Rough journal of John Potts
Information
Title - Rough journal of John Potts
Record type - Archive
Original Reference - RHS/Col/1/1/1
Date - 23 Jan 1821-4 Jul 1822
Scope & content - Rough version of John Potts' journal, Jan 1821-Jul 1822, with notes and observations on plants in India, Malaysia and China, and a copy of a treatise on Indian agriculture
Overview of contents:
Pages 1-7: Narrative of travel, 23 Jan-19 Aug 1821
Pages 7-15: Notes on Indian fruits and horticulture
Pages 16-62: 'A treatise on Agriculture drawn up by Rajah Miter Jeet Singh, rajah of Ishkaree'
Pages 63-79: Narrative of travel, 27 Aug 1821-15 Jan 1822
Pages 80-83: 'Observations on Chinese Gardening'
Pages 84-86: Narrative of travel, 23 Mar-4 Jul 1822
Pages 87-184: Blank
Pages 189-192: 'Journal of a voyage pr Honble Compys Ship General Kyd', 7-19 Feb 1821
Pages 193-194: Blank
The rear of the volume contains a brief log of the beginning of the journey at sea
Physical description: Bound in half maroon leather with marbled paper sides in red/brown shell pattern with blue veins. Labelled ‘Horticultural Society. Rough Journal’, with a brief printed description of John Potts pasted above. Dimensions: 33 (h) x 19.5 (w) cm. Conserved in 2019: the binding and pages were cleaned and repairs were carried out to both
A transcript of the fair version of the journal is available for consultation at RHS Lindley Library, classmark 910 POT
The volume is written in John Potts' hand and is a rough version of his travel journal. For the fair version of the journal, 23 Jan 1821-4 Jul 1822, see RHS/Col/1/1/2
The volume is written on both rectos and versos. The copied treatise on agriculture within the volume includes headings, otherwise there are no headings within the text. There are occasional additions in the same hand as the main text. Substantial annotations are included in the description, and identified as such
The volume was paginated on the upper right-hand corner of rectos during cataloguing
Summary of contents:
The volume opens with a brief summary of the beginning of the journey, 23 Jan-24 May 1821
(23 Jan 1821) Sailing from the Downs [Kent]. Passing Madeira [Portugal], but not seeing it
(20 May 1821) Coming in sight of the Coromandel coast [India]: 'being so far from the land we could only distinguish among the buildings the pagodas, and of them so little that I can only say they either terminate in a spire or kind of pyramid'
(22 May 1821) Crossing the bay and seeing Saugor or Tiger Island [Sagar Island, West Bengal, India], mostly uninhabited apart from a few fishermen's huts. Seeing people burning the underwood to obtain water for the ships at the new anchorage, the present watering place of Cudgaree [unidentified] being 'a voyage of two days'. The island appearing to 'abound in valuable and most entertaining subjects that a botanist could imagine', but Potts unable to land due to the danger posed by 'the tigers, who, I am informed, are so very numerous'
(23 May 1821) A pilot guiding the ship to their mooring
(24 May 1821) 'We got safe moored'
(5 Jun 1821) Leaving the ship
(6 Jun 1821) Reaching Diamond Harbour [West Bengal, India]
(7 Jun 1821) Going on shore to visit Black Town [George Town, West Bengal, India], intending to stock up on fresh provisions for the monsoon season. Unable to return to the sloop [single mast sailing boat] due to the surf and tide. Examining plants within sight of the beach, including several he had not seen before, as well as yuccas, palms and cactus, and preserving the few in bloom. The gales continuing. A boat being dispatched for a fresh supply of water. Returning to the ship with difficulty in the evening
(9 Jun 1821) The ship unable to sail due to the gale. Potts determined to spend as much time as possible on the shore, although 'we were obliged (myself and four black passengers) to leap out of the boat before it got to land'
Setting off from the beach with a guide, determined to go as far as possible. Finding passifloras, jasmines, echites and various climbing plants. Visiting some local huts, thatched with paddy, rice and straw and built of mud, and noting that the people 'appear very clean about their huts, and live in a kind of half-civilized state'
The mould [soil] 'a very stiff loam which in the dry season cracks, and consequently burns up vast quantities of small plants that are not sheltered by the larger trees from the sun'. Collecting specimens. Spending the night sleeping on the beach in an old boat using coconut leaves as bedding, being unable to return to the sloop in the dark due to the wind. Getting little sleep due to the 'roaring of the sea, and the gushing of the breakers against the shore', and spending the night walking about in the moonlight. Seeing several jackals
