Herbert Mackarsie journal

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large ship. At 3 dined with Commdr. On coming on deck after dinner was suprized to see one of the Petty Officers in irons : it seems he had been put there by Pridham : when the Commdr came up they had some words which terminated by Pridham being put under arrest. In the evening played whist in the cabin.

August 29th Still a strong breeze and nasty - At 8 Commdr sent for Pridham, but I was unable to find out the result; Such judged from appearances that the whole affair would come before the Admiral, and therefore kept out of the way. Now saw the land on staraboard bow. Discovered that Christian had given orders to Pridham to navigate the Ship, but no longer to be Commanding Officer.

August 30th At 2 am stood in for the lands; daylight [Oleida?] on our Sec bow; a strong breeze running 9 knots. At 9.30 lighted fires & got steam up. At 11 how to and hosited a signal for a Pilot : at 1 Pilot came on board but could not go in the tide not out answering till 4.30 when we got in and moored in a most bungling manner, it was seven o'clock before we were finished just at which time two gentlemen from the shore came on board : after smoking and a glass of whiskey toddy they went on shore with two of our officers : Commdr went to the Consuls.

August 31st Blowing very fresh : had an visitation to a drive in the country : heard that Cholera was raging fearfully at Bahia, people actually dying in the streets.

Employed watering ship. At noon went ashore with most of the Officers, and accompanied Sennow to a dentist where his he had a tooth stopped : afterwards had a carriage and went out to Cashnagar with some gentlemen, dined, played at bowls and returned to Town about 8. Had a row with some

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Soldiers, and eventually got to bed by ten.

Saturday September 1st. At Pernambuco. All of us very tired and sleepy - Arrived a large American barque. At 11 the English Consul (Mr. Cooper) came on board, going ashore with the Commdr in the afternoon - At 4 a Party went out riding - Invited to a Whiskey Toddy turn out, but declined, going on board by 7 PM and having made it Saturday night - turned in.

Sunday September 2nd . At Pernambuco - Blowing very fresh, with showers of rain - At 9 went to Divisions and performed Divine Service, Pridham doing duty in consequence of the Commdr being on shore. After dinner gave liberty to 42 men - Heard of our having lost many men on the Coast of Africa, in the Teazer, at an assault in the Malacouri River, the Officer in command of the troops being scalped and then cut to pieces. At 5 some of our Officers went ashore for a ride, sunset sent a boat for a liberty men: many of them came off very drunk, half of them remaining ashore.

September 3rd A few more came off, all very shaky: after breakfast sent a boat for the remainder, found out that three of them were put in prison. In the evening went ashore: Purser very drunk, made a mess in his cabin.

September 4th At 8 a Pilot came on board, commenced unmooring: hoisted the ensigns at each mast head. 9 weighed and steamed out of harbor: 9.30 Pilot left : 10 let the fires go out, and made sail. An increase on the [?] in consequence of giving leave, but now very serious - Up fan, and stood away to the Sward under easy sail. Saw a great many black fish, some very large - Exercise after quarters at shifting sails.

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September 5th Very light airs from the Sward a little after daylight saw the land, two sail in sight. After Quarters exercise at making and shortning sail, and shifting jib - At 9 shortned sail and bow up.

September 6th - Daylight made sail, and let stinsails running before the wind for Massas - Christian and Pridham had some words on deck about the distance off, evident symptoms of a row on falling in with the Admiral. In the afternoon a fresh breeze - At 5 saw the Toron, 6 came to an anchor in 7 fths and furled sails: two English vessels also at anchor. In the evening, there was a grand illumination on account of some Festa day.

September 7th At 8 hoisted Ensigns at the mass heads, it being the Anniversary of the Brazilian Independency.

At 9 went to General Quarters, and fired at a target, at a distance of 700 yds. In the afternoon the Floating Cloud sailed for Liverpool, dipping her ensign as she passed under our stern - At 4 Commdr and several Officers went ashore. As soon as it was dark I went on board the May Queen of Liverpool to enquire if he could sell us some hams - At 11 Commdr & Offs came off.

Septr 8th Very sultry, cleaning ship throughout in the forenoon some gentlemen came to breakfast with Commdr. In the afternoon prepared for Sea : at 5 have short, made sail and weighed. At 7 we had a heavy squall, shortned sail as required, remembered Saturday night and turned in.

Sunday September 9th 1855 - A beautiful morning, going to the Sward under easy sail; spread quarter deck awning - At 9.30 went to Divisions, mustered by Open List, & performed Divine Service. At 3 Commdr & an Engineer dined in the

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Gun Room. In the evening Shortned Sail

Septr 10th A strong breeze blowing : put the Paymaster on the List with Ulcers, from which he had been suffering for a length of time without using any means of cure, altogether in a very rotten state. Cleaned ship throughout preparatory to painting ship inside. Passed a Schooner running to the Sward - AT 5 Went to General Quarters : double reefed the foretopsail - In the evening squallys

September 11th Morning very showery; Seven on my Sick List. After dinner it cleared up and recommended painting but just as we had finished the first coat in the evening it came on again to blow and rain -

September 12th A fine day with fresh breeze, found the paint was not hurt, just on the second coat.

