2151_6-1-diary

Mrs. Hughes, a very pleasant little woman, who spoke French very well: the principal objection was two children, one a little girl about 5 years old, who was constantly blowing on a damned brass trumpet, much to my annoyance. At 10.30 weighed and steamed down the river and came to an anchor at sunset: after all was snug we had a game of Vingt une with the passengers: and it was twelve o'clock before I turned in-

April 27th At daylight we weighed and steamed down the river till we arrived near to one of the passes, when we anchored and sent boats away to launch: in the usual passage there were only nine feet so of course we could not go through : so we weighed and crossed to the other side to search for another channel: raining all day long - In the evening we had a round game at cards and Mrs Hughes sang part of Norma. Turned in very early.

April 28th At 6 I was awoke by Mr & Mrs Hughes singing a duet: Commander went away sounding, and was some time before he found a passage: on his return we fired a gun for the gig which had also gone away for the same purpose, to recall her, and after anchoring and weighing several times about 4 P.M. came in sight of Bella Vista where we anchored; and our Passengers and Commdr went ashore, with some of the Officers. In the evening, we had plenty of mosquitoes, and as I was left to myself, I shut myself up in my cabin, made it Saturday night and was sound asleep before ten o'clock -

Sunday April 29th 1855 At 8 some ladies & gentlemen came on board to see the ship, unfortunately they could not speak a word of either English or French, so I had much trouble to explain the different cabins, guns &c, one of them much taller and stronger than [Janet Dian-die?] At 10 the

3

Officers came on board after having spent a very pleasant evening and returning with several braces of partridges, ducks and pigeons, which they shot (what a shame) while the bells were tolling for Mass: about 11 Mr & Mrs H and Commdr came on board with several visitors, but I was glad when the order was given to get under weigh, and by noon we were running down the River at the rate of eleven knots. All of the party yesterday very seedy, while I was enjoying myself at their expense. At 1 PM we had music and singing, I am sorry to say not Sacred, but Cathleen my [bourneau?] was beautifully sung by Mrs H. At sunset the mosquitoes came off in swarms, and when we anchored at dusk, it was not safe to open your mouth, alike on deck & below: I thought myself safe in my cabin and went there, but not to sleep; oh! it was a miserable night.

April 30th At daylight weighed: at 8 came to a very narrow pass; the river not being above 100 yards wide, and the mosquitoes as bad as last night, making it almost impossible to sit down to write. About 10 we had a Pampero, very heavy, so that we did not steam through the water more than three knots: the Henry Grant is a great Junk as usual, and our lady passenger rather "squamish"; after a while a bit of a swell got up and I got (if you can call it so) a sea into my cabin. At 5 blowing very hard, passed several small schooners. At 6.30 anchored after which had a round game at cards, and then turned in without any mosquitoes, the wind being too much for them.

Tuesday May 1st 1855 River Plate. Weighed at daylight the morning cold, Thermometer down to 48°. Passed a Schooner with ammunition for the Brazilian Squadron, not knowing they had gone down. At 10 a Steamer came in sight and we stopped to communicate: we got our

Mail and I had the usual letters from Mother and Sissy: in the Papers we saw Pridham's promotion which gave me very great pleasure, as he will in all probablility have us on our arrival at Buenos Ayres: an hour afterwards we passed a Brazilian Corrienthe in tow of a Steamer, Commdr went on board. The weather again becoming very cold. At dusk came to an anchor. Had cards in the evening. An Eclipse of the moon at 10

May 2nd At daylight again started, and by 10 we were off Panama, when we came to an anchor: Commander and Hughes went ashore. After dinner Clayhills and Gunner went shooting and the Purser went up to town: weather very cold but dry At 7 the sportsmen returned bringing a few snipe & partridges. Turned in very early.

