Herbert Mackarsie journal

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Quarters, and at 7 weighed and proceeded to sea. The weather was very unfavorable, being very foggy. In the forenoon we hailed a Danish Barque and asked if she had seen anything of her: no. We went on again, and as it cleared up for a few minutes, we sighted her, and soon afterwards took her in tow and brought her into harbor, when we moored after smashing our dingy and damaging the Gun boat. In the evening Hovendow came on board.

November 29th Old Higgs again in the list from falling off the gunnel. Captain Fellowes called on me. Very hot with rain, in the evening played at Vingt un, made Saturday night & turned in. The American Frigate St [?] arrived.

Sunday November 30th 6.50 very close sultry morning. At 10 mustered by Open LIst, but as the Commander was sick had no Divine Service. At 11 an American Corvette came in and at noon commenced saluting the Brazilian, English, French and American Flags, so they were blazing away for more than an hour, by which two men each lost an arm. Went very early to bed.

Monday December 1st 1856 In Rio, with awfully hot weather. Gunner reported for drunkeness. Drawing stares from Cobras. Went as usual to bed very soon.

Tuesday December 2nd 1856. The Emperor's Birthday and at 5 am a salute was fired by all the large Man of War in port. A Swedish

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Man of War arrived and saluted the several Flags, which were returned. At 1 a Royal Salute was fired by the Fleet. My Servant was taken away from me. At Sunset the Brazilian Ships fired another salute. Commdr dined on board Flag Ship.

December 3rd. A most sultry hot day, busy drawing Provisions and stores to complete for six months. Myself at work making demands for Medicines &c. In the afternoon the English Minister visited the different ships and on leaving was saluted with 13 guns from each. In the evening the Barracks were illuminated.

December 4th More saluting but why I could not find out. Gave leave to 12 men, the most of whom came off drunk, and some were put in hokey. We had some visitors in the evening and played at Vingt un.

December 5th Raining heavily all night, and in the morning very close and hot. At 9.30 went to General Quarters. A signal from the Admiral to go to General Quarters, demanded medicines &c from Madagascar, took the chest on board there in the afternoon, had a chat with Lt Bynoc & returned In the evening had vingtun.

December 6th Shortly after daylight a signal made for the Mail, but it turned out to be a Gun Boat. 10.30 signal up for the Mail. In the afternoon the Tyne came in and soon after I got letters from M and L. In the evening we had cards, and making it Saturday night, retired to my cabin.

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Sunday December 7th 56 Rio de Janeiro. Very hot and unpleasant. At 10 Inspected lower deck, read Articles of War, Mustered by Open List, and performed Divine Service. At present a fleet of 11 Pendants under the Red flag.

December 8th At 10 a signal made for the Commdr. exercised at cutlass drill. Thermometer in my cabin 91°

December 9th The mosquitoes during the night frightfully annoying, and the old Second Master singing out and swearing all middle watch, the effect I suppose of Gin. In the forenoon a signal for all marines to repair on board the Flag Ship, shortly afterwards to man boats, when a grand display of pulling and sailing took place. At night rain.

December 10th Our midshipman went on board Madagascar to pass his examination for Mate, returning at noon with a third class certificate, and at once stood any quantity of Champagne. Several English vessels came in when the sea breeze made. After dark we had cards, knocking off at nine, and after a pipe turned in.

December 11th Lots of rain without a breath of sound, so close, I could hardly breathe. After quarters exercised at musket drill. A signal from the Flag Ship for Surgeons Court Martial going on in the American Ship, Germantown. I the evening there were some visitors from Flag

December 12th Raining all night old Higgs hissing away in his cabin, till daylight in the morning, when it cleared up and at 8.30 a

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signal was made for boats to tow the Spry out and on their return we went to Quarters, one roll, under a burning sun. Several Officers came on board to have a look at the Ship. Towards evening it became very cloudy and by nine was raining heavily.

December 13th A Signal for the Gun boats, and by ten the Higflyer and all of them went out of port diminishing out Fleet very evidently. On the return of the Commdr from the Flag Ship he told us we were not going to the River, but to remain here with the Admirals Flag. Very wet.