September 13th Employed cleaning the wood and brass work, and blacking shot racks, ring bolts &c. In the forenoon caught a fine dolphin. Opened our ports again to let fresh air into the cabins; they were scarcely opened, when a sea came into Pridhams, and regularly swamped it -

Septemer 14th A beautiful morning, employed putting the upper deck to rights, scaping and cleaning shot and at most requisite.- In the evening, it rained very hard.

September 15th Holy stoned decks, hatched & cleaned & white washed lower deck - Many dolphins knocking about - Writing letters to Mother and William - In the evening the band played some very good music. Played Whisk in the cabin till 9, had a glass of grog, two or three pipes on deck and turned in at 11 -

Sunday September 16th At Sea - A beautiful morning At 9.30 Mustered by Divisions & performed Divine Service. At 1 bore ship . At 3 Commdr and Booth dined with us. At 5 kept away under easy sail, for Bahia.

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September 17th I made sail running below the wind at 7.30 saw the land. 8 passed a barque under Spanish Colors.- two sail in sight. Made a lottery about the time of getting our mail - 9 Exercised small arm men at musket drill. Got my letters ready for England. At 11 saw the smoke of a steamer to the Sward, [?] made her out to be the Packet. At 2 anchored off the town of Bahia, dist about 3 miles - Commdr went for letters returning at 4 bringing me letters from Mother, L-q, Eversfield, and two on Service, one saying any Accounts had passed - In the evening answered letters - Cholera very bad on shore, deaths averaging 200 daily.

September 18th very hot with a light land breeze. 7.30 mail bags were closed. At 8 Commdr took them on board the Steamer. At 1 PM the Tay passed us on her way to England; at 2 the Commdr came on board, and at three we got our stock, and sent our clothes to be washed. The Tank came alongside and we commenced completing with water, but being late before it was finished, we could not go to sea tonight - Several of the Officers went ashore to bathe - In the evening had the band up to play to a beautiful moonlight night - After 8 PM had cards in the cabin: went to bed early.

September 19th Calm and showery sent some duck on shore to have trowsers made. At noon Commdr went on board the Brazilian Admiral's Ship, most of her men had deserted on account of Cholera - Tank came alongside with water - Weighed and made sail. In the evening came to in 17 fths with a Ridge. 9.30 Went to General Quarters, firing with broad side guns blank. Cards in the Cabin, and turned in at two.

September 20th At 5.30 weighed and made Sail, standing in towards the town of Bahia - Anchored at sunset - Spanish brig went into harbor. 10 PM calm and moonlight

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September 21st. Calm with a long heavy swell - At 9 went to General Quarters - In the forenoon exercised at firing at a target with muskets. At 3 a signal from the Brazilian Admiral, that he was in want of assistance: furled awnings, up anchor, and made sail in. A large American Ship came in and anchored - At 6 Shortned sail and came to in 14 fths, furled sails - Commdr went ashore, coming on board about nine, a mistake about the signal -

September 23rd Cloudy and calm. Boat came off with fresh beef and vegetables - Cholera on the decline. In the afternoon went ashore with Kinnear, played billiards and came off at sunset.

Sunday September 23rd. At anchor - off Bahia - At 9 went to Divisions, inspected ship, and performed Divine Service - 3 Commdr and an Engineer dined with us. Afterwards Officers went on shore to see a Fetta, a Procession intended to drive away the Cholera.

September 24th Arrived a Portuguese Screw Steamer - 8.30 Tank came alongside - Price of Stock very dear : In the afternoon a friend (Sparrow) came on board - All Officers except Pridham went ashore - 9.30 HMS Express came in and anchored, bringing us orders to proceed to Pernambuco -

Septemer 25th Very hot, calm and uncomfortably heard of a grand defeat of the Russians - Mortality in the vicinity rather large 15,000 in a month from Cholera. An invitation to a Ball sent off to the Officers -

September 26th Blowing very fresh, with a long heavy swell, Dr Sole dined with me - Old Ross had a great row with Pridham in consequence of not getting a boat to go ashore to the party. Send Commdr Mil.

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September 27th 6.30 lighted fires and got steam up. 9 Have short and weighed shaping a course of Pernambuco; when we left Cholera was on the decrease but more than 15000 had fallen victims : heard Fever was much on the increase at Pernambuco - Made & shortned sail as requisite.

September 28th Woke in the morning with headache and after seeing the sick seven in No was glad to turn in.

September 29th Passed a very miserable night, but felt a little better in the morning. Employed cleaning ship thoughout - Weather very hot tho there was a fine breeze. There was no Saturday night for me except in thought for I felt so very unwell, indeed I began to think of cholera.

Sunday September 30th At Sea - During the first part of the night I was very ill, and did not fall asleep till 2, waking again at 5 but better, and at 8 was able to eat some breakfast a very fine cool morning - Passed a ship during the night - At 9.30 went to Divisions. Mustered by Open List, and performed Divine Service. Could not ask the Commdr to dine with us, not having any wine or beer in the Mess - In the evening breeze freshened again and we lay our course.

