Chapel Street, Auckland, New Zealand.
My dear Father and Mother.
Arriving safe in this far distant land I according to promis shall endeavor to sent you an account of our voyage commencing 1862 July , early this morning we left Bruton for London by the S.W. Rail Mr Stephens accompening us, arriving in London, 2 p.m. met by Joseph Hinks who ad provided comfortable lodgings for us in the Strand, I then went with Mr Kensington to the East India docks to see the Ship Wm Miles destined to be our prison house for many a long week, we found her in dreadful confusion, one could scarsealy get along her decks wet with passingers lugage, provisions, ships stores, and various other things, together with, Carpenters, Painters, Ship rights, Sailors and lookers on; one could scarsealy credit that in a few days she would be cleared out of docks and steaming her course on the mighty billows = On visiting the stoars we found to our amasement that none of our lugage had been shiped on board, so nothing to do but off with our coats and set to work ourselves which we did in right good humour and we ad the satisfaction by 8 p.m. seeing all our boxes safe on board — with Mr Kensington we then started back to the Strand, arriving at my lodgings about 10 p.m. thoroughly tired.
The ‘Wm. Miles’ left the docks for Graves End at 11 a.m. where she lay too. to receive passengers etc. etc. = we went to Leicester square to get our land orders = after providing our necessary outfit for the voyage we Started to the docks to get them on board, but we were too late as she ad started for Graves hend, but finding a small steamer just about to start with lugage etc. to put on board her, my self with Joseph Hinks steped on board and soon were on our way to Graves hend - After getting my outfit on board and placing it in my cabin I screwed up the door and started back to London per Rail where we arrived at our lodgings about 10 p.m. = after taking supper, Olive and self went out shopping = retired to bed at 12 but could not sleep for the noise below.
Early this morning took leaf of Mr Stephens, who returned to Bruton = in the afternoon took leaf of Mr Hinks who returned to Frome = Joseph Spicknernell came up to see us and wish us good by = in the afternoon went for a walk in St James’ park and to Westminster abbey..
Joseph Spickenwell returned to Portsmouth = at 9 a.m. took steamer to Graves hend to join the Wm. Miles. finding the ship would not start ‘till the morrow we went on shore at Graves hend and stayed there the whole afternoon, after taking tea on shoar we steped off old Englands’ shoars and went by boat to our ship, which boarding we were destined not to quit again ‘till we arrived in New Zealand.
— our ship left her moorings at 5 p.m. and with a tug was towed down the muddy yet noble Thames and now commenced in reality our voyage to Auckland, New Zealand = we stayed on deck looking at the beautiful sceneary on either side of the Thames ‘till darkness settled o’er us and hid it from our view, when we went below and throwing down our matrisses and making up our beds as best we could under such circumstances, we retired for the night and considering it was our first afloat I think we sleped very well.
at day break we got out or rather we got off our matrisses not to dress for if the truth must be told we ad’nt taken off our clothes = the sceneary on the banks of the river was beautiful indeed, but as we ad to secure our boxis, tin ware etc. before getting into a ruff sea,
and fiting up our cabin which measured 10 feet long, 5 feet wide and 8 feet high, we ad not much time for looking about = This afternoon we wrote to our parents = the Ship is in dreadful confusion ocasioned by the passingers 400 in number fitting up their cabbins and securing their lugage = I cant but think how diferent my position to day to wat it was last year at this time when I was at the volinteer service at Kelston Park Bath = at 11 p.m. the steamer left the Wm. Miles to buffit her course as best she could on the deap blue sea
= The wind right in our teath so that we can make scarsealy heny head way = the sea this afternoon was rather ruff for land lobbers, which very soon told on some of them and sent them quietly to their births to enjoy the delightful sensation of sea sickness.
Still a head wind = beating about the whole day just off beachy head = the wind dying away toward the afternoon soon brought on deck the passingers confined below yesterday with sea sickness = in sight of land the whole day = morning and evening prayer meeting commensed on board.
still baffiled with wind right a head — at 2p.m. sighted the Isle of White = sent letters to our Parents and to Mr Stephens by the Pilot who left us at 5 p.m. = Provisions commensed being served out for the week consisting of salt beef, (comminly called on board ship salt hofs) salt pork, biscuits, flour, suet, tea, coffee, rasons, butter, potatoes, rice, peas, salt, pepper, mustard, mixed pickles, preserved beef, carrots, bully soop and trickle = 6 p.m. a stiff breaze springing up right in our teath = 7 p.m. raining very heavy.
rose at 4.40 found that in the night we ad passed by Christchurch head and Poole harbour consequenily that part of the coast the most dear to us we ad not the privelige of seeing. = at 5 a.m. could see the french coast quite plain = 3p.m. sailed slowly pass the Isle of Portland and very cloase. = our chaplin preached morning and evening on the main deck. = sunday school morning and evening.
rose at 4.40 found that we ad passed the Edystone lighthouse = this evening we took a farewell glance of Old England. we felt rather dull and gloomy as night was fast setting in and with it a stiff breaze; which very soon bought on sea sickness all of us excepting Laura felt its efects, she stood the day and night well.
the sea very ruff quite a gale of wind (for landsmen) blowing right a head of us = allon board is confusion, passengers laying and roling about in all directions not careing wat became of them.
In the Bay of Biscay and well we know it = the wind very ruff with a heavy sea, all of us are so sick, and feel so bad that we are all glad enough to lay down on our beds without undressing just like so many things, Laura still bares up bravely = in the darkness of night a ship nearly ran into us if she ad it would have been good by for at the time we were sailing at 11 knots an our and ina fearful sea = part of the pigs stye was washed away, and some of the pigs got out and in the darkness of night made a fine to do about the decks, two of them found their way into the saloon, another fell down the fore hatch among the young men and running (or rather tumbling) about for some time at last tumbled into one of the young mens births which was rather too much pork for a fellow troubled with sea sickness,
after some time ad alapsed and the sailors ad got quite sport enough hunting the wild boar they were finely secured and imprisoned once more.
still in the Bay of Biscay, the sea very ruff = I think this to be the most wretched day I hever spent in all my life obliged to keep in bed the whole day.
the sea not quite so ruff, just managed to crawl on deck = the wind blowing very coald = we spoke with the bark, smart bonnet 6 days out from Liverpool bound for the Barbadoes, we continued speaking with her ‘till old Billy Miles ad shot a head too far to signell heny longer.
the ship lay all day quite becalmed just off the coast of Portugal and Spain, we got a beautiful view of the coast. We watched quite plain a brig sail into the harbour of Oporto =a number of Porpoise was playing around us the whole day = for some 15 minutes we got sight of a small wale playing just a stern of us = at 10 p.m. went on deck saw one of the most beautiful Mootlight nights I ever witnessed in all my life, while watching the moon shining so delightfully on the water, a large steamer ove in sight and passed close by us it was indeed a grand sight one not heasily to be forgotin.
— still of the coast of Portugal, could see cape St Vincent very plain, the morning is a delightful one the sun shining down on us so nice and warm - spent nearly the whole of the day on the forecastle watching a large French Man of War lazily cruising about neer us = attended devine service in the evening after which the Lords Supper was administered.
very buisey the whole day cleaning out our cabin
The Sailors very buisey splicing the foremast which was sprung by the gale on the 6th =a nice stiff breeze springing up in our favour we began making a little headway about 10 nots an our.
The wind still in our favour sailing at 8 nots an hour = we are now distant from Maderia about 50 miles = the winds are very hot and sultry = Olive very unwell with a gathering on her hand = the children are enjoying themselves rite well one would think to see them that they ad been sailors all their lives = in the far distance this morning we could just disern a sail which we gradualy boar down upon, over took and passed her just as the sun was setting wen we gave old billey 3 good cheers for her sailing capabilities = this evening a wesleyian preacher gave us a sermin in the fore hatch.
arifle corps organised on board, a Capt. French going to New Zealand to join his redgement took the command = It was quite laughable to see us drilling for at every roll of the Ship without stoping for the word of command we took a step in advance or to the rear while our drill seargent (an old veteran of some 38 campains) olding on by some rope to keep himself from tumbling, would sing out at the top of his voice Steady: Gentlemen Steady: = a shole of Sea Pigs as been playing at our bows for the whole afternoon.
