Herbert Mackarsie journal

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2151_6-1-diary

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a salute was again fired. Eversfield I supposed married. AFgter all the fun was over Kinnear and I went ashore, where we met Christian and Captain Fellowes - Got on board by nine and made it Saturday night and turned in.

Sunday May 25th Rio de Janeiro. Took the Guard - After dinner went ashore with Ross, met Sowe, Edwards and Collier - came off at 6 and after a pipe turned in, but not to sleep as there was so much drunkeness and fighting on board.

May 26th Dr Bynoc and Staff Surgeon Woodcock came on board to see a patient, on whom I operated in their presence. Several seedy with an [attude?] to my List and a Row with Lennon about a [small?] [bit?] of [Condemned canvass?] for my cabin. Every thing very uncomfortable on board. At 3 I made it up and made me a present of a straw mat - The Commdr and other Officers on shore [on duty ?] [?] like fun - Wrote a note to Eversfield on his wedding. Still raining, and myself in a quarrel with every one in the Ship - but particularly with Lennon. All in a muddle about going up the River. Went ashore for about an hour to make some calls -

May 27th Every thing and every one topsy turvy; had another row with Lennon, but soon settled it by going to the Commdr. Second Master and Purser at Cobras drawing Provisions and Stores. In the afternoon Dr Woodcock came on board with two letters of introduction at Monte Video, and the Store's Medicine Chest was sent from Madagascar. At 4 Captn Fhurleau came on board to take a passage

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to Monte Video, where Mrs F and family were remaining - Mail bag closed one for Sissy when the Steam was got up and we weighed and went out of harbor.

May 28th Made sail and with steam we must have been going about 9 knots - In the forenoon after Quarters served out warm clothing and shoes to Ship's Company. In the afternoon set Stinsails on port side to a fine fresh breeze amd let the fires burn down. In the evening had two rubbers of whist with the Commdr beat him both, and then played two games with Ross for a black silk handkerchief and pair of Shoes both of which I won.

May 29th During the middle watch the wind fell light and at 5 we again got the steam up, just as the breeze freshened and made all possible sail on the Starboard side. At 9 we had a strong breeze and let the fires get low again - In the afternoon we were walking along at the rate of 9 1/2 knots - Evening had a rubber with Commdr and turned - Midnight blowing very hard.

May 30th All of a sudden it felt calm, and we again drew the fires forward, and went under steam. At day light the wind freshened, when we shortned sail. 8 it headed us when we furled all the square sails continuing to steam with the assistance of fore and aft sails - 9 went to General Quarters . By noon we had regular SWester and shortened all sail, steaming about 2 knots an hour - Towards night the sea got up, and she was very uncomfortable - After Quarters in the evening exercised the hands at shifting jib boom.

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May 31st Blowing hard with rain, everything very miserable on board - Had an addition to my list for a lout of a fellow carrying away some of his fingers in a block. Three times the hook of the main sheet carried away, fortunately no one was killed. In the evening it rained and blew very hard with a nasty sea running - Made it Saturday night at half past seven in a glass of hot whiskey (made from oranges) and water with Kinnear and turned in

Sunday June 1st 1856 At Sea. Still the same blowing uncomfortable weather and head sea: changed our dress from white to blue. 9.30 went to Divisions which was soon broken up by a heavy shower of rain, in consequence no Church - At 3 Captn Thurband & Commdr dined with us - Went early to bed.

June 2nd Blowing harder than ever and dead air end with a nasty head sea, making her plunge very heavily - At 8 saw a Schooner on a wind - Noon passed a Brazilian Man of war running. At 5 had a heavy squall with hail which rather astonished us. By seven I was under the blankets and asleep.

June 3rd The wind shifted a little and we lay our course, but it was still blowing hard with a cross sear. At 9 passed a Barque running to the Nward, showed Colors to her; but they were not answered - The weather very cold, with occasional showers of rain and hail. Exchanged Colors with a Brazilian Man of war.