(10 Jun 1821) Finding the sloop gone, and having to walk to Falta [India]: 'in the course of my way I met with nothing particular except in the mould , which I found to be not near so stiff as it was about Diamond Harbour'. Hiring a fishing boat for Calcutta [Kolkata, West Bengal, India], 'as no panchway [a light Indian rowing boat] could be got'
(11 Jun 1821) Looking for and finding the sloop
(12 Jun 1821) 'A day of rest having been two days without victuals (viz 9 and 10) and two nights without sleep'
(13-16 Jun 1821) Disembarking his boxes [from the ship] and delivering a dispatch intended for Colonel Doyle [Charles Joseph Doyle, military secretary to the governor-general of India] to Captain Nairne [Alexander Nairne, captain of HCS General Kyd] in Doyle's absence. Waiting for a response from the Marquis of Hastings [Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings, British governor-general of India]. 'Having gain'd some little intelligence of the persons attending the gardens I formed a resolution of going to make enquiry there on the Monday'
(18 Jun 1821) Visiting the Botanic Garden in Chowringhee [Kolkata]. Delivering a packet intended for Dr Wallich [Nathaniel Wallich, surgeon and botanist in India] to William Leycester [William Leycester, chief judge in Bengal, India], 'son of Ralph Leycester Esq, Toft Hall, Cheshire', in charge of the gardens in Wallich's absence: 'from this gentleman I received greatest civility and by him was assured the objects of my mission should be attended to immediately, and that I should have a room and every needful attendance in the gardens'
(19 Jun 1821) Delivering a dispatch to Dr Carey [William Carey, missionary and anthropologist in India] at Serampore [West Bengal, India], and staying there until the following day. Visiting Carey's garden early in the morning, 'it being too hot in the middle of the day to go out'. Seeing in the garden 'many new and splendid plants', including Xanthocymus pectorius [Garcinia xanthocymus] ('one of this I tasted, which had a very pleasant acid taste; this was the only one of this kind that was anywise ripe'), Dillenia speciosa [Dillenia indica] and Carissa carandas ('a very pleasant and rather acid flavoured fruit')
(20 Jun 1821) Returning to the Botanic Garden, and being 'continually entertained with something fresh'
(23 Jun 1821) 'Taken sick'
(25 Jun 1821) Feeling better. Visiting Alexander Nairne. Receiving a note from William Leycester asking how long he would remain in Calcutta [Kolkata]
(26 Jun 1821) Visiting William Leycester in Chowringhee. Feeling weaker than the previous day. Remaining on the ship with Alexander Nairne until 1 Jul on the advice of Dr Allen [Frederick Alleyn, surgeon on HCS General Kyd]
(1 Jul 1821) Visiting the Botanic Garden
(2 Jul 1821) Meeting William Leycester in the Botanic Garden
(3 Jul 1821) Examining and collecting specimens
(4 Jul 1821) Visiting William Carey at Serampore
(5 Jul 1821) Listing 'such plants as might suit the Horticultural Society' in William Carey's garden
(6 Jul 1821) Visiting the Botanic Garden
(7 Jul 1821) Visiting the Botanic Garden. Listing plants potentially useful to the Society
(8 Jul 1821) Sunday
(9 Jul 1821) Examining specimens in the Botanic Garden
(10 Jul 1821) Serampore. Delivering the list of plants in William Carey's garden to send to the Horticultural Society
(11 Jul 1821) Being invited to Barrackpore [Kolkata] to visit the conservatory of the marchioness of Hastings [Flora Mure-Campbell, wife of Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings, governor-general of India]: 'the conservatory is built so as to admit air freely, and that the plants may not suffer for want of light'
(12 Jul 1821) Returning from Serampore to the Botanic Garden
(13 Jul 1821) Visiting the Botanic Garden. Examining specimens in the Hortus Siccus [herbarium]
(14 Jul 1821) Going into the jungle before returning to Calcutta [Kolkata]
(15 Jul 1821) Sunday. Visiting the Botanic Garden
(16 Jul 1821) Examining specimens 'morning and evening' in the Botanic Garden. Listing plants not already in England to his knowledge
(17 Jul 1821) Enquiring in Calcutta [Kolkata] when there would be ships sailing for England, having enough specimens to fill several boxes
(18-21 Jul 1821) Visiting the Botanic Garden. 'Employed as usual. Went to jungle'
(22 Jul 1821) Calcutta [Kolkata]. Calling on several captains who were about to sail for England
(23 Jul 1821) Calling on Captain Wetherel [Thackeray Wetherall, captain of HCS Hebe]. A very rough and wet day
(24 Jul 1821) Visiting the Botanic Garden. Collecting together the things to send to England
(25 Jul 1821) Visiting the Botanic Garden [annotated: 'capsules']
(26 Jul 1821) Visiting the Botanic Garden [annotated: 'got boxes dried moss']
(27 Jul 1821) Packing boxes for England
(28 Jul 1821) Packing boxes [annotated: 'packed air plants etc caps [capsules]']
(29 Jul 1821) Delivering boxes on board the ship
(30 Jul 1821) Settling the freight for the boxes of specimens with Captains Alexander Nairne and Thackeray Wetherall. Returning to the Botanic Garden