Sunday December 14th At Rio. Dreadfully hot at 10 went to Divisions and performed Divine Service. Felt unwell, not able to attend, and kept quiet all day. In the evening we had a repetition of the rain and lightning

December 15th A fearfully oppressive morning after quarters went on board Madagascar, spent an hour with Dr Bynoc on duty: on my return found our fat headed youngster suffering from a coup de soleil. Signal made for boats to tow Syren out. At 11 a signal made for me to repair on board the Madagascar at 1.30 on reaching the Quarter deck, to my surprise, I found a whole lot of Officers in cocked hat and side arms, while I was in a frack coat, without even a sword. It was for a Survey on Invalids, Captn Hope being President, and my old friend Dr Woodcock: after the duty we had a few minutes chat together, when I returned to my own Ship. At 3 the Gun Boats were lighting fires, preparing for sea. At 6 the Forrester under Steam towed the Staunch out: the

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Cruizer then went to sea, with the remaining one, making the Fleet appear very small, the Flag Ship, Maddy, and ourselves being the only ships left. In the evening it came on to rain.

December 16th At 8 the English Mail Steamer stopped on board abreast of the the Flag Ship, and after receiving the Mail, went out of Port, the Admirals Band playing "a life on the Ocean wave". Commander went to the Flag Ship, on his return we learnt that we were going to Santos, and Monte Video in company with the Admiral, after which he was to hoist his Flag in us, and go up the River Plate as far as Assumpsion. A large fleet of Merchant Ships came in. At Sunset the Admiral's guests began to assemble on board the Flag Ship and by 8 it was pouring with rain: Christian returned very early, but the rain was incessant, and the ladies were compelled to remain on board all night.

December 17th A wet morning and nothing doing: all hands suffering from slight colds, and one case of Fever. About noon it cleared up, and the sun came out scorching hot, it was hardly possible to remain on deck. Towards evening again it had the same threatning appearance and by 8 was raining again like fun.

December 18th It rained incessantly all night. Tank came off and we completed with water. Carpenters still employed repairing dingy. An order made to unmoor next day, preparatory to going to sea. Commdr went on board Flag Ship. Guns firing for some vessel on shore. Played at cards in the evening.

December 19th Still raining and very unpleasant.

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Busy getting ready for Sea, in fact all in a state of confusion. In the afternoon saw Mr & Mrs Eversfield go on board Madagascar. All leave stopped on account of going to sea. In the evening had a quiet game at cribbage and after a pipe turned in.

December 20th At 4 hove short, and made sail. It soon fell calm after we got - outside- Saw the Portuguese Mail going in. No Saturday Night.

Sunday December 21st 1856. At Sea - 9.30 went to Divisions. At 3 Commdr dined with us, but to a most sealy feed: sailing in company with the Admiral. Raining all day, and very little wind.

December 22nd Another wet morning, but a fair wind, what there was of it; the Fag Ship about a Quarter of a mile ahead it. St Sebastian dist about 40 miles, Held survey on chain cables. At noon the breeze freshened a little and we set Stinsails running to the Sward in Co with Indefatigable. In the evening it came on to rain.

December 23nd Shortly after daylight a signal was made to get Steam up and prepare to receive Admiral. Every of course now was hurry flurry, steerage chests white washed and repainted, and about 7.30 a boat came from Indefatigable bringing luggage enough for a six months cruise. A lttle after eight the Admiral with his Secretary and Flag Lieutenant came on board when we proceeded at full steam for the town of Santos. 9 went to Quarters and played at Soldiers. At 11 came to an anchor off the town, where we anchored: soon

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afterwards a Portuguese barque came in with Emigrants. At 3 Admiral and Lieut went on shore when the weather appeared rather threatning, causing them to take their umbrellas with them. Weather very hot and unpleasant. At 5.30 they returned dining at 6. In the evening played vingt un in the Engineers mess, and went to bed very early.

December 24th A rainy morning. A fresh case of fever on board. 9 went to Quarters. Admiral and Lieut went on shore, returning at noon. At 1 PM the Captain of the Port came on board to call on the Admiral and on leaving was saluted with eleven guns, by which one of our men through negligence loss one of his arms. At 4 weighed and steamed down the river coming to an anchor a little before sunset. Several of the men drunk, and singing, to which the Admiral put a stop, but went to sleep himself on deck on a chair till after eleven PM. Xmas eve in the Gun Room very quiet, and I was in bed before nine. Thought often of L-y.

