Herbert Mackarsie journal

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Wednesday June 20th 1855 - Being the anniversary of the Accession of our Queen, the ship was dressed and a general holiday made - Red Jacket sailed for England At noon Flag Ship Madagascar fired a Royal Salute, the French, American and Brazilian returning it, and at the same time, giving three cheers. At 3 the Vixen came over and went up to the Coal Wharf preparatory to going home. In the evening there was a grand display of fireworks on shore.

June 21st Very unwell, suffering from headache: Surgeon of Flag Ship came on board to see me - Spy came in from the [Neoarch?] having Yellow Fever on board, 10 fatal cases: put in Quarantine. In the evening most of the Officers went on shore to the Opera - At 8 a heavy shower of rain.

June 22nd - Exercised at General Quarters - Heard of another death on board the Spy. In the afternoon Drs Byrne and Woodcock came on board and shortly afterwards Dr Crocker and Eversfield - Heard from them that we are all to go out on a cruise with the Admiral on the 28th, after which the Vixen was to sail for England - Spy has sent several of her hands to the Hospital but was relieved from Quarantine - Took a dose of Calomel and Opium and turned in.

June 23rd At 8 the Vixen came down from the Coal Wharf and anchored close to us. Heard of the arrival of the Lindersforne from Liverpool - Felt a little better and able to attend to the Sick without assistance from Flag Ship. 10 Pridham went on shore to endeavour to enter men being now thirteen short of complement with the prospect of invaliding two or three more - Came off in the evening bringing with him four men; made it Saturday night in

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hot rum and water and turned in after having taken a large dose of Calomel and Opium -

June 24th At daylight went to Quarters, and cleaned guns and arms: at 8 very uncomfortable from the heat spread awnings as a most unusual occurence - Last night a fire broke out in the City, destroying three houses and much valuable property : the Express and Trident were the only ships who sent their crews on shore to give assistance. At 1 a General signal for all the Commanders to dine on board Flag Ship tomorrow at 5 PM. Examined and passed three men for our Ship - At 7 went on board Sharpshooter for some medicine - Most of our Officers on shore. At 8 came on board and turned in.

June 25th Very hot - and unpleasant - Spy's fellows getting better. Arrived and anchored HMS Lyne with Stores Vc from Ascension - At noon a Signal from the Flag Ship to prepare for sea at 9 am tomorrow - great excitement among the Squadron in bending V setting sails. At 5 Commdr and the other Captains dined with the Admiral.

June 20th At 9 weighed and made sail with all the Squadron excepting Madagascar and Tyne. 10 Vixen took Flag Ship in tow, wind falling very light and a flood tide commencing - Pridham gave up charge as Commanding Officer - 10.45 Taken in tow by the Trident, astern of the Express and Sharpshooter - 1.30 Sea breeze set in, cast off and made sail. At 3 a general Signal to form line of batch in two divisions, the Admiral taking the lead: shortly afterwards finding we were drawing ahead of Flag Ship, a signal made to us from her ordering us to tack immediately, and in a few minutes again we

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were ordered to go round, and to keep astern and under see of the Admiral : Stood off and on the land making and shortning sail as requisite - At 9 there was a Blue light burned and a night signal made for General Quarters : in three minutes our hoist gun was fired, and we went on firing broadsides in Co with the Admiral, ship, firing in all 55 rounds - 10.30 finished and called the watch.

June 27th At 7.30 A signal from Flag Ship to prepare to fire at a target, and a reprise and at the same time for having hoisted the answering fired out at the fore instead of the main - 9 another signal to get down Screw and prepare for steaming. At 10 the target was out when we commenced firing with shell, grape & ground shot: the other vessels doing the same but there being a good deal of sea on and the craft rolling [?] heavily we could not get the guns to bear and consequently made some very indifferent shots, some of the ships nearby firing into each other : after that was over we were ordered to fire at a target with musketry : at this fun we were about an hour, when he made a signal for all ships to wear in succession - It was no sooner dark than he began night signals keeping us backing and filling till ten.

June 28th All was very quiet till 9.30 a signal was made to close, and as soon as we were all pretty well abreast, our first manoeuvre was to reef topsails, and then to shift foretopsail yard and sail, in all of which the Express was first and was complemented for it by signal from the Admiral : at 11.30 I thought all was finished for the forenoon, when we were ordered to make sail, try

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rate of sailing and steer NNW the Trident & Sharpshooter were soon passed, and in a little time we came up with and passed the Flag and the Express, the Vixen taking the lead of all and keeping it - by one, we must have been two miles ahead of Trident and three of Sharpshooter - When we got in sight of Raza Sight a signal was made to close the Admiral, when we hauled on a wind and stood off the hand : about 10 the Flag tacked without making any signal and very barely escaped running over us -