(31 Jul-1 Aug 1821) 'Employed in the garden as usual'
(2 Aug 1821) Posting a letter to England. Returning to the Botanic Garden on the 'garden dingey [dinghy]'
(3-6 Aug 1821) Visiting the Botanic Garden
(7 Aug 1821) Visiting Chauringa [Chowringhee], invited by William Leycester to look at 'the various methods of propagating, which I had a few days before recommended to Dr Carey [William Carey]'
(8 Aug 1821) Returning to see William Leycester in Chauringa [Chowringhee], 'having been disappointed in seeing him the day before'
(9-12 Aug 1821) Visiting the Botanic Garden
(13 Aug 1821) Going to Calcutta [Kolkata], 'expecting the time of my departure near at hand, which I found (much to my regret) was the following day'
(14 Aug 1821) 'I took my leaf [leave] of the habitation in which I could with pleasure have spent the remainder of my life without regretting in the least either the absence of relations or native land'. Sailing from Calcutta [Kolkata]
(15 Aug 1821) Sailing down the river to Falta [India]
(19 Aug 1821) Reaching HCS General Kyd
Notes on 'the fruits of India I had the pleasure of tasting', with observations on the flavours, usage and methods of cultivation, including Garcinia cowa ('a small round fruit, has a kind of bitterish, rather sour taste, [but] is not unpleasant in flavour'), watermelon ('a pleasant fruit in so hot a climate, yielding a great quantity of moisture, which is pleasant flavoured and very cooling'), Annona squamosa ('the fruit is something resembling the cone of the Scotch fir whilst green, but larger, and is betwixt a round and oblong form. It is eaten with a spoon, being soft, and is something similar to the custard in taste (perhaps on this account it received its name [custard apple or sugar apple])', Spondias dulcis or otaheite apples ('the fruit when eaten is chipped from the stone with a knife, the stone being beset with prickles which, if bitten, runs into the mouth the same as thorns: strangers [I] am informed are often disappointed when they go to bite this fruit'), Laurus persia or alligator pear [Laurus persea, avocado] ('the fruit is cut round as deep as to the stone when it parts from the stone with ease and the part which comes off is eat with pepper and salt the same way that eggs are eat, leaving only just the outer skin') [here the list includes approximately 30 more fruits]. Includes information on the methods of cultivating fruit given by Mr George Potter in the Honourable Company's Garden [East India Company] in Calcutta [Kolkata]
Includes comments on the horticulture and soil around Calcutta [Kolkata]: 'the soil about Calcutta is in general very heavy and in the dry season (was in dry and wet season I was there) cracks very much and becomes like dry clay'
Potts copies in the journal a treatise on agriculture: 'Having had but very little opportunity of looking over the different methods of cultivating the land in Bengal [India], and equally as little insight in the horticultural establishments', he copies 'A Treatise on Agriculture drawn up by Rajah Niter Jeet Singh, rajah of Ishkaree [Mitrajit Singh, maharaja of Tekari]'. The first part contains the names of the months, the signs of the zodiac, the names of the nuchhuttars ('a mansion of the moon: 27 of which consisting of an equal number of days, compose the year of 365 days') and the seasons in Hindoo [Hindi] and in Persian, as well as the names of the different species of grains, roots and vegetables and the periods for sowing and gathering them. The second part contains a list of plants with their Hindi or Persian names, English translation and the botanic names (including 'mumdooa or a kind of rice', 'Konchat or sesamum', 'mhetee or fenugreek or Trigonella foenum graea', 'shalgum', 'rooe or cotton' [the treatise includes approximately 253 plant names]), observations on seasons, different kinds of soil, irrigation, land measures, and modes of cultivation in different seasons and for different types of crops. With a note at the end: 'Written in the year of the Hidgira 1217 or anno domini 1812'
[Following the treatise, the journal resumes on page 63]
(27 Aug 1821) Sailing from India
(28 Aug 1821) Sailing again, after having anchored overnight: 'before the evening we were entirely out of sight of land'
(3 Sep 1821) Coming in sight of the Andamand Islands [Andaman Islands, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory of India] to starboard
(4 Sep 1821) Coming in sight of the Nichobar Islands [Nicobar Islands] to starboard, 'after which we were scarcely out of sight of land'
(8 Sep 1821) Arriving at Pulo Penang, Prince of Wales Island [Malaysia]