Thursday December 25th 1856. At Sea. At 5 got under weigh again and proceeded to join the Flag Ship. 7.30 crosed when the Elite went on board. At 10 Admiral made a signal for Church, after which he made another, saying he wished all hands many merry Xmasses which was answered by "thank you" from us. Weather melting hot, and but little wind. My patient as well as could be expected. At 3 PM all the Officers in the ship sat down to our Xmas dinner, which passed

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off very pleasantly: in the evening we had songs and a procession was formed to carry us round the deck as on a previous occasion, but to which ceremony I would not consent. One of the Stokers, very drunk, fell down the after ladder into my cabin, upsetting my ink pens &c and breaking my table. Went to bed at 11.

December 26th. Early in the morning it came on to blow, and by 8 it was blowing a fresh gale, the frigate and ourselves being under close reefed topsails. During one of the squalls, the tiller ropes carried away, and we had some difficulty in getting a spare rudder shipped, before reaving new tiller ropes. Many of the men very shaky from the effects of their Xmas feed, but I found euretics afforded speedy relief: there was very little fighting but a few fellows were rather discolored about the eyes.

December 27th At 4.15 the Frigate went to General Quarters, firing blank in which fun we soon joined. I kept my cabin, expecting another fellow to have an arm blown off, however no accident occured. At 8 a signal was made to fire at a target at 9, when the Flag ship and we went at it like fun. We made some excellent shots, and with the last one sank the target. In the afternoon a light breeze made all possible sail in co' with Flag Ship. My patient doing favorably altho' the weather was very hot, not at all favorable to his recovery.

December 28th The morning being very hot, I turned out early, and enjoyed myself in a bath.

Sunday at Sea 1856

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for more than two hours, but on writing up My Journal a few hours afterwards, I found I had forgotten a day, reckoning it was only Saturday.

December 29th In the forenoon the Admiral came on board to make arrangments for a howser on deck for his own use, bringing with him the Master and Carpenter. After remaining about an hour and making any quantity of Chalk lines, he had a short chat with me, and after enquiring about the health of old Higgs, left.

December 30th. Very hot, prepared for going up to St. Catherines. 9.30 a signal for the Commander: sent a boat ashore for a Pilot. At 1 the Admiral, Flag Lieutenant, Secretary, Captain Fellowes, R.M. Staff Surgeon, Dr Woodcock, and two youngsters came on board, after which we weighed and steamed up to the town of St. Catherines, anchoring about 4 PM , after grinding through the mud for more than an hour. With the exception of the Admiral most of the the Officers went on shore, and as the Health Officer coming on board, I was ordered by the Admiral to speak to him in French and give him a certificate that we were healthy.

December 31st. A fine fresh breeze, with a little rain. Busy with my general accounts, Reports of Survey &c. In the evening there was considerable fun among the Officers but as I heard a good deal of noise on deck, it was better I thought to keep my cabin.

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Thursday January 1st 1857: Laying at St Catherines. All the Stranger Officers very seedy including my friend Woodcock. About 1 the old Pilot came off, when we got steam up, shortned in cable and got all ready for sea. A little after two the Admiral gave an order for sailing, and after considerable grinding through the mud, we got down to Anglomalin where Indefatigable was at anchor, when a signal was made for Admirals Barge and a cutter. After the Admiral had wished us many returns of the day, he left for his own ship. Went very early to bed.

January 2nd Employed watering. A large party of Officers from Flag Ship went on shore. In the afternoon Christian & Ross went ashore and soon afterwards a message was sent off for me to visit a Sick person, which I declined doing. A signal from Admiral to prepare for sea at 7 on the 3rd.

January 3rd A signal to go to breakfast at 6 and a little before seven another to weigh which we did with a fresh breeze the Flag Ship leading the way out of harbor. For some time we were running 9-1/2 knots, smooth water and cool. We had some difficulty in keeping in our proper position astern of the Flag, as we sailed so much faster than her. In the evening at 9 we made it Saturday night and after a pipe turned in.

Sunday Janurary 4th 1857. At Sea.