The colour of the sea is most beautiful a deep ultramarine so different from heny we see at home, often when at home I herd them sing the deep blue sea but I could never understand the Meaning of a blue sea ‘till now. =
a great number of porpoises playing about us the whole day, the Boatswain tryed along time but without success to harpoon one = one of the passengers was towing a piece of Salt Hofs to wash the salt out of it when Salt Water Fish Esq: came along and claimed it as his property the man nearly went with it.
The sun is begining to get very powerful, clothes seem a burthin to one, in fact I have only my breches on, oh: I forgot my shirt, at night we lay down without covering our selves over with bed clothes = some of the passingers are beginning to sleep on the decks = a dead calm = one of the passengers fixed a nice canfass tent on the forecastle we spent the whole afternoon under it = the sailors are very fond of Laura, playing with her the whole day = to day as been the only leasure day the sailors have had since we left London = every thing is so quiet to day not one ripple on the vast expance of water, and so solliteary nothing but sea and sky, not a ship, bird or fish to be seen. = the Pigs and poltry are beginning to find of the warm whether and are Kicking the Bucket one after the other very fast = Good night we are just off to bed in hopes of getting up tomorrow morning and seeing the Cape Vird Islands
A great number of fish at our bows playing about the whole day, it is a prety sight to watch them coming close to our bows that you would think we should run into them and shive them to hattims but in a moment with one plunge they are far a head of us = one of the Sailors a most desperate fellow called Tim got a little too much grog and consiquently three sheats in the wind, ran down the forehatch among the young men and began singing, or rather bauling at the top of his voice when one of the men at the time laying in his birth began to mock him, this so inraged him that he flew into a passion and threatened he would murder him and suiting the action to the word, drew his knife across the young mans throat but apily without doing much mischief, Master Tim then ran into the forecastle and striping himself to the skin, tried to jump over board but was prevented doing so by the sailors, he next ran into the saloon threatening the life of the second mate, with much difficulty he was secured and placed in irons, the Capt. presented his pistol to him, he turned himself round and then told the Capt. that there was a shot for him, he was then taken on to the Poop where he cept up such a noise that the Boatswain was hordered to gag him which proved no heasy task for he was perfectly mad (the gag used at the time was an iron belaying pin placed across his mouth and secured by rope yarn around his face)
An increase in the population in the night, a fine girl got on board by some unaccountable means or other, if you particularly wish particulars some old woman will explain it = Poor Tim is confined down in the fore hold = we have a fine breaze and fine sailing = Spoke with a bark from shields bound for the East Indias = ‘dont feel atal well, rather quamash ‘cant relish the ships provisions at all
The population on the increase again a fine boy got on board to night exactly in the same way as the girl did last night = we have a first class wind and sailing along right merriely = a bad head ache, = ‘its getting so warm hotter and hotter every day if it continues much longer we shall be all roasted.
Avery bad head ache = a fare wind = ad the pleasure of seeing today wat I ad for years been very anxious to see, a flying fish, not a minute perhaps but we see them leaping out of the water going for 50 yards suddenly drops into the watter.
Olive and Salley very unwell the whole date = we scarsealy left our cabin the whole day we felt so unwell = early this morning we sighted a fine bark and coming up with her we had a fine race carrying all the sail possibel, at one time it was quite hard to say which were the best sailors, but toward evening the battle seased and the old billey was pronounced the victor = we are all much better this evening = this evening we hentered the tropicks.
a shark following us at our sturn, a baid laid out for the old monster consisting of a large piece of pork ona large hook; went to the sturn to watch the result, there he lay at about 100 years from us I can seem to fancy his thoughts (if he had heny) the pork looks very nice but it would look much better wasn’t it for that hook in it, and then the grate long roap looked rather suspicious, but the temptation was too grate he slowly swam toward it for now he seems to be consulting with himself shall I; or ‘shant I; presently over he turned on his hugly back and in goes the pork into his very pretty little mouth and the next moment he was in mid air, swinging away (who but he) a moment after he was floundering away on the deck a mid ship writhing and plunging fearfuly, the Boatswain then paid him a visit with knife in hand ready for action and immediately commenced opperations on the Sailors most interment friend, the first cut was at his tail which was severed and bled profusely. I ‘dont think he very much aproved of the opperation. cut second, a rip up the monsters belley and his capacious maw exposed to view which was immediately cut hopen to see its contents nothing of much importance found excepting the piece of pork about a pound weight (which like many other temptations ad proved his doom and sealed his fate) and a few small fish beter for him if he ad continued feasting on fish instead of Pork.
we were all expecting to see some dead man’s fingers his back bown was next taken out, then his head was cut off and his jaws cut out which showed some rows of beautiful rows of teath, during this operation he was alive and kicking the whole was then thrown over board excepting the jaws = sighted some of the cape vird Islands = could see mount St Antonia in the distance towering up high about the clouds = the thermometer in the sun is 125, in the shade 98 at 2 p.m. = a dead calm the whole day = sighted 9 vessels today.
buisey writing to friends as we are expecting to meet an home bound vessel, there as been more Ink, pens, and paper in youse to day than as been in youse before since leaving graves hend — a fine barque on our weather bow.
— which ever way we look to day we see sails no less than 13 vessels I counted at one time, it was a delightful sight = the whether excessively hot, we are all feeling its effects.
the sun still shining fiercely down upon us, go in which ever part of the ship you may, its efects are felt it is indeed hot, Hot, HOT, very H O T= this afternoon a homeward bound vessel hove in sight (and now for the scribeling to friends) all over the ship people are buisey writing good by, and sealing up letters = an asty Tea and all hands on deck, up goes the signel and the vessel hove too, the sun is now setting gloriously when a boat is lowered, the mate with a mail bag (consisting of canvass) took his place in the sturn and 6 sailors take their station in the boat and off she goes, a harty good chear follows them as they push of from the ship the first to leave since we left graves hend; there lay the homeward bound messinger about 4 miles off, the full
moon is now just making her appearince above the orison and a little later a commit makes its appearance
— Raining nearly all day = very buisey in my cabin all day making a fish net, the cabbin is so dark to day that I am obliged to keep a candle burning the whole day = there is but very little light henters our
cabin, all the light that henters is through a small porthole about the sise of the bottom of a small cheese plate. which is as often under water as above, every wave that comes against the side of the ship rises high above the port, it quite amuses the children to watch this water come up against the boat. = this evening we crossed the line it as been a very warm day the days are just 12 hours long where we now are there is never heny winter all through the year and the days are always 12 hours long
Afew whaling ships in sight = talk about being roasted alive its allmost come to that today = talk about bashfulness (‘dont blush) last night one of the young men posted as watch stole a kiss from the mother instead of the daughter accounted for in this way, the weather being so very hot and the cabins so close, some of the passengers instead of sleeping in their births at night make up a bed outside and sleep on the tables, Miss C. ad been sleeping on the table outside her cabin for some few nights pass, Mrs C. having a fall out and a regular row with Mr C. turns Mrs C. out of her bed on the table and lay down to sleep there herself and thus the mistake. Mrs C. calls to Mr C. to protect her when Mr C. turns out of his cabin swareing revenge, the young watchman no sooner found out his mistake than he ran up the main hatch and down the forehatch and into his birth and thus hended the watch = the Prisoner Tim is taken from the fore hold and placed in a cabin just oposite us this morning while we were all at breakfast, Tim thinking that he ad been confined long enough, broke open his prison doar and coming out he looked round for a few minutes when he went back again of his own accord and told one of the passengers to fasten him up again = a nice breaze springing up this evening is sending old Billey along in stile it is a pretty sight to stand at her bows and watch her cutting through the watter and sending the foam flying on either side; I spend ours watching her making head way through the watter.