(9 Sep 1821) Delivering dispatches to the governor [William Edward Philips, British governor of Penang], 'who I found ready to assist me all in his power in the forwarding the objects of the H-society, but he having no seeds by him, and Captain Nairne [Alexander Nairne] had ordered me to bring no plants on board, unless they were very rare and then only one small box, I was only enabled to point a few of the principal objects out for the Horticultural Society and inform him that seeds would be gladly received'
(10 Sep 1821) Calling on Rev Mr George Sharks Hutchings [?Rev Robert Sparke Hutchings] with a letter of introduction from William Carey: 'this gentleman informed me he should be very glad to forward anything which might be useful to the Horticultural Society hereafter, but having no seeds by him, he gave me a letter to David Brown Esq [David Brown, plantation owner in Penang] [of] Glugor [Gelugor in George Town, Penang], who he thought was better acquainted with the plants of this island'
(11 Sep 1821) Visiting David Brown at Glugor [Gelugor], and his 'particularly fine' plantations of nutmeg, clove and manghostene [mangosteen]. Brown expressing a desire to form a horticultural society on the island, promising to send seeds and lending Potts a horse for riding through the plantations with 'Mr Steward, his nephew'. Noting that 'Mr Brown as well as all the gentlemen I had any opportunity of speaking to, was apparently quite unacquainted with botany and knew only the native names of almost all the fruits', but eager to acquire European fruits
Receiving a letter from Sir Stanford Raffles [Thomas Stamford Raffles, governor-general of British Bencoolen in Sumatra, founder of Singapore] via David Brown. Noting that the soil 'is in general very rich and all tropical plants seem to do very well upon it', the roads were better than in Bengal [India], the island was very beautiful with extensive jungle and 'the Chinese are the principle people employed in horticulture and agriculture'. Returning to the ship in the evening
(12 Sep 1821) Sailing from Pulo Penang. Calm weather
(13 Sep 1821) Sailing to the sea: 'having a stiff breeze we soon got out of sight of this island'
Notes on fruits 'which I had not seen before', including 'tombe tombe' [?rambai] ('very pleasant in tarts') and an unnamed fruit ('I only tasted raw but I was informed (and of which I have no doubt) it makes very good pies or tarts'). Preserving these fruits in spirits. Receiving two boxes of plants from the governor William Edward Philips, containing 'twelve striped pines and two Malacca pines (Bromelia)', as well as 'two ranbootans [rambutan], two canary nuts [pili nut], two manghostenes [mangosteen], two nutmegs and two cloves, this latter were both dead when they came on board, he also sent me three small papers of seeds without names and a few nutmegs'
(26 Sep 1821) Arriving at Malacca [Malaysia], the ship having run aground on 16 Sep, 'in which disagreeable situation we remained until early in the morning of the 23rd'
(27 Sep 1821) Rev Dr Morrison [Robert Morrison, missionary and sinologist in Malaysia and Macau] being away in China, on Alexander Nairne's advice calling on Rev Dr Milne [William Milne, missionary in Malaysia]: 'this gentleman was at the time very much indisposed for business through a severe sickness which he was labouring under. He assured me he should be very glad to be of any assistance to me but he had no knowledge of plants that might be useful in England or yet of the science of botany'. Milne promising to send one of his servants 'with me about the town on my expressing a desire to see such fruits as might be exhibited for sale in the town'. Being guided by a Mr Thomson ('an English missionary I think?'), who spoke Malay. Asking Milne for fruits or plants but being informed that 'it would be very expensive and that if any of them should be already in Europe it would be a useless expense'. Seeing for the first time 'air plants growing spontaneous', as well as several species of fern, fruits including pines [?pineapple], plantains [?banana], oranges and pumpelos [?pomelo], although it 'seems to be the worst time of the year for fruit'
(28 Sep 1821) Sailing from Malacca. Purchasing 'a few fruits, not remembering to have seen any of them before' and six plants of ranbootan [rambutan]. Preserving three kinds in spirits and the seeds of others
(29 Sep 1821) Arriving in Sincapore [Singapore]
(30 Sep 1821) Delivering dispatches for Major Travers [?Thomas Otho Travers, British resident and commandant at Singapore]. Being received in his absence by Mr Barnard [?Edward Barnard, ship builder and merchant at Singapore], who sent Potts to Mr Dun [East India Company gardener at Singapore]: 'this latter gentleman (an Hibernian?) appeared as a person who might have been an inhabitant of St Gileses [slum in St Giles, London], some few years since, but by being exalted to such a situation, he seems to have forgot past time, as well as civil behaviour, should he even have been capable of behaving civil'. Dun declining to give Potts any seeds or fruits, 'except one, which was an entire new one and had never been described, and even the governor did not know what it was', but Potts identifying the fruit as 'Uvaria odoratissima (now Artobotris) [Artabotrys hexapetalus]'. With only a little time left on the shore, 'I left this gentleman (considering myself only loseing [losing] time), who uttered the usual number of good wishes uttered at the parting of his countrymen of the lowest order'
