & cut him up as usual. From want of water, those who perished, drank their own urine & saltwater; they became foolish, crawling upon their hands round the deck (when they could), & died generally raving mad'
[Here McRae's journal resumes]
(9 Mar 1826) Hazy, with strong northerly and north-westerly breezes. Seeing a ship and finding the vessel to be the Freim, sailing from St Michael's [Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal] to London, 'laden with fruit, who upon hailing the master for news, enquired what kind we wanted, which caused some merriment amongst those on board, from the master misunderstanding his lordship to want fruit, instead of news from England'. Strong breezes and squally at 7pm
The master of the wreck getting up for some hours: 'he is weak & nothing but skin & bone, and like the rest, still complains of his mouth being sore from sucking the flesh off the dead bodies. The all relate horrid accounts of their past sufferings. The men have their legs & arms full of sores & much swollen with great pain for want of circulation of the blood vessels. Their hunger cannot be satisfied, & [they] are always calling out for more food & something to drink from the high fever, which is upon them'. Temperature 53°-54°
(10 Mar 1826) Hazy with fresh southerly breezes. The ship showing its colours to a Danish schooner. In the evening sounding in 90 fathoms of water, and 'met with coarse sand & shells. Also bent cables to be in readiness for to anchor' and visit the Madras from Callcutta [Kolkata, India], 'having the commander in chief of the forces in India on board'. The passengers from the wreck 'doing well & likely to recover'. Temperature 54°-55°
(11 Mar 1826) Fine weather with fresh southerly breezes. 'At 9am, hove too & found soundings at 71 fathoms, sand & small shells'. Sounding again at 1pm at 95 fathoms ('coarse sand') and 9pm at 63 fathoms. Passing a lighthouse on the Scilly Island [Isles of Scilly], 12 miles away. Most of the 'invalids' from the wreck getting up for some hours during the day. Temperature 53°-55°
(12 Mar 1826) Fine weather with light easterly and north-easterly winds, growing stronger later and becoming cloudier, and hazy with occasional squalls in the evening. Seeing several sails and downing the top gall yard and masts. Coming in sight of the Lizard lighthouse [Lizard Point, Cornwall] at dusk. The people from the wreck doing well. Temperature 49°-52°
(13 Mar 1826) Hazy, with strong easterly and south-easterly breezes and occasional squalls in the evening. £200 raised 'for the good of those picked off the wreck'. Temperature 47°-50°
(14 Mar 1826) Fine weather with light southerly and south-westerly winds. Coming in sight of land at 1pm, altering the course of the ship and shortening sails in preparation for anchoring the following morning. The people from the wreck staying up for longer and 'most of them fast recovering'. Temperature 47°-50°
(15 Mar 1826) Foggy, with light north-westerly winds. Coming in sight of the Needles [off the Isle of Wight] at 1am and Isle of Wight at 10am: 'at 3pm, showed our number to the admiral's guard ship, who we saluted with 17 guns'. Anchoring at Spithead. Seeing HMS Druid and HMS Trincule. Sending a letter on shore to the post office to inform Joseph Sabine of his arrival. Going 'with the assistant surgeon & the sick people from on board to see the hospital' in the afternoon. Temperature 48°-50°
'This terminated the voyage of HM Ship Blonde, absent about 18 months from England, during which time only 318 days at sea, & traversed a distance of 42,500 miles. The Blonde made a wonderful run, from Owhyee [Hawai'i Island, Hawaii, United States of America] to the port of Valparaiso [Chile] in forty-nine days, of 1,693 miles'
Extent - 48 pages
Repository - Royal Horticultural Society Lindley Library
Copyright - Royal Horticultural Society
Credit Line - RHS Lindley Collections
Usage terms - Non-commercial use with attribution permitted (CC BY-NC 4.0)