Monday October 1st 1855. A fine fresh breeze, kept away, and made sail: at 8 we were going 9 knots - only three on the list. Expedite to get into Pernambuco, in time to save the English mail tonight. At 2 saw the land on the lee beam, made sail. At 4 Set stirsails : 5 made out Glenda and several vessels at anchor in the Outer Roads, among them a large steamer. 6 came to an anchor in 7 fths, and furled sails - The Avon was here, having the English Mail on board, and several other English vessels. Sent on board the Avon and got some papers from her, but felt most damnably annoyed at not being

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able to get our letters -

October 2nd At 7 the Health boat came off and put us fifteen days in Quarantine - wrote a letter to Eversfield and closed my Quarterly Accounts. At 11 Mr Cooper our Consul came alongside offering us every assistance during our penance and requesting us to remain here as there was likely to be a disagreement between him and the Swedish Consul relative to a Merchant Brig, towed in by the Avon, for which the Captain claimed salvage. At noon the Commdr went on board the Avon, returning at 1 and bringing on board a very pretty English lady (very much like Anty) her husband and the Mail Agent, an old Lieutenant of 27 years standing: I at once fattened on him and tried all my persuasive power to induce him to open the bag and give us our mail, but all was labour lost; After looking round the ship, and having a glass of wine they went away, and soon after the Avon went to Sea with our letters - In the evening played at pitch and toss on deck

October 3rd arrived two Merchant Vessels - Got fresh beef and vegetable from the store; heard of a Schooner from Rio having lost two hands from Cholera - All very dull on board.

October 4th Very hot but managed to shift fan topsail yard in 15 minutes: dined with Commdr

October 5th. Thermometer 79°. Exercised at General Quarters. A French Brig went in - Ship rolling heavily. Just in our scuttles : at 5 weighed and made sail, standing out to sea - In the evening had a rubber of whisk in the cabin - Saw a large ship pass under a heavy press of sail.

October 6th - Cruizing under easy sail - Employed cleaning ship throughout. After Quarters exercised shifting foresail, but as it was badly done at first, we repeated

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it three times and the last time it was managed in eight minutes - In the evening we had cards in the cabin, and made Saturday night about half past eleven and turned in.

Sunday October 7th 1855. At Sea - Sight airs and very hot - 9.30 went to Divisions and performed Divine Service - At 2 the Commdr and Booth dined with us, the dinner and wine being a complete failure - In the evening tacked.

October 8th - Bare up at daylight and ran in toward the land with all sail set: at 8 saw Glinda on our starboard beam: At 1 shortned sail and at 2 came to an anchor in 8 ftms, furled sails - Found several Merchant vessels at anchor, all under Quarantine. In the afternoon a boat came off with fresh grub - The rats getting very troublesome and destructive.

October 9th Very hot, employed clearing out Store Rooms and as most requisite. At noon the shore boat came off with Stock.

October 10th Arrived a Scotch Brig from Gruno H Surveyed Gunner's Stores : very hot, sailed a Brazilian brig - In the afternoon an English brig came in. At night they had cards in the cabin but I did not join.

October 11th At 8 Hone short, and prepared for sea: after Quarters weighed and made sail on the Starboard tack: every one growling words than ever: only one on my List. In the afternoon tried reate of sailing with an American Barque - AFter Quarters exercised shifting topsails - In the evening much lightning.

October 12th At 6 wore ship, made sail, and stood in towards the land - A fine large American ship under

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a heavy press of sail - on our weather heavy. Steering to the Sward - 9.30 went to General Quarters: in the evening a fire was reported on board some ship to leeward of us, where we at once made sail and bore down towards her, but after running some time we found it was merely a fire on the shore - At9 shortned sail -

October 13th At 6 made sail - Employed cleaning ship throughout, white washing holes & c. In the evening exercised reefing and making sail - Showed lights to a large barque, about 500 yards to leeward of us.

Sunday, October 14th At Sea. At 6 bore away and made sail towards Pernambuco: 9 breeze freshened, shortned sail, and hauled on a wind, finding we were by some mistake to leeward of our port: 9.30 mustered by Open List, inspected ship, and performed Divine Service : 11 tacked and again made sail : at 2 Commdr and Deal dined with us - About 6 came to an anchor, furled sails -

October 15th At 8 lighted fires, got steam up, and fired a gun for a Pilot: 9 banked up fires, the water being too low to allow us to get in : at 3 the Pilot came off, when we weighed and steamed inside of the Recipe & moored ship - Yellow Fever prevalent on shore. In the evening went ashore, played billiards and got on board by seven next morning.

October 16th At Pernambuco - Paid Ship's Company Monthly Allowance money - Brazilian Corvette went out of harbor - At 7 went ashore played a match of billiards and won - 10 got to the Europa, where we remained some time in consequence of a heavy fall of rain-

October 17th Arrived a French Brig of War from Rio just in Quarantine at once. Heard of 160 Slaves being