June 4th Blowing as before, but rather less sea , saw a sail at 9 laying to under a close reefed maintopsail - Towards afternoon the sea went down a little and we made more progress - Went to bed at seven

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Thursday June 5th Monte Video - Quite calm, but the decks in a filthy state from the mist coming out of the funnel, the coals being very bad - took soundings every two hours - At nine we passed several vessels at anchor, and saw the Mount. At 11.30 we moored ship having shown our No to HMS Star : Health boat came alongside & put us in Quarantine, the German Town an American Corvette having brought dow a report of the Fever in the Madagascar : we were then ordered to unmoor and go further out and as there was scarcely any wind, and the fires had been put out, we narrowly escaped getting foul of the German Town and would have done so if the men of war in Harbor had not sent their boats to tow: we had French, American, Spanish, and Brazilian, in all nine boats - We again came to an anchor; about 1.30 and even glad to see a boat come alongside with a leg of mutton. The evening was very cold and I was glad to get to bed early.

June 6th Very cold but fine healthy weather - At 9 went to General Quarters [text struck out] out of course we could not commence coaling -

June 7th About 6 we got Pratique, but as I had my monthly attack of Ague, I kept my bed. At noon Dr Morgan of the Star came on board to see me - After dinner some of the Officers went ashore, and a washing woman came off. Was told that Mr Christie & Clique would be on board on Thursday next, when shall go direct, not calling at Buenos Ayres - No Saturday night

Set to Home. Canada.

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Sunday June 8th Monte Video. A very cold foggy morning, indeed, there was so much mist, that we could hardly see the Ships head. Had Divisions in the forenoon - After dinner gave permission to some men and Marines to go ashore till 8 am on Monday. After dinner went on board the Star where I passed a very agreable evening, getting back again by 8 and turned in - A Pilot came on board to take us direct to Parana.

June 9th A wet nasty morning and very cold, many hands in the List from colds. Very few of the liberty men came off - At 1 the Minister (Mr Christie) and his Secretary with Captn Boyle, a French Captain, and our Commander came on board, when a consultation was held about the accommodation of the two women : at first it was proposed to build a temporary [?], but it was at last determined by the Minister, that a Screen should be put up, dividing the cabin. After leaving us, he went on board the Brazilian Commodore, and when he left was saluted with 15 guns, two more than he was entitled to -

June 10th Colder than ever, thermometer down to 46° with a fresh NW wind, during the night water was taken in in some of the cabines by the rolling of the ship - I [?] forenoon loosed sails to dry, and sent provisions to the Star.

June 11th Employed supplying the Star with water. At seven the Brailian Commodore came on board, and shortly afterwards the Captain of the Flambeau. Just at dusk, when we had piped down, Mr Christies' traps came alongside, and caused an extra quantity of work to get them stowed away. In the evening went down to the Stoke Room where we were much enlivened by a good fire and hot glass of grog.

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June 12th - Wind NE very cold, employed getting ready for sea, or rather the River. Brazilian Commodore and several other Officers came on board.

June 13th At 10 we lighted fires, and soon afterward the Ministers Suite came off. By eleven the fires were all right, when the Minister with his Secretary accompanied by several Officers came on board, when we weighed, and proceeded for Buenos Ayres

June 14th At 3.30 came to an anchor - in four fathoms - banked the fires. Daylight got steam up again, weighed, and steamed up the river. By nine, we came abreast of Colonia, the weather getting much warmer, a difference of 8 degrees in the thermometer. Passed several vessels at anchor.

Sunday June 15th In the River. At daylight we again got under weigh and proceeded on our way up the River. At 10 went to Divisions and inspected lower deck, the usual discontent and growling in the Mess. Had a long yarn with the Minister, who I found was not a Scotchinqu but a damned crusty old son of a b---h, and his Secretary a perfect Snob. The weather very