at 5 this morning went on to the forcastle and stripping, ad 12 buckets of watter thrown over me, it was so refreshing = took Herbert with me and gave him a like flowsing = we have ad a few heavy claps of thunder today = a very heavy sea, the ship is rolling and pitching very heavy = little Olley ad a tumble down in the ships hold but very fortunately she did not hirt herself, after looking round her she called one of the sailors to come and help her up again, she ‘didnt seem the least frigntened = a fine Brig passed us but both sailing so fast we ‘adnt time to signel = rather coalder this evening = Herbert and self this evening was standing on the forecastle watching the sea when a monstrous wave came roling along and stryking our whether bow broke over the forecastle drenching us to the skin, we instantly went below wishing every thing above a very goodnight
beginning to find out the meaning of a heavy sea it is blowing great guns. The wind is wisteling through the riging. the sea is rolling mountains high, all on board is confusion, once more may be hird the delightful strains of the Tin Crockery band = several bottels as passed by us this afternoon spreding their sails they navigate the tempestuous ocean fearlessly.
not quite so ruff as yesterday
The ship is wearing a mournful appearince caused by one of the Chaplains children (a little girl of 5 years old) taken very hill with diphtheria, she was takin to the hospital (a small room at the sturn fited up as an ospital with all kinds of medical stoars in it) ware she lingered for an our and then expired, no one can fully understand the meaning of a death at sea but those who have witnessed it = at the same time that the one died, he ad another of his children takin hill with the same complaint.
this evening just as the sun was sinking below the orison, was witnessed by the whole population of the William Miles one of the most thrilling sights than can be witnessed on ship board a funeral at sea. The corpse was placed in a wood coffin (which is rather an unusual thing at sea) canvas being generally substituted for wood.
Lots of small things of a bright blue colour, are swiming (or rather floating past us today) They are called by the sailors, Portuges men of war = look which way you may to day you see flying fish our Capt. said that he never saw such numbers before = we have a fine sailing wind = ad a sad acident, broke one of our pumps which is rather serious as old William isnt a teetotaler but a regular out and out drinking customer, obliged to youse her stumach pumps about hevery four hours = this evening we crossed the equanocial line, and now for the fun of shaving which operation was performed on the forecastle upon the Chips, the quartemmaster and several of the sailors, the mode of procedure is this; a bucket of Stockholm Tar mixed with soot is brought forward by Mr Nosey, he stands by with a long brush in hand ready to operate on heny poor unlucky wrech that may be draged to him, the poor unlucky victom is smeared all over the face, and woe betide him should he offer to open his mouth or eyes, for Mr Barker is not in the least particular, this part of the business performed, out comes the raiser which consists of an old piece of rusty hoop iron which you may take my word for is not used very careful, the shaving over the washing next takes place all the buckets are now in youse and water is nearly as plenty on board as it is over board, Passingers and crew joining hand and gluff in this part of the business all alike are drenched to the skin even to our werthy Capt. who walks about grumbling, on his attempting to go forward to try and put a stop to it he was all of a sudden brought up and compelled to stop about midship for four buckets of water came pouring over him from the main round top which sent him back to his cabin to doff his wheat close for some dry ones three times three hearty cheers followed him both from passengers and crew for all alike are bent on fun.
one of the water pipes which run along just over our cabin bursted in the night and the water came pouring down all over our beds (little Laura met with the most of it.) which was a kind of conclusion to the drenching going on last evening = just outside the Galley and in front of the ovens is a large table fixed for Passingers to leave pies, cakes, loaves etc. they may wish to have baked, this morning there was a goodly array of allsorts of dainties on the table when the ship gave a heavy roll and down came all the dainteys and there on the by no ways clean deck was mingled in dreadful confusion plumb puddings, minsed meat pies, loaves, bully soop, preserved meat, trickle biscuits, rice puddings, preserved potatoes, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. which caused a general laugh. but hang it all there was a pudding of mine amongst the general assembly but never the less I joined in with the rest and laughed as harty as heny of them = Olive
and Laura walking along the deck this afternoon, the ship rolling very heavy at the time, they fell down and poor Laura cut her mouth very bad, it is rather an unusual thing for Laura to fall it is surprising how she’L keep on her feat when the ship is all alive, =a heavy sea struck us this evening nocking down and drenching lots of the passengers who at the time was on the deck, I was standing alongside of the saloon door so that I only got a small portion of the wave.
Flying fish are still very numerous = this morning there are 2 large vessels in sight = poor little Laura is quite disfigured, her lip is so swollen and bad.
to day all the passengers are talking and wondering how the Americans war is going on, and not to be wondered at as we are only 24 hours sail from South America = buisey all the morning cleaning out our cabin.
Just began dinner when some one cried out that a Sea Pig ad been harpooned, in double quick time I was on deck, and there sure enough on the forecastle lay the monster of the deap, his strugles were dreadful ocasioned by the pain he must have been in, the harpoon ad struck him in the pole and penetrated clean through him, the blood that came from him was remarkable, the forecastle ad the appearince of a slaughter house it was so covered with blood and passengers and crew that ventured too close to him was well sprinkled with the crimson, several of the sailors that took an active part in skinning and dressing him ad the appearince of butchers. he measured 7 feet in length and ad wen skined, the appearance of a raw piece of lean beaf; The skin was ½ an inch thick and remarkeabily hard and tough = There were a great many still swimming about at our bough and the Boatswain with harpoon in hand still stood ad the hend of the matengale ready for another cast. The harpoon was several times after cast but without success, the vessel at the time was pitching very heavy, and a laugh once again rang from the forecastle as the tardy Boatswain went diving up and down in the water sometimes up to his waist = we are sailing very much out of our coarse through contrary winds.
At breakfast I ad a fall down the hatch way at the time I ad a nice place of ham rashers I ad just been to the galley to have cooked for breakfast so insted of carrying them to No.2 cabin I threw them into No.34 and thus lost our breakfast, of course there was no blame to be attached to me as old billey at the time was rolling frightfully = again the table outside of the galley was cleaned of its contents of pies puddings etc. , and this time there was a regular scramble for at the same time we shiped a heavy sea and the several dainty dishes went for an excursion up and down the decks = the boys Herbert among them take to pumping the ship and right merialy do they perform their work, they have a long rope fastined into the winch, and some twenty take old of the rope while 6 others take old of the winch, and then with some sailors ditty they perform their work like men, even our strait fased capton ca’nt forbear smiling to see them = our ship leeks very much wen labouring in a heavy sea = Cooked some of the sea pig, minsed it up with onions, bread, ham fat, flour, pepper and salt did them up like poor old Kitty Gray youst to roll up her faggots which in taste they very much rescmble, the children are very fond of them = the Ship is cought in a heavy sea just as we are settling down to tea, O! my ‘isnt it fun to see the People clinging on with one hand to the tables to keep themselves from tumbling; while with the other they are trying to keep the tea things from falling off the table = look out my boys, a sea as just struck her, she is going to give a roll for it; Jim catches up the tea pot, olive clings old of a Cup or two oley lays old of the sugar jarr, Laura looks out for the loaf and Herbert the butter, over
goes the jar of jamb right into Lauras lap but thats nothing for some who a minute before ad got their tea things on the table as got them now on the flour in wild confusion = Laura’s lip is much better.
the whether getting a little coalder = this evening with a lantern dimly burning I sat me down just outside my cabin door and ad an hours reading
— sailingin our rite coarse at 10 1/2 nots an our = the sun set this evening was a gorgeous sight, took the children on the forecastle to see it = for the first time this evening we caught sight of the several stars called the Southern cross = a delightful moon light night, with Olive and her sister up by the boats and took our supper consisting of biscuit, cheese and grull, we sat there for more than an our watching the sea beautiful silvered with the moon, every thing all around was as still as the grave, one could allmost fancy themselves in Poole harbour instead of being on the bosom of a vast ocean whose depths were all but unfathomable.