Calling on Captain Flint [William Lawrence Flint, British Royal Navy officer, master attendant of Singapore], at the request of Sir Stamford Raffles [Thomas Stamford Raffles], noting that 'the captain is son-in-law of Sir Stamford Raffles [sic; he was brother-in-law]': 'from him I received the greatest civility. He also assured me he should be glad to be of all the assistance he could to me and that he would send seeds or plants to the Horticultural Society [at] every opportunity. He also gave me two clove plants'
Seeing Colonel Farcourt [William Farquhar, British commandant of Singapore], 'who very kindly asked if I had got anything from Mr Dun or if I saw anything that I should wish to have, and on my informing him I had got nothing except the clove plants from Captain Flint, he told me if I wished to have any more that I should have them, and at my own desire I was presented with two more'. Receiving from Barnard durian, chumpedar [?cempedak], ranbootan [rambutan] and nutmeg. Seeing in Barnard's garden Pergularia odoratissima, Plumeria acuminata, Murraya exotica (all 'plentiful in England')
Observing that in Singapore, 'there is no collection of plants but as at all other places in this part of the world they inform me there are great quantities of curious plants. I have therefore always had the mortification of hearing of and not seeing [new unknown plants]'. Cloves, nutmeg, plantains, coconuts and eugenias 'seem to grow very well' in the red sandy loam soil
(2 Oct 1821) Sailing from Sincapore [Singapore]
(16 Oct 1821) A typhoon, continuing until 18 Oct 'with unabated fury' and doing 'considerable damage' before beginning to abate, 'to the inexpressible joy of all on board'
(19 Oct 1821) 'At this time composure and sorrow seemed struggling in the bosom of almost everyone, on their seeing their boxes, hammocks, clothes, provisions, books, bird cages, and indeed their all, broke or scattered all over the decks in consequence of their having been washed from one berth to another'
(20 Oct 1821) 'There was a bird of the kind called by sailors a booby caught, which appeared not to have suffered in the gale'
(22 Oct 1821) Anchoring in the bay of St John's, Ladrones Islands [Wanshan Archipelago, Guangdong, China] in strong wind
(26 Oct 1821) Weighing anchor. Seeing no trees on the islands: 'the major part appears one tremendous mass of rock […] The surface being only part covered with weeds or plants of the herbaceous kind, it appears not sufficiently fertile to for human sustenance, as it must be impossible to till the ground'
(30 Oct 1821) Anchoring in the Macao Roads [China]
(31 Oct 1821) Weighing anchor. 'The passengers having left the ship, cast anchor again near Lintin [Nei Lingding Island, Guangdong, China]'
(1 Nov 1821) Weighing anchor and 'beating up the river'
(2 Nov 1821) Reaching Bocca Tigris [the Humen Strait]
(3 Nov 1821) Going through Bocca Tigris
(4 Nov 1821) Mooring at Wompoo [Huangpu, Guangzhou, China]
(11 Nov 1821) Arriving at Canton [Guangzhou, Guangdong, China]. Sunday
(12 Nov 1821) Visiting 'the squire's gardens, a native of China', whose garden and house have 'more the appearance of a grotto than any thing I can compare them to'. Seeing chrysanthemums, calycanthus and camellias. 'Being unable to describe this private gentleman's garden even to please myself, I shall only put down here to remind myself hereafter that there was the nelumbiums, which formed a complete canopy over a stagnating pond overhung with the grotesque work above mentioned'
(13 Nov 1821) Visiting other gardens, 'which I found were much the same as the preceding one'. Examining Mr Reeves' [John Reeves, East India Company tea inspector and naturalist in China] drawings [Reeves commissioned botanical drawings from local artists]. Picking out chrysanthemums from Mr Sabine's [Joseph Sabine, secretary of the Horticultural Society of London] list
(14 Nov 1821) Visiting gardens with John Reeves. Examining his specimens
(15 Nov 1821) Packing chrysanthemums 'to send home'. Writing lists of the plants
(16 Nov 1821) Removing his boxes from Alexander Nairne's ship to the 'Chou Chou Chop (the vessel which carries his stores from the ship to town)'. 'Cutting down' the chrysanthemums in the boxes and taking cuttings for Mr Beale [naturalist, merchant and opium speculator in China]
(17 Nov 1821) Tying up camellias for John Reeves
(18 Nov 1821) 'Sunday at church twice, visited the gardens at Fartee [Fatee gardens, nursery gardens]'
(19 Nov 1821) Aerating boxes and sowing seeds