May 3rd At daylight another shooting party went away. 9 Purser came back from town. Diarrhoea again appearing among the Ship's Company. At noon the party returned but with very few birds - Passed a Brazilian Steamer having in tow a 10 gun brig. Mr and Mrs H went ashore to see the town. In the afternoon weighed and dropped down the river opposite to where the remainder of the coals was, & again anchored and got a hawser out for transporting the gunman. In the evening Commdr & Mr Hughes went ashore, so I was left to entertain Mrs H. The mosquitoes very troublesome.

May 4th Commdr went away shooting: employed coaling Vaccinated little Johnny Hughes: at noon Commdr came back with four brace of birds. Purser again went to the town, very anxious to have me with him, however I felt more at home on board. At 1, a Brazilian Screw Steamer of War passed down the River. In the afternoon another partridge went away, returning about dusk for a good many birds : Commdr and Hughes went ashore: had singing and music in the cabin. Purser went to town as usual. 9 Commdr and Hughes came on board.

5

May 5th At daylight three officers went out shooting: continued taking in the remainder of our coals which we managed by nine. At 10 All came on board with the Pilot & a passenger 78 years of age and as active as a man of 20. At 11 lighted fires, weighed, as soon as the steam was up, but in going round the took the ground forward and stuck fast, got a hawser out astern, reversed the Engines, and after some trouble hove her off, and went on our course - Passed several vessels on a passage up. At dusk anchored: about a schooner passed close to us, saying she had provisions, but they were for the Brazilians - Cards in the evening -

Sunday May 6th 1855 Daylight weighed and steamed downward passing several sailing craft and a single Brazy Steamer. At 2 Came to an anchor off the town of Rosario, where we found the Brazilian Squadron: an officer came on board from their Senior Officer to pay their respects, which we returned. Soon afterwards: shortly after anchoring the English Vie Consul paid us a visit with a lot of other fellows, much to my annoyance, as we were at dinner, and the Commdr being sick and the cabin occupied by Mrs Hughes, they were all introduced into the Gun room: there being a Theatre on shore in the evening, the Consul offered all the Officers seats in his stall : and Mr & Mrs Hughes with Clayhills went ashore, returning at 7: the mosquitoes again came off in swarms: at 8 there was an attempt made for a display of fire works, but it was very poor. During the afternoon we had any quantity of visitors, and a request from an English gentleman for a passage for himself and wife to B. Ayres

May 7th At 7 got steam up and hove short: several Brazy boats came alongside with letters: the Consul came on board trying to get a passage for the English family, which of course we could not grant, not having any more accommodation, at seven bells did not forget the day of the month with a glass of Queens Sherry

6

9 weighed and steamed down the River, passed several stuck craft and after quarters excercised at shifting sails - At dusk as usual came to an anchor among lots of mosquitoes -

May 8th Weighed again at daylight and went on our course; the breeze being fair made all possible sail - Towards evening it had a very threatening appearance, with lightning so the Pilot coming to anchor which we did at once in 9 fths.

May 9th A thick fog and very cold raw weather, at 8 a Brazy Steamer passed: at 9 it cleared up a little when we weighed and went onwards passing a complete of Schooners going up 9.30 Passed Martero Garcia a small scattered town: it was now very thick and we were uncertain if we could proceed having to pass a very intricate place, where there was only twelve feet of water, however we went on having a look out man at the jib boom end: at 3 it cleared up a little and we could see the shipping in the Outer Roads of Buenos Ayres, so we went ahead at full speed and by four came to an anchor in the middle roads about 2 miles from the Town, where the Passengers, Commdr and Pilot went on shore: at 6 the boats returned: the mosquitoes worse tonight than they were up the River, had supper and turned in.

May 10th Very foggy, at 6 sent gig ashore for the Commander, after Quarters with the Cutter in: Engineers and Stokers repairing and cleaning the Engines - At 1 the boats returned bringing me a letter from Eversfield, a card and bundle of cigars from John Kirk and an invitation from him to make his house my home when at Buenos Ayres. At 4 Commdr and Pilot came off, lights fired, got steam up, weighed and proceeded to the outer roads, where we anchored about 6.30, let the fires go out & disconnected. Evening very cold.

May 11th At daylight weighed and made sail with a light