one of the passengers forgot himself so far as to beat his wife
The young men bent on having a bit of fun with the brute that flogged his wife yesterday, about 20 of them dressed up in the hodist and most grotisque figures that ever paraded the decks of a ship before, with their faces painted, for moustache and wiskers was substituted pieces of roap yarn picked out, some of them dressed as old men, others as old wimmen, with mops, brooms, sticks etc. they paraded the decks for some time when they went between decks where the old wife beater sat reading or rather looking at a book. as they passed him each one stared him in the face and made a courtesy, passing on they went, round the other hend of the tables and on returning oposite to the old chap again they salooted him with a tap on the head with a stick, while another would mop him over face and head with by no means a clean mop and enother would broom him down with a tremendious ruff hard broom, and all this among the laughing of the Lookers on, some imitating the crys and screams of a woman, others crying out give it him etc. etc. etc. the old boy stood it ‘till he could stand it no longer, when springing from his seat with a large clasp knife in hand he sprang over the tables swearing revenge against the first he could lay his hand on, but apily he was secured before he ad time to do heny mischief and was quickly sent back to his place again with more kicks than copper’s, the procession then went on to the main deck from thence to the forecastle where those who were dressed as females were subjected to a good sound beating, the whole of the evening did frolic and fun continue = it is a glorious moon light night that to go to our dens we could not and at 12 0 clock if you ad come on the forecastle you would have found us there.
lots of birds made their appearince today called cape hens, they are about the sise of moorhends which bird they very much resemble
forthe first time the cape pigeon makes its appearince they are about the sise of a common pigeon with white boddies and wings speckled with black and white they continualy follow the ship no matter how fast she may be sailing.
The sailors are very buisey making hevery thing fast and sung both aloft and below against we round the cape of good hope where we may expect to meet with very ruff whether and not very smooth sailing; we may make up our minds for some tumbling about as by far the
ruffist part of the voyage is to come. = at 11 am. we sailed gallently out of the tropicks no ship ever ad a finer time through the tropicks and crossing the line than we have ad.
— our ship rolled in the night fearfuly, the stools and every thing beside not thoroughly lashed were tumbling about and kicking up a dreadful row all night long, it was impossible to keep in bed without rolling first on your back and then on your belly = early this morning we sighted a skooner:
for several days pass I have been suffering from bile to day I ad the doctor to see me he gave me a powder and a draft = we are expecting very ruff whether.
still very unwell = The sea is rolling along in monstrous waves but as we are sailing with the wind we don’t find their efects.
much better = the sea is rolling beautiful such waves as I was never privileged to see before they roll along one after the other like movable mountains their peaks ever whitened with a snowey foam =10 pm. the wind and waves are still increasing the Capt. sais that we shall have a gale of wind to night (‘hes one of Jobs comforters) we don’t seem atal inclined to go to our kennells knowing that if do there will be no sleep for us for the ship altho 1200 tons, is rolling pitching, and heaving about jus as much as the little boats I youst to sail at Tilleys shore would on the very ruffist sea at Bourn mouth, the 2nd mate is just telling the old wimmen to old on their mouths to keep their teeth from shaking out.
the Capt. statement expecting a ruff night last evening proved to be quite correct, for sure enough we very soon found out that it was not at all times a calm in the south atlantic ocean, sleep: was out of the questioned, barrels, boxes, cow sheds (with poor cows fastined in them,) rolling about over our heads and beneth our feet boxes, tin happy Jerusalems, slop pales, plates, dishes, etc. and outside the waves and winds are playing with Mr Wm Miles like as a kitten would with a ball of cotton. Sleep! who could sleep at one time allmost on his head and the next on his heels, at one moment on his left side and the next on his right; during the gale the Docters medicine chest broke loose and every time the vessel rolled would come with a dreadful thump. against the doar of the Hospital, a fearful sea struck her on the counter and over came a barell of Cloride of lime which bid fare to stiffle the whole community, the cow shed broke loose from her lashings and kept up a continuous rolling about the decks, three barells of slush which the cook ad been saving and was worth £10 next broke loos and over ina very few moments and was instantly stove in emptying their contents about the decks which made a fearful mess about the deck = during all this could be hird once and again tons of water rushing down the main hatch thretening to drown us out all together, which it allbut did to those who ad taken up their cabins near the gang way (apily for us we ad taken up ours right aft just under the saloon and altho at midship they were allmost washed out we were as dry as if we ad been in poart) while all this was going on Tim the prisoner had his head out of a hole over his prison doar, and with his wit and youmer kept us all alive with his droll remarks, presently Tim thinking he wanted a pipe of Baker introduced the whole of his boddy out of the hole and walked very leasurely up to the forecastle when he was very soon secured and placed in his sell again and Chips sent down to nail some boards over the hole; which was no sooner done than out came the boards again and with them Tim, but this time he thought he ad better keep between decks so he remained with the other (PRISONERS ) I mean the passingers below all night and we were
all pleased with his company, day light making its appearence Tim went back to his den and was fastined in by one of the passingers = during the night one of the sailors was allmost killed at the time he was on the main yard performing some duty when a block with a chain from a loft broke loos and fell on to his head which made a frightful gash and sent him reeling from the yard but happily he caught a rope and swang with it ‘till rescued by another sailor ad he not grasped the rope he must have gone over board and in such a night must have perished = I ad quite forgoten that it was Laura’s birthday yesterday, the whether being so ruff she was confined to her birth the whole of the day she appears to enjoy the vessel rolling better than she does when she is still
— one of the sailors with a fish hook caught a cape pigeon = the wind is not so ruff but the sea runs very high, this morning I went on deck and stood watching the sea which indeed is a grand sight = the Albatross a large bird made its appearence (if you refer to your natural history you will then see wat sort of a bird it is better than I can describe it = A child is taken hill with fever = another death on board another of the Chaplains children died hearly this morning and was committed to the deap at sunset this evening = we find that even amongst the nonconfermist boddy they are not all honist. in one of the cabbins was found of the ships stoars 7 hams, lots of dried bakon, cheese, potatoes box of raisons, canvass etc. he is now safely placed in irons and locked up in the companion on the poop, the best of the mater is , that the prisoner for some time past as been selling the hams at 2/- per lb.
no longer complaining of the heat but on the contrary you would now see me with a great coat on and shivering with the coald = a great number of birds flying about called Boobeys = very little wind this morning but a heavy sea = the wind increasing this afternoon = the main trysale broak loose during a squall and was rent in ribbons = ad a good laugh this afternoon a sea struck us right amidship and above all other things smashed one of our AUNT JONS’S tumbling a man out head foremost which was more than he bargained for he required no paper for I guess he was thoroughly washed.