(20 Nov 1821) Sending the boxes of chrysanthemums on board the Chou Chou Chop to go on board HCS Inglis. Potting plants 'brought from Bengal [India], which were alive'
(21 Nov 1821) 'Sowing seeds in boxes 31 and 32'. Looking over Thomas Beale's drawings and seeds. Looking at samples of flower pots with John Reeves
(22 Nov 1821) Visiting the Fatee gardens [nursery gardens] with John Reeves, Thomas Beale and Captain Wilson [J.P. Wilson, captain of HCS Hythe]. Observing that these gardens were supplying the 'Europeans and others' with flowers and plants, and 'these [gardeners] appear to be the only Chinese about Canton who attempt to propagate or encourage plants at all, and even here they seem very rough and awkward'. Describing their method for taking cuttings and grafting
(23 Nov 1821) Receiving plants bought at the Fatee gardens. 'Separating my plants from others, and sheltering my Bengal plants'. Wet and cold weather
(24 Nov 1821) Preparing plants. Receiving 'some new gathered specimens of wild plants'. Preparing clay for grafting camellias
(25 Nov 1821) 'Sunday to church, afterwards on the water'
(26 Nov 1821) Packing boxes of plants for John Reeves to send to New Holland [Australia] and Calcutta [Kolkata]. Grafting camellias for Thomas Beale
(27 Nov 1821) Packing boxes to send on HCS Hythe. Potting plants. Receiving plants from Macao [Macau]. Packing a box for John Reeves
(28 Nov 1821) Sowing seeds. 'Changing some of the plants'. Examining the drawings of John Reeves and Thomas Beale
(29 Nov 1821) Packing boxes and writing lists. Using loam brought from the hills for the plants
(30 Nov 1821) Packing boxes and writing lists. Putting in some camellia cuttings
(1 Dec 1821) Packing boxes and writing lists. Stamping tallies [labels giving information about the plants]
(2 Dec 1821) 'Sunday, went to church. Putting in some camellia cuttings for Mr Beale [Thomas Beale]'
(3 Dec 1821) Packing and potting plants
(4 Dec 1821) 'Wet day, stamping tallies, writing lists etc'
(5 Dec 1821) Grafting camellias. Putting in chrysanthemum cuttings
(6 Dec 1821) Looking over John Reeves' drawings. 'Went to look after some seed vessels'
(7 Dec 1821) Potting wild plants from the hills and brushing mould [soil] off specimens
(8 Dec 1821) Potting wild plants: 'found the Eurya, three species with male and female of two of them'
(9 Dec 1821) Sunday. Going to church. Examining wild plants from the hills
(10 Dec 1821) Potting wild plants and air plants
(11 Dec 1821) Packing plants in boxes. Receiving camellias from Macao [Macau]. 'Looking over drawings ([for the] emperor of Austria)'
(12 Dec 1821) Potting herbaceous plants and gathering specimens. Washing and cleaning boxes
(13 Dec 1821) 'Looking over the doctors' shops [apothecary shops] in search of new plants [looking for plants brought to Canton [Guangzhou] by Chinese doctors, according to the fair journal]'
(14 Dec 1821) Potting wild plants. Gathering specimens and arranging seeds
(15 Dec 1821) Packing and potting plants
(16 Dec 1821) Going to church. Thinning specimens. Visiting the Fatee gardens
(17 Dec 1821) Going to see plants with John Reeves
(18 Dec 1821) Potting wild azaleas. 'Out with Mr Beale [Thomas Beale], to make a model of a mattock [pickaxe] for the purpose of taking up plants'
(19 Dec 1821) Sending boxes on board the Farqueson [HCS Farquharson]. Sowing seeds. Receiving 'some fresh plants from the hills'
(20 Dec 1821) Sending boxes on board HCS Windsor. 'Went round China Street etc'. Potting wild plants from the hills
(21 Dec 1821) Receiving and potting new plants from the hills. Sowing seeds of nutmeg, tombe tombe [? rambai], Penang plum [unidentified], chumpeder [?cempedak], 'and others'
(22 Dec 1821) Visiting 'some of the Chinese factories' with John Reeves. Potting air plants. 'Captain Nairne [Alexander Nairne] informed me of Dr Livingstone's [John Livingstone, surgeon in China] desire for me to remain in China. Captain Welstead [George Welstead, captain in the East India Company] wished me to go down to Wompoo [Huangpu], and assured me every attention should be paid to me and the plants etc I could collect there'
(23 Dec 1821) Packing plants in boxes, 'expecting to go to Macao [Macau] in few days'
(24 Dec 1821) Packing plants, 'intending them to be sent by Mr Reeves [John Reeves] during my absence from Canton [Guangzhou]'
(25 Dec 1821) With Alexander Nairne. Measuring the space allowed for placing plants on board the General Kyd [HCS General Kyd]. Returning to Canton [Guangzhou]
(26 Dec 1821) Embarking on board 'HC Ship Windsor [HCS Windsor] dispatch chop'
(27 Dec 1821) Boarding HCS Windsor, 'Captain Heavisides [Thomas Haviside, captain of HCS Windsor] having promised me a passage to Macao [Macau]'
(31 Dec 1821) Macao [Macau]
(1 Jan 1822) Accompanying John Livingstone 'to several Chinese and English people's gardens'
(2 Jan 1822) 'Went to the Wood Hoong[?]'