June 29th At 7.30 there was a funeral on board the Flag Ship, after the corpse was buried, there was an order to reverse order of sailing. At 9 A general signal that there would be a chance of sending letters to Rio At 11 a signal for various evolutions - At 1 Admiral went on board Vixen where his flag was hoisted, where he steamed through the Squadron exercising at reefing, furling &c and frequently firing a gun for any particular ship where they were slow. At 3 the finishing pendant went up which every one was glad to see and the Adirmal left in the Vixen for Rio, distant about 15 miles

June 30th Sight winds, Sharpshooter a long distance to leeward, ships still in the same order of sailing. Employed cleaning ship throughout - could just make out the Sugar loaf, dead to windward - At 11.30 signed the Quarterly Bills, closed my Quarterly Accounts, & made out Mess Bills - After dinner much to my satisfaction, my friend Clayhills volunteered to relieve me of the Catership after examining the Mess Books, and finding a surplus - At 3 A signal from the Flag Ship to close, Sharpshooter - nearly hull down astern. In the evening had a round game, made it Saturday night and turned in.

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Sunday July 1st 1855 At sea. Very light winds, and dead an end : Sharpshooter nearly out of sight. At 9.30 a signal from the Flag Ship, to keep more regular order - 10 Went to Divisions, the Band playing on board the Flag. The Sugar Loaf bearing NE distant about 15 miles - Rated some Ordy Seamen to AB's -

July 2nd At 8 saw the Vixen coming out having the Admiral on board. At 9 she stopped close to us - Sharpshooter just in sight standing towards us. At 10 the old game began again and he kept us all at it till 11.30 when he went on board his own ship, but was no sooner on deck than he recommenced with redoubled vigor till dinner time when we had a quiet hour : directly afterwards we had all sorts of manoeuvres till 5 PM when we went to supper and were not again disturbed till 9.

July 3rd At 3 tacked when within 3/4 of a mile of the shore At daylight cloudy with frequent showers of rain. At 9 wore and stood in towards the Sand : At 10 up went our old friend the Preparative, when a signal was made to exercise at Tog Signals when a great deal of drumming and firing was gone through, this over, we had the old game of reefing topsails, which continued till noon when we again formed order in two columns and stood out to sea wearing and tacking at the Admirals will. At 5 it looked rather threatning when we all reefed topsails: at 6 heavy rain which continued till midnight.

July 4th A beautiful cool morning : working for the mouth of the harbor. At 7 the Trident was sent away to tow the Express and Sharpshooter, nearly hull down to leeward - A very heavy swell from the Seward. At 11 a signal for Vixen to take Flag Ship in tow, which she did after the second attempt in a very indifferent manner : when passing us, she made a signal to Trident to take us in tow : at 1 Trident with the other two

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in tow, also took us altho' a fine sea breeze had sprung up : much to our annoyance as we could have sailed in much quicker : at 2.40 passed the Fort of Santa Cruz and at 4 let go the hawsers and came to an anchor in our old position, abreast of the Maddagascar where we moored her. Vixen went up to the Coal Wharf and the other vessels took up their respective stations. There was a large fleet, our own Admiral, French Co and the Peruvian Commodore, whose ship was anchored close to us, and on board her were several ladies, and a fine band playing - In the evening most of the Officers went on shore.

July 5th Calm and very close and sultry. When I got up I found a letter on Service for me ordering me on board the Flag Ship on a survey at 11, did not at all like it. Quite surprised with the size of the Ship - In the evening went ashore and got on board again with the Commr at 11 -

July 6th Very hot, every one looking anxiously for the Main Heard of any box of pipes being at the Office of Fox & Co - In the evening went ashore -

July 7th In the forenoon Drs Woodcock and Sole came on board Went on board the Vixen in the evening, and having made it Saturday night got on board again by 10 -

July 8th Very wet and close, examined three men who came from the shore : as appearance of the Packet. A continual heavy rain all day - In the afternoon most of the Officers went ashore.

July 9th At 10 went on board Madagascar with an Hospital case, raining hard all day

July 10th Got my box of pipes from Mr Hill and bought a ticket for the Lottery. In the evening very wet & miserable

July 11th Very anxious about the lottery. At 11 got a paper found [?] mine a blank - Went on board the Camilla for my washed clothes, could not find them : heard

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Sharpshooter was going up the River, Vixen to leave for England on the 16th and that we were to go to the Nward with the Flag Ship - In the evening went on board Vixen, returned at 10.

July 12th Very unwell from a severe cold one of my messmates appointed to the Flag Ship : letter bag closed for England

July 13th Trident went out to tow in the American Frigate Savannah - In the evening went ashore with Deal, the other Officers at the Opera - Came on board at half past seven - Camilla left for the River

July 14th Clayhills left to join the Flag Ship. At 3 went on board Vixen with an Invalid - 8 made it Saturday night and went easily to bed.

Sunday July 15th 1855 At 9.30 went to Division and Church - Mail steamer Avon steamed out of harbor for England - Eversfield dined on board, in the evening went ashore, had a long walk with Haywood and Deal, returning on board at 11 PM.