the sea very ruff with wind the vessel rolling more than ever, it is an uter impossibility to stand without holding on, going on deck there was one of the grandest sights you could possible see the waves were mountains high their crests covered with foam, I went onto the bridge (a kind of platform extending from the poop to the second cabin) the vessel was labouring very much, Herbert with self was watching a large wave rolling on we ad scarsely time to cling old of a rope and place our feat against a piece of iron stanching wen the wave struck her and was nigh sending her on to her beam hends, a fearful crash one would fancy every thing being tourn to pieces on looking round, we saw a heap of spars, poles and sundry pieces of timber ad broken loose from their lashing and was swinging backward and forward with every roll threatening to cary every thing before them (a minute after you might have seen Herbert and self helping to secure them.) a part of the bridge we were siting on was carryed away at the same time in falling it met the Butcher in the head and hurld him to the deck doing him a serious hinjury = scarsealy heny one today went onto the deck without getting a regular drenching for the sea was constantly breaking over the bullwarks notwithstanding they were 9 feet high = the sea abating a little this evening Olive thought she might venture to cross from the main hatch to the saloon but in the attempt was caught by a sea midway and got a wetting
the wind and sea still very ruff = once in the night the shipe rolled over so far that we all thought she must go into her beam hends = a sea struck her stern in the night a fearful blow breaking in 2 of the stern poarts the water at the same time rushed through the broken poarts. threatined to wash some of the girls out of their beds, several of them were drenched, and their beds soaked through and through, the same wave broak in the saloon sky light = at dinner time Herbert was sitting outside the cabbin and just opposite the doar with a plate of rice all at once the ship rolled over and in came Master Herbert - head foremost into the cabin throwing his rice to the farther hend of the cabin, but as luck would have it I caught him and so preventing him hurting himself = at 1a.m. passed the Island if Tristecuana but not close enough to see it. = so ruff and raining so heavy that Olive and children were not able to go on deck the whole day but were obliged to remain below which was not very pleasant as the poarts were obliged to be closed the whole day and the hatchis batined down.
not quite so ruff but still ruff enough to rent the main sail in ribbons = Olive in the saloon with a Mr and Mrs Hancock from Bathford near Bath = several large birds were shot from the Poop
The sea running mountains high, in the night we were obliged to hold on (and bare it) or we should have been pitched out of our births every minute = a block from a loft fell in the night onto one of the sailors heads dealing him a hugly blow = for many a day we have seen nothing but sea and sky it begins to feel very solitary we can allmost fancy that we are the sole inhabitants of the world, it would be such a treat to see a sail even though it may be miles away from us.
The wind and sea not quite so ruff = The Chaplain preached this evening from the text. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God, the service finished one of the passengers stood up and informed us that while the minister was preaching one of the sailors ad died, on inquirey we found that it was quite true, the poor fellow ad been suffering for some time pass with discentery.
The sea today is quite calm, and the sun is shining out so nise and warm = last night a dog took up his residence in our cabin and after tareing up a pair of boots, a hat and several other harticles and eating up all our cheese, he left the cabin not one bit the better for his visit, the dog belong to the prisoner Tailor whome he very much resembles in his thievish habbits, the next morning I cought my gentleman and pitched him out of the stern port = at sun set the remains of the poor sailor that dyed yesterday was commited to the deap, all the sailors were present at the funeral it was indeed an imposing sight
avery fine day = we are off the cape of good hope but distant from it one thousand miles I = this evening the wind came on to blow very heavy with ruff squals and rain and so continued the whole night at times very ruff
the ship got back to her old habbit again rolling and pitching very heavy = at breakfast Laura was setting at the foot of the bed taking her breakfast when the vessel gave a sudden roll and Laura at the time not holding fast rolled from the ned to the foot making two complete somersalts = Tim the prisoner released from his confinement = the ship continually shifting seas the decks are constantly under watter
Aship in sight, all eyes are turned toward a speck on the orison, is it or is it nota sail? a few weeks since and no one scarsely would have bothered himself about it but after being in solitude so long every one is anxious we are drawing closer to it and we can quite plain disern that it is a ship, about 12 o clock we are very close to each other and signaling commences she proves to be the Sir John Laurance 62 days from Plymouth and bound for Adalade Australia with passengers, we see every available spot is crowded with people looking at us and the same with old Billey Miles’s Frate the bridges, the poop, the forecastle, the ruff of second cabin, the riging and masts were crowded with Passengers stareing at Passengers, there were spying glasses, opera glasses, quising glasses, spectical glasses and all other Glasses in request, the Sir J.L. being the fastest sailor soon Left us in the rear we should have been pleased to have kept in each others company = a south westerly wind is just springing up = saw a fine wale = after darkness set in we could disern in the distance the lights of the Sir J.L.
A delightful day = skined several cape pigeons and preserved the skins for stuffing.
A fine day after a very ruff night = Taylor the prisoner brought below and confined in place that Tim previously ocupied
The first ruff sunday since we left England raining all day, the services obliged to be conducted between decks
shiped three very heavy seas the first came upon us all unawares The passengers were setting about the decks in all directions wen over came the wave sending them as quick as they could regain their feet below, it was a regular sweeping of the decks = this evening we ad a concert between decks, vocal, instrumental and a few recitations the Program as follows 1st the galloping consumption 2 Nelly Gray (vocal) 3 Gentle Anne vo 4th The ship on fire vo 5th beautiful star vo and for 6th hard times come again no more vo 7th The spanish champion resitation. 8th Doctor Brown vo 9th the Quakers funeral oration, a resitation 10th the prayery flower, inst and vo. 11th Sister Mary vo 12th Sister Mary vo. 13th the perfect cure vo 14th Parlama Quadrille inst. 15th the soldiers dream vo 16th old pinder resitation. 17th Aunt Salley vo 18th God save the Queen we ad a full house, the stools and tables were crowded, one of the tables came down with a crash, the evening went off well and gave general satisfaction, were ‘are to have enother in a night or so
The ship rolled us about again last night = the concert gave such general satisfaction last evening that we ad another one this evening in the forecastle, the sailors cleaned it out and did it up first class for the ocasion, lashing the stools to keep them from tumbling and well they did for several times during the evening Mr Miles would have sent us alla flying ad the stools not been well secured, as it was she sent several of us flying among the fiddles base villes etc. The program as follows 1 The prayery flower 2 the slave 3 peep of day 4 live and let live 5 the lost child 6 the cot covered with ivy 7 the old englishman 8 a song 9 vo by one of the passengers, on the William Miles 10 quadrille 11 the old folks at home 12 sister mary 13 The Cambles are coming 14 old waping stairs 15 beautiful star 16 the sailors boy in blue 17 the young recruit 18 yanke doodle dandy 19 Palarma Quadrille 20 the farmers boy 21 The Frenchmans daughter 22 think of me when far away 23 the maniac a resitation 24 the spider to the fly 25 death of nelson 26 a dance 27 God save the Queen. The evening passed away right merrily, it was snowing all
the way home it is very coald. It put me in mind of coming home from some Christmas party in dear old England
verry coald snowing at times the whole day = hundred of cape pigeons are following the ship = A large scool of pyballed parpyses were at our bows for some time, they tryed to harpoon some but were unsuccessful in bringing heny on to the deck, one was wounded by a harpoon the others imediately fell upon him and killing him devoured him they are regular untamed canibles.
a fine day the sun shon out nise and warm in the morning = conserts are all the rage in our little Town. we ad another one tonight in the 2nd cabin
the ruffist day we have experianced since we put to sea sailing the whole day under a close reafed top sail the wind was blowing great guns and the sea was mountains high no sooner on the deck than you were wet through = Going on deck I stood by the Saloon doar olding on by aroap watching the sea over her bullwarks which looked every moment as if they must break over our heads and ingulf us all together, it is fine fun to see the passingers and sailors as well tumbling about, now for a minute or two just watch the butcher there he is trying to bring a bucket of water to the cows he stands holding on to the galley, watching an opertunity to skip across to the main riging which he as succeded in doing now he clings along like a drunken man from belaying pin to belaying pin he succeds at last in getting oposite to the cow sheds but now comes the tug of war, he let go his hold and attempts to cross but in the attempt down he comes water and all and there he floats from one side to the other a laughing stock for those who in all probiblity will themselves be one long laughing stocks for others for scarsealy one can venture on deck without feeling them with their Latter hand. I counted as many as 14 down at one time amongst whom was a great fat fellow, he did look so ridiculous tumbling about on the deck and slyding too and frow on his unmentionable and to save his life could’nt leg himself, one man was washed down the fore hatch and severely bruised, tons of water would pour down the hatches drenching every one and every thing = raining very hard all day.
onthe forecastle looking over her side we saw a lot of sea weed floating past, it did ones eye sight good = The sea is very much calmed down since yesterday.