(3 Jan 1822) Going across the water and up the hills ('Lapas' [Wanzai Island, Zhuhai, China and Macau]). Finding 'abundance of Melastoma, Myrtus tomentosa and other plants already common in England'. The soil poor, sandy gravel
(4 Jan 1822) Visiting gardens with John Livingstone. 'Gets permission to gather seeds or specimens in the gardens of Antonio Pieriero [Antonio Pereira, Portuguese landowner in Macau] in which are several plants which have not yet reached Europe'
(5 Jan 1822) Visiting Pereira's gardens [Jardim Luis de Camoes]. Gathering seeds and specimens. Visiting 'the cave in which Camien [Luis Vaz de Camoes], the famous Portuguese poet, wrote his Lusiad [the Lusiads, 1572]'
(6 Jan 1822) Sunday. Going to church. Cleaning seeds and turning specimens
(7 Jan 1822) Putting up seeds. Planting vines for John Reeves
(8 Jan 1822) Arranging seeds and naming them. Going to the hills near Macao [Macau]
(9 Jan 1822) Picking and drying seeds collected the previous day. Receiving intelligence [regarding a dispute between the East India Company and the Chinese authorities]
(10 Jan 1822) Receiving orders from Dr Livingstone [John Livingstone] 'not to go out from the house, it being considered dangerous, also to prepare to leave Macao [Macau] at a minute's notice' [due to a dispute between the East India Company and the Chinese authorities in Canton]
(11-12 Jan 1822) 'Taken sick' and confined to bed
(13 Jan 1822) Receiving news that the British subjects have left Canton [Guangzhou] on board ships from Wompoo [Huangpu]
(14 Jan 1822) All British subjects ordered to leave Macau, and a letter from Captain Richardson [Charles Richardson, captain of HMS Topaze] saying that an East India Company schooner 'was dispatched to take all that were willing to embark on board and bring them to the Topaz [HMS Topaze] where they would receive protection'
(15 Jan 1822) Receiving news that 'the business at Canton [Guangzhou] is settled in a manner favourable to the English'. Noting that from this day until 27 Jan 'I was confined to my bed, after which during my stay at Macao (until the 22 of March) was only enabled to walk out in the cool of the evening or on days when the sun did not show itself in this place. However I got sufficiently better to visit the Chinese gardens, in which are grown vegetables etc for sale, and from which most of the English are supplied, and from which were made the following observations on kitchen gardens'
'Observations on Chinese Gardening' in Canton [Guangzhou] and Macao [Macau], including notes on the ornamental elements 'of the richer class of Chinese'. Noting that 'it is probably worthy of remark that the gardens which I had the pleasure of visiting belonging to this class were in the most rude state, being completely covered with dead leaves or over grown with weeds, indeed the appearance of the gardens at this time would cause any Englishman to suppose they had been deserted for a length of time'. In the market gardens, such as the Fatee gardens, no vegetables are grown for sale, but they 'cultivate great quantities' of plants including orange, magnolia, carambola, litchi [lychee] and longan [here the journal includes a list of 7 more plants], noting that 'the manure used is human (night soil). It is always used in a liquid state'. Listing methods of propagation, including wounding a branch, grafting by approach (enarching) [inarching] ('in the performance of this they are exceedingly awkwardly prepared'), laying, cuttings ('the chrysanthemums are renewed annually, a method probably superior to those used in Europe as I am informed by the Chinese it has considerable effect on these plants'), seeds and grafting. On vegetables, noting that 'the soil where these vegetables grow is remarkably sandy and poor, but in consequence of the free use of their favourite manure (which serves to moisten as well as to strengthen the soil) the vegetables grow very fine'. John Reeves promising to send seeds of several vegetables 'apparently different to any I recollect seeing in England'
(23 Mar 1822) Boarding the ship. 'Having had no time allowed (on account of sickness) to pack the plants at Canton [Guangzhou] intended for my own charge, consequently I unfortunately found on board many plants I had intended not to come to England at all, being plentiful already. Others potted by myself in English mould [soil] and China loam I did not receive'
(24 Mar 1822) 'Got the plants placed in the spaces allowed for them'
(25 Mar 1822) 'Plant boxes cleted [cleated] and lashed to secure them from the rolling of the ship'. During the journey at sea the plants remained 'in good health until we arrived at the straights of Gaspar [Gaspar Strait]; here the azaleas begin to droop their leaves. Although kept moist below [the deck], several loose [lose] many leaves before we clear the straits of Sunda [Sunda Strait]'
Approaching the Cape of Good Hope [South Africa], 'the gales continue without intermission of more than a day or two at a time (which happened about once a week) for 4 weeks, during which many of the most healthy plants died which were below, in consequence of being confined in darkness', but 'not a single plant dies' between the Cape and St Helena [British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha]
(29 Jun 1822) Arriving at St Helena