July 10th At 9 Sharpshooter got steam up preparatory to towing out the Tyne 10 went out together - the Sharpshooter for the River, the other going to England - Noon very hot and close after the strong gale of wind and rain we had during the night. In the evening went on shore, met several of the Vixen's Officers, got on board by ten.

July 17th Felt very unwell. At 9 went to Quarters, Vixen getting her steam up. At 10 the Flag Ship manned rigging the Express, ourselves and the other men of war doing the same as the Vixen weighed the English Band played "sweet home" and the French one "Auld lang syne" and when she was passing three cheers were given by all the ships - At 5 went ashore

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to meet Eversfield, after a game of billiards which did me good, came on board.

July 18th Still no idea of what our proceedings are likely to be : at 9 a signal to man and arm boats, we as usual last of all, without either ensign or pendant. At 11 the French Admiral sent away their boats - 11.30 Admiral Johnston came on board and went round the ship, going afterwards to the Trident, and Cobras - Afternoon very hot, not a breath of wind: In the evening played at Vingt un - Commdr and Officers at the Opera.

July 19th Very cloudy and sultry, Ross came off at 8 - very seedy - 10 A letter from the Admiral informing us us we were to go to Sea on Monday. In the afternoon two of the Peruvian Officers came on board - Overhauled Mess accts, only a deficiency of 2/4. In the evening tried the Wine do' but could not make them out..

July 20th a very thick fog and very close. Sent a note to Clayhills asking him to come on board and explain the Wine Book. Hear of Cholera being on shore, In the morning had a round game of cards.

July 21st Much the same sort of weather. Yesterday at 10 a signal was made from the Flag to man and arm boats after having been at General Quarters. At 11.30 the guns were secured, thinking all was over, but another signal was made, asking why we had knocked off and ordering us again to exercise with great gusto, it was nearly 1 o'clock before we went to dinner, one serious accident (a fracture) was the result - Being Saturday we were employed all day cleaning and white washing the ship throughout, the Frigate was listed over for cleaning her bottom - Purser (Rudy)

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ashore at Cobras getting Provisions - 11 Deal & Kinnear went away for a ride on horse back - Noon [underline]very hot[/underline] In the afternoon I went ashore to purchase some medicine heard that Cholera had broken out, and some fatal casaes had taken place : suffering myself from a severe attack of Diarrhoea glad to get on board.

Sunday July 22nd 1855 Rio de Janeiro. A very foggy morning - At 9.30 went to Divisions, inspected lower decks and holed and performed Divine Service : had a very uncomfortable night: at noon, Dr Sole came on board, heard that the Admiral was coming on board and that we were going some distance up the harbor-: still feeling very unwell - Went early to bed, and was just falling off to sleep when I was surprized by the report of a gun, soon followed by several others: on going on deck, I saw the Flag Ship, Constitution and the fort firing minute guns, with green lights a signal of some ship in distress : the night was beautifully clear, calm and moon lit: presently the launch of the Frigate came alongside and ordered us to send our cutter away to the mouth of the harbor - all the ships sent away one or more boats : at eleven the cutter returned informing us that there was no reason for all the disturbance.

July 23rd Passed a very indifferent night - Employed getting bread and water on board - At noon saw the Admiral and Sente going ashore in full dress, we understood to a levée of the Emperor, the French Admiral soon followed. At 1 there was a grand salute from all the frigates and in the evening a display of fireworks -

July 24th A very beautiful morning, busy on board the Trident preparing for the Admiral's Picnic: At 9.30 a signal from Flag Ship to send away all boats, out of the

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whole - number only 2 galleys kept ahead of us, we being the 3rd boat: after they returned to their respective ships the signal was to man and arm boats, fortunately I was too unwell to go away for it was frightfully hot, I saw the Dv of Trident was sent in charge - In the forenoon a subscription was made of the Officers and men to purchase instruments for making a small band, a very capital and useful arrangement - Received orders to be ready for going to sea on Thursday - In the afternoon Mr. Booth went ashore with the Musicians, having railed very nearly £12 - In the evening the Music was tried, but being the first attempt they did not symphonize - A most sultry unpleasant evening.

July 25th - At 4.30 I was awoke by a pampero which came on very suddenly and while it lasted blew very hard. At 8 it moderated and we had rain. At 9 a signal from Admiral to prepare for sea and be ready for sailing by 1 PM. At 6 a signal for the Commander, on his return learnt we are going direct to Pernumbueo. Guns firing from the Fort and the Constitution on account of the escape of a prisoner. In the afternoon there was a signal from the Fort of a Vessel being in distress outside, where there was a heavy swell in consequence of the blow this morning : a Brazilian Screw Steamer was sent out, with boats from the English and French frigates. At 2 commenced bending sails - An order from the Admiral to require a Mate - Bought some more instruments for our band. Steamer returning having in tow a disabled brigantine. French Admiral gave a dinner -

July 20th Daylight commenced to unmoor and prepare for sea : at 9 Mr. Senner (Mate) joind from the Madagascar. 10 Minute guns firing from both Harts and Constitution, boats sent away from each Flag Ship 11 A signal to get steam up as soon as