— This morning our population is increased, a fine boy as got on board I suppose from the Cape of God Hope I cant think where in the dickens beside, he could have come from.
aheavy chopping sea the vessel labouring very much good sport again to watch the people falling and stagering about, one woman fell down or rather sat down on the deck and sliding along slid right into an empty flour barrel = one of the stewards was washing a basket of plates and dishes over comes a wave and away goes basket, plates, dishis, Stuardy and all slyding about the decks in file stile one would allmost fancy they ad brought their skates with them but instead of playcing them on their feat ad put them on to their...... = this evening the wind died off to nearly a calm. = Passed St Pauls Island but too far eastward to see it.
a delightful day = took the children on the top of deck house = saw several large pieces of sea weed floating past most likely it was from St Pauls Island = The Captains birth day =a consert in the saloon finished up the day.
avery fine day = lots of birds shot from the poop = one of the passengers trying to go from the ship to the hend of the jibboom on one of the Stays got halfway but could get no farther, he began to cry out for help and one of the sailors went to his rescue and cot hold of him just in time to save him from tumbling over board he was Safely landed on the deck very much frightened but none the worse excepting the loss of his cap = in the evening we ad a lecture in the fore hatch subject evidences of christianity.
— sunshining quite warm in the morning, in the morning you could fancy that you ad been in the tored zone but my word this afternoon you think that you were in the frigid it as been snowing and ailing in fine stile, while waiting at the galley for our tea water I was almost frozen
avery fine day with the sun shining quite warm, = in the night it came on to blow very heavy = the old ship as usual was rocking us again all night. never was such an old tub for rolling sent to sea before sleep was out of the question alltogether. you may fancy how the old chap rolled when I tell you that Herbert twice in the night rolled from one hend of the bed to the other rolling over Laura my self and his mother
no mistake we are in for it today the wind is blowing great guns talk about ones hat blowing off why if you ‘didnt hold on your hair it would blow off your heads. Two enormis waves rolled over our bullwarks today the first struck her on her whether bow and breaking over he made a clean sweep of the forecastle and washed dozens of people off their legs and sent them swimming about the decks like corks = tons of water went down the fore hatch and drenched to their very skins some 30 of the young men, there was about 2 ft of water in some of the cabins = the first class passingers are on the Poop holding on to the riging, ropes, and stools laughing at the poor unfortunates below, when the 2nd wave broak right over the counter and made a clean sweep of the poop, teaching the Grandies a lesson that the waves are no respecter of persons = the bridge 4 in think and 3 ft wide was smashed and tore to pieces by the weight of water tumbling on it. = one of the clossets was washed away = once during the day the ship rolled over So far that it seemed allmost meraculas how she could wright herself again, Her decks are as steep as the ruff of a house every time she rolls. every timber trembles = the poor cows are allmost frightened out of their lives meny atime I have seen the cows, cow sheds and all heave off the decks altho lashed down = we all ad to be thankful to day that the bullwarks of the Billey Miles were so high and so strong
very much calmer with a beautiful sea.
our wedding day=a delightful day sailing at 10 nots an our = went on to the second cabin were we sat for a long time watching the beautiful sea and reading books, here we stayed and partook of our wedding dinner consisting of a tin of suip, we all sat round the dish and we all with spoon in hand diped out of the same dish, not much serrimony on board the ship I can asure you I should fancy its something like an Irish cabin.
in the night one of the house plugs was washed in and the water rushed into the forecastle with such violence washing the sailors out of their births and tumbling their chests and lots of other things beside in the forecastle full mell all in a heap by the doar, the sailors chests were filled with watter and lots of their things were spoiled, a good bit of their clothes was washed through the deck poarts and so were lost, the water rushed out of the forecastle
(which was built on the main deck) across the deck making a clean sweep of all before it. some of the sailors close was found washed into the cooks galley
avery fine day the atmosphere so clear and bright = tasted a cape pigeon pie it was very good = our vessel is leaking very much and to make the better one of them is all together useless so that to keep the ship clear of watter the other one is constantly going.
from the poop there was caught an Albatross a booby and a Molley Hawke (they are caught in this way a piece of meat is fastined to a strong hook and floated with a piece of cork, with a long string the bate floats some 2 or 3 hundred yards in the wake of the ship, the bird picking up the bait is caught in the bill by the hook and is thus secured. you c’ant catch them in this manner unless the vessel is sailing very fast) the albatross is a beautiful bird especialy the one just caught from tip to tip of wing it measure 11 feet 2 inches, from tip of bill to hend of tail 3 feet 7 inches, the feet are beautiful webbed and measure 7 inches in width colour as white as the driven snow with just the extreme tip of the feather which is beautifuly painted with dove colour, the colour of bill a deap lemmon with a rib on the hupper of a rich orange
buisey in the saloon skinning the birds that were caught yesterday = I am sorry having to relate that to day we have ad a sad accident at the pump one of the boys having a piece of twine tied to his hand the hend of which got intangled round the shaft of the pump and before the pumping could be stopped the little fellows hand was drawn on to the shaft and his arm broken in two places = Olive’s birth day we ad a plum cake for tea and our happy times being very good we quickly devoured such a treat at sea. = Laura dreamed last night that she was with Mr Stephens.
All excitement on board one and all thought that they could see land ahead and all eyes were turned in that direction, one declared that he could see the valleys and mountains quite plain, another would call it a cloud while our worthy Capt. with a glass to his eyes declared it to be land, but to our disapointment it proved to be Cape fly a way = A young man went to his birth last night not exactly a teetotaler and after kicking up a dreadful row and cursing and swareing to his hearts content waking up all the passengers he seemed quite satisfyed and curling himself up like a dog in one corner he fell asleep, but next morning my fine fellow was arranged before a mock tribunal and subjected to a tryal. in every respect was the tryal conducted as it would have been in heny court at home, the prisoner at the bar, was found guilty by the jury and was accordingly sentinced to scrape the deck of the fore hatch (generally performed by 6 men) and that the six men whose turn it was to scrape the deck were to stand over him with roaps hend in hand to inflict sumeary punishment on his back... if the prisoner did’nt perform his task well, and farther should he be sulky he was to receive 50 lashes upon his bare A.. = dined off an Albatross stuffed and backed it was very good much better than salt Hofs = caught a fine Molly Hawke = all the ships lamp oil is consumed and we are informed by the Capt. that for the rest of the voyage we shall have to burn slush which I expect will be rather disagreeable = the ships stoars in general are getting very short on going up for stoars today we were informed that all the raisons and lard was gone so its all up with the plum puddings = three fine wales as been playing about on our starboard side = the Boatswain got a glass too much last night and this morning he fell off the poop and disfigured his Nut crook
— fair wind and sailing at eleven nots an our = enother wale seen several times to day = this evening we commensed burning our slush lamps and I can assure you we did’nt forget to put plenty of week in them, any one coming between decks would fancy the ship to be on fire, I ad one swinging just in front of my cabin which made it lighter than ever it ad been before.