(30 Jun 1822) Being invited to stay at the house of Major Pritchard [Henry Hugh (Huff) Pritchard, British commanding officer of the St Helena infantry]. Pritchard recommending James Cameron, 'Honourable Company's [East India Company] gardener and forester' to care for the sick plants. Going on shore
(1 Jul 1822) Meeting James Cameron and making arrangements 'for ascending the hills the following day in search of plants'. Cameron promising to take care of the plants, and to forward any that may recover or that he might grow a new one from. Visiting the garden where the plants were to be left: 'the situation is shady and well sheltered from the winds, which generally blow strong down the valley'
(2 Jul 1822) Ascending the hills 'with two of Mr Cameron's [James Cameron] men to carry the plants'. Noting that the governor's [John Pine Coffin] garden, managed by an English gardener, resembled an English garden, with pears, peaches, apples and tropical fruits: 'it appears rather strange to see plants from temperate and tropical climates all growing luxuriantly together'. Visiting Diana's Peak [St Helena], 'where Dicksonia grows plentiful', and Longwood ('the seat of the late Napoleon Bonaparte [exiled to St Helena in 1815-1821]'), where the park was planted with gum wood trees
(3 Jul 1822) Taking on board plants collected the previous day. Taking the sick plants on shore. Visiting the Castle Gardens [Jamestown, St Helena], and seeing large plants of Barringtonia speciosa [Barringtonia asiatica]. James Cameron promising to send seeds
(4 Jul 1822) Sailing from St Helena. Noting the hospitable treatment received from Major Pritchard [Henry Pritchard], 'who took every opportunity of rendering me assistance or making me comfortable in his own house [...] During my stay at St Helena I recovered of my sickness more than could have been expected for so short a stay, as I had been brought very low by a lingering sickness, which had kept me in the doctor's list since the 12 January last'
The journal ends here. At the back of the volume, there is a partial log of the journey, entitled 'Journal of a Voyage pr Honble Compys Ship General Kyd [HCS General Kyd]' covering 7-19 Feb 1821, with introduction noting 'This would no doubt appear a very lame account to seafaring persons, through my being wholly unacquainted with the terms made use of by them, but in case it should in the course of the voyage fall into the hands of any such persons, perhaps it may be proper to add herein, that it is merely for my own amusement that I have put down an account of the principal occurrences, together with the ship's course, the number of miles run in each 24 hours or as it is called the 'Log', with the observed latitude and longitude, the height of the thermometer etc':
(7 Feb 1821) Trade wind
(8 Feb 1821) Fine, clear weather. 'The cadets busily employed in getting up the play of 'The Rivals [by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, 1775]', to be performed on the quarter deck, the third officers to play the farce, which is to be 'High Life Below Stairs [by James Townley, 1759]'', with Mr Alleyn, the surgeon [Frederick Alleyn], acting as stage manager and prompter
(9 Feb 1821) Fine, clear weather. A band playing every evening on the quarter deck 'where dancing is kept up with much spirit until 9 o'clock. The ladies assist in quadrilles etc'
(10 Feb 1821) Fine weather
(11 Feb 1821) Divine service on the quarter deck. Hands mustered. Fine weather
(12 Feb 1821) Rain and light winds
(13 Feb 1821) Rain and squalls. Variable winds and calm
(14 Feb 1821) Variable winds. Seeing 'a strange sail'. Hoisted signals not being answered, 'a 9-pounder is fired as a signal for the vessel to heave [slow or stop]'. Third officer and one of the passengers being sent on board on a lowered boat with gifts of provisions from Captain Nairne [Alexander Nairne]. Receiving fruit in return. 'Suspicions of her being a pirate from the appearance of the crew, and the manner in which our officer was received on board. The brig had 18 guns'
(15 Feb 1821) Seeing another sail. Signalling and lowering a boat. The second officer being sent on board with a gift from Alexander Nairne. The ship proving to be 'a free trader from the Isle of France bound for Gibralter [Gibraltar]', returning a gift of fruit. Rain and squally weather
(16 Feb 1821) Light wind and calm. Seeing three sails: 'the captain suspects their intentions, thinks the brig spoken of before is one of the three. The hands are mustered on deck, every gun ordered to be loaded and man'd in the event of an attack, they all afterwards bear away from us'
(17 Feb 1821) Light variable winds and rain. 'A tar barrel is set on fire and thrown overboard to represent Neptune's Island on account of our approaching the Equator' [Potts is referring to the line-crossing ceremony, a naval tradition performed on persons first crossing the Equator and often involving the figure of Neptune, the Roman god of sea]
(18 Feb 1821) Light variable winds and rain. Crossing the Equator at 3pm
(19 Feb 1821) Fine day, light and variable winds. 'This day the grand ceremony of shaving was performed and everyone seemed highly entertained, a small fire engine was played over each person after Neptune had passed the razor over him'
Extent - 1 volume
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Copyright - © Royal Horticultural Society
Credit Line - RHS Lindley Collections
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