. sunday preaching in the Saloon for the first time = wind still blowing in the right direction = again the sea is delightful for a long time I stood in the main shrouds watching it, the ship looked like a thing of life cutting her course through the watter throwing it to one side in large heaps of foam
— stensail boom snaped off as short as a carrot while hoisting the sail, one of the sailors was thrown down and severely bruised
a delightful day and in the sun it’s quite warm which is a treat the whether of late has been so very coald.
in going up for our flour I found it so sour that I left it and would not be bothered with it = this morning we sighted a sail but it soon disappeared = this evening a consert in the fore hatch several good things were sung among which the Ship on fire, (sung by Mr West of Frome) which was first class = how could it be otherwise wen the slush lamps were flareing away
quite a gale of wind, asleep allmost out of the question = Laura dreaming in the night said that we were to give her him (Mr Stephens) some butter biscuit = we expected to sight Tasmania today but contrary winds blew us off, in the evening the wind veared round when the Capt thought there would be a chance of seeing it. but we ad to retire to bed without our wishes gratifyed = this afternoon the sailor Tim fell off the castle overboard but happily a wave rising at the time he ad the presence of mind to grasp hold of the jibboom stay and was saved. = once again our ship is visited by the grim messinger death, this time he strides into the saloon and placed his hands on a young man named Beaty = orders came from the Capt that each one was to whitewash his cabbin but we new a trick worth two of that, so in the night over board goes the cask of lime, and thus hended the whitewashing
death again is following us up, enother of Mr Fulljamses children died = today a butterfly was caught on board which was carried and viewed from one of end the ship to the other, a visiter without doubt from Tasmania = this evening just as the sun was guilding the eastern orison (mind we are the other side of the line) all at the time being as quiet as the grave the sea as calm and bright as a mirer won the two boddies of the deceased man and child were boarn along to the quarter deck to be cast into the deap.
three very fine albatross caught. = a very heavy fog the whole day = adead calm not a breath of wind no one required at the helm = all eyes strained expecting to see land but were disappointed = one of our fellow passengers which ad bourn with the hardships, tryals and vexations of a 3 months voyage bravely and ad often cheared us with his crowing died this evening because he could live no longer, his remains were placed in a coffin and this evening commited to the deap and thus hended the career of an (old game cock)
Still disapointed not sighting land = a dead calm again which at heny time is allmost unbareable but two foald more so, now we are so anxiously looking out for land = 4 p.m. the
wind springing up we are sailing at 8 nots an our = several albatross caught = For some time this afternoon there were five large wales playing around us= a most gorgeous sun set.
this being monday is the day for carrying peas to the galley to get boiled, the passingers usually ty them in a cloth making what they call peas pooding, one of the passengers called Copley (a dear poet) tied wat he supposed his peas up in a cloth fastening on the hend ofa piece of string a wood label with the letter C carved on it (the usual mode of marking so as to know ones things from enothers) Dear poet secures his pudding and carryes it below were he finds all ready seated at the dining table, Mrs C and all the little C’s waiting for their rich repast, the puding is placed on the table Mrs C assisting Mr C to unty the string when to the astonishmint of all the C’s and amid the laughter of the sarounding peas puding heaters out tumbled the puding consisting of a lot of boiled unroasted Coffee berries = at 9 a.m. two men as police men went below to take into custody a young man indited of being found sleeping ina young womans bed, after his being fully examined he was commited to take his tryal at the next assises which would commence at 2.p.m. the prisoner was then locked up, but 2 surieties being found in 1000 £ each for his appearince at 2 0 clock bale was accepted and the prisoner liberated. at 1.30 a.m. the jury was summonsed from the first second and third cabbins. precisely at 2 a.m. the coart hopined being densely crowded with passingers from all parts of the country, my Lord Chief Justice Armager took his seat, he was dressed in a long black cloth riding habbit, a wig made out of a lambs skin, and a very large pare of green specks. there were two councels for the prosecution and two for the defendant, who was dressed in the usual style with tremendious large sheepskins thrown over their heads to searve as wigs, their appearence as they hentered the coart looking so offuly sedate and grave caused much laughter after some conciderable time and much patience from the bench, horder was secured, when the clerk of the court opined the procedings by reading the inditement during which time the prisoner at the bar behaved in a very unbecoming maner (for one charged with such a grave offence) having to be called to horder several times by the cheaf constable. the prisoner still interrupting the coart by saying he could not hear wat the witnesses were saying, began to shift from the bar, when the constable was obliged to youse foarse to uplace him again. the witness for the prisoner being interogated by the learned counsel, gave some very evasive replyes and at last would’nt answer at all; was after much passience on the part of the judge, taken into custody for contempt of coart. during the examination of the witnesses the prisoner again interrupted the procedings, the chief constable called him to hoarder and at the same time seased hold of him to place him at the bar a scuffel ensued when the prisoner struck the chief constable, who immediately returned the complyment the crimson from the Prisoners pick axe, great excitement and much laughter ensued during which to ad to the confusion one of the tables being over loaded with human flesh gave way and came down with a crash. after some time order was restored and procedings continued the witnes’s for the prosecution were examined he declined to answer several questions not in the charge. the prosicution was next exhamined who verified all that the prisoner was indited with. The learned counsel for the prosicution and defence dilated at full length for some time, when at last my Lord Chief Justice appealed to the jury who retired for a short time, when after a short deliberation returned a verdict of guilty recommending the prisoner to mersy onaccount of his youth (21) the judge then adressed the prisoner telling him that the jurymen of his country ad found him guilty of the charge for which he stood indited. he should therefore sentince him according to the Act of Parliament (William Miles 1st Section 2nd
Chapter 3rd. that he was to be tied with a long roap to his waist, that he be led three times round the main deck of the ship and that while thus being led he was to be beaten over head and ears with flour bags by the female passengers, which to the letter was fully carryed out. = the day closed with a consert between decks I put up a raised platform for the musisions, it was numberously attended by all classes and gave general satisfaction.
a fine wind blowing with the waves running very high one of the sailors said that 3 of the waves were the highest he ad ever seen = sailing at 10 nots an our
this being Guy Fox day on board of ship as well as on land and all around the world the same, we wernt backward in coming forward to help in making up a Guy Fox it was a first rater. we intended in the evening to have stuck the old chap upright in a barrel of tar and then to have set the tar on fire and put it over board it would have been a grand sight we should have been able to watch it for miles but our Crusty hilltempered old captain sent the mate wen the coast was Clear to throw poor old guy overboard, which so exasperated the whole of the male passengers and the sailors that it was doubtful whether there would not be a mutiny on board. the young men made out a bill against the Capt. charging for boots, trousers, coat etc. amounting to £3..7s..@ 6. at the same time sending notice that unless paid before arriving in Auckland they should sue him for the ammount. =a lot of the men dressed up in all sorts of Guys in the evening paraded the decks every time they came by the capts cabin they gave three groans, all on board is excitement = to cloase the day there was a consert given by the sailors in the forecastle (we have 24 sailors)
a fine wailing ship passed us today. I sat for some considerable time this afternoon in the main round top watching the gambles of a lot of wales that were playing in all directions some of them were not more than 40 feet from us we could watch them dive down on one side of the ship and come up the other. some times they would just keep pace with us at enother time they would give a dive and after two or three minutes ad elapsed would rise again at some 2 or 3 miles distance = the doctor is geting generaly disliked on board because he was the means of having our guy fox thrown over board as we have found out that he perswaided the Skipper to have it done, wherehever he goes he is saluted with quack, Quack, QUACK!
a large school of wales as been gambling all round the ship the whole day. We are now rite in in the midst of the south sea wale fisheary the children are so delighted watching them and indeed so we all are On the forecastle this afternoon an old man droped down in a fit just miss he and’t gone over board, it caused great excitement = poor Tim is got into trouble again for insulting the Doctor, he is taken up and placed in irons and lodged in the companion where he manages to break all the windows and burst hopin the door after which he is taken to his old prison house and doomed to remain there ‘till we arive in Auckland. = A concert in the evening between decks
all on board today are in good spirits, eyes and glasses are in great demand throughout the day, we are all anxiously looking a head expecting to sight three large rocks called the three kings situated at the north cape of New Zealand and is the first land to be sighted. They were seen by emaginative eye a thousand times before they really came in sight. Herbert is as ancious as heny one on board onaccount of a lotteary on board several weeks ago, for sighting the three kings and Herberts fall due on the 9th (tomorrow) = the day which as been a delightful
One is fast declining the sun is just setting and still the deck of the forecastle is crowded with passengers anciously peering into the gloom for land, but at last darkness compels us to give up the search and while men, whimen and children are going gloomealy to their respective Kennals Herbert claps his hand in expectation of geting five shillings tomorrow
early this morning as soon as day light breaks all eyes were pearing into the gloom expecting to see land and among the most ancious stood Herbert as is 5/-was at stake; but breakfast time came and went and no land in sight, the morning passed away and still no land to be seen nothing but one expance of water, (one would fancy that Herbert was rite wen he said some weeks since when standing on the deck and looking around that the water looked like a large hoop and that we were rite in the senter and that our Capt. could’nt find his way out) Herbert left the deck rather reluctantly to go below to dinner, dinner over we were again on the forecastle and at the mast head looking out. = at 3 p.m. from the mast head a voice came rolling down LAND A HEAD yes realy New Zealand just before us about a quarter of an our after might be seen from the forecastle right a head, the long looked for land like a cloud rising up from the bosom of the sea, but all of us ad been doomed to disapointment before and for some time we kept silence in case it should once more prove cape flyaway but presently another little speck on the orison showed it self to the right and a little after another to the left, and the Capt. pronounced it to be land. Herbert claped his hands and fingered the five shillings. the whole afternoon did we stand riveted as it were to the decks spell bound watching the gradual growth of these three rocks ‘till about 5 p.m. wen they shone out in all their grandure, no one excepting those who as been under similar circumstances can fully understand the feelings, thoughts, and thankfullness felt wen first sighting the land of their addopted home especialy one so far away from that on which they last stood, the land of their birth and now distant more than sixteen thousand miles
early in the morning went on deck found that we were sailing close along under the land, it appeared very hilly and rugged in the extreme, we sailed slowly past headland after headland every one bringing with it fresh sceneary, once now and then could be seen a native ware (pronounced mory) in english a house or dwelling and now again as once before spy glasses, quising glasses, spectical glasses, hopera glasses, eye glasses and all other glasses were in great demand, one would declare that with his glass he could see a New Zealand native while another (probibily an old woman) would declare that her specks were much clearer than the gentlemans glass and that she could see the same monster and more than that he was stark naked, but on approaching the maori (pronounced mowry) he would change into a huge rock to the lafter of all hands and the shygreen of Mr Spyglass and Mrs Specks. At 10 a.m.
passed the Bay of Islands, a beautiful bay dotted throughout with beautiful Islands, and were the british first settled down, but were doomed to be driven away by the natives, and were finely obliged to settle down in Auckland = many a time have I sat by the river side in dear old England watching the dragon fly flitting from leaf to leaf along its banks without my offering to molest it, but the temptation was too grate today when one came of from the land to pay us a visit I caught it and examined it and in every respect both in size colour and shape was it like the ones I ad left faraway, nothing have occurred since leaving London now nearly 4 months since to remind me so much of home as this simple circumstance, catching a dragon fly (or as in childhood I was want to call them horse stingers) = at 4 p.m. passed several rocks called the Poor Knights and
were several years since Bishop Selwins missionary ship was lost, = the sailors throughout the voyage as been very quiet and peaceable one with the other ‘till this evening, wen the Boatswain and one of the sailors ad a few words on the forecastle which led to a few blows, but was soon hushed up and peace restored = contributions were set on foot for the sailors including the cook not the baker so you may give a guess how he was liked. = Testimonials were drawn up and numerously signed one for the first, second and third mates, and another for the crew including the Quartermaster, Boatswain and Chips. There was nota one for the Capt. and Doctor and as far as I am conserned they did not deserve one = 5 p.m. passed a large rock with several smaller ones around it and which is very apropriatedly called the hen and chicken = at 11 p.m. came in sight of the little barrier a large Island standing up abruptly in the sea, the moon is now shining down upon us delightfuly and we seem to be allmost touching the barrier just before us = the wind as dyed away and we have a dead calm, the sea is as smooth as a silvered plate of glass, most of the passingers are going to stop up all night, but I shall wish you good night and go once more to my prison in hopes that tomorrow night I may sleep with a roof over my head instead of a deck
coming on deck hearly this morning found that we ad sailed scarsealy heny distance in the night there stood right before us the barrier and which we were gradualy nearing going so cloase that we began almost to think that the Capt was getting tired of our company and was going to land us on this island instead of Auckland but deascent as it might have been, still to those who ad neither seen neither tree or bush for many a long week it appeared like a garden of eden and I think I dare answer for it that on board the William Miles there was not one but would have liked to have landed there and taken a ramble for an our or two among its natural sceneary =6 a.m. tacked and gradually boar away from the barrier scarcely heny wind = 8 a.m. a dead calm the water as smooth as glass and very clear = shoals of fish are swimming around us the whole day = all on board are vexed that we have ad no wind, ad we; we should have reached Auckland to day, but now night is fast settling down, and with it hour expectation of reaching the desired haven, but we are hoping against hope as the wind is now (9.30 p.m) freshening up as night is settling in the Capt. asures us that it would not be practicable to procede farther without a pilot which the Capt endeavours to secure by sending up two sky rockets (and which we have ascertained were plainly seen by the people in Auckland and also by the Pilot, but as the time he was otherwise ingaged and so could not answer to our call) = fires are plainly seen on shoar which we stand gazing at till at last tired of watching one after another goes to their respective domeciles and there anxiously await the morrow
very hearly this morning did the Passingers of old billey rub their eyes to get then hopen and tumbeling out of their births were soon dressed and on deck. we seem to be surrounded on all sides with headlands. The land is very mountainous and rugged = about two miles ahead of us rises an island with its summit rising its creast some two thousand feet above the levil of the sea, the name of the island is rangatoto ‘tis of volcanic formation and is one of the many burning mountains which at some period must have lit up the whole province of Auckland, and according to many statement rangatoto was the last to be extinguished in this province = on the oposite side of rangatoto a headland runs its head some distance out into the sea just round that head and we shall have Auckland rite in view = the breakfast whistle is now sounding but there is’nt that rush to the galley for hot water as there formaly was there appears to be a coald
indiference among the passengers a kind of I ‘dont care whether I get breakfast or not = Wm. Miles esq. is now approaching the head land in fine stile I assend the round top from whence looking over the narrow neck of land I obtain a fine view of my future home = a Pilot comes on board = the ship rounds the head and there sure enough right in front of us is the Town and Harbour of Auckland = the place that Pady Miles’ boy as been trying to find for months is found at last at 10 a.m. down goes the anchor and grapples in the mud, once more for the first time since they were lifted out of the mud at graves hend = at 1 p.m. myself and Olive taking Laura with us imbarked in a small boat and proceeded to the shore and landing we really and truly found our selves at last in AUCKLAND. we rambled up and down the city which to us NEW CHUMS (as the old inhabitants are want to call fresh arivals) looked somewhat different to wat we ad been accustomed to, to see for the most part wooden buildings, streets unpaved, roads very ruff, natives tattooed and dressed in a blanket, but still amid it all there was a touch of old England in it, and heny one might see that we were not the first English immigrants that ad landed on those distant shoars, no there are English shops, English mills, English factories, English stores, English Churches and English Chaples and on the sign boards were unmistakability English names, yes! there were Jones, Browns, and Smiths, after rambiling about for some time we called on Mr Higgins to whome we ad a letter of recommendation, we found him a kind hopen hearted man indeed; we stoped at his house and took tea, after which we went on board the Wm. Miles Mr Higgins accompanying us to the ship = on reaching the deck I found that during our absence some one ad been on board inquireing for paper hangers no sooner hearing which than I was away on shoar again and ingaged myself to a Mr Bowman as Paper hanger, it is now very dark and I hastin on board to take my last nights caged in my old cabin
— hearly this morning all is bustle and stir, buisey packing our boxes, tying up our bed and bed clothes, in fact all are preparing to take a last farewell = about 10 a.m. Mr Higgins came on board and brought Lots of fruit with him for the children, at the same time we ad engaged a boat to take us on shoar, steping of the deck of the W.M. we take a last farewell - and reaching the shoar we are in our newly adopted home yes we are in AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND.
I remain my dear Father & Mother
your affectionate Son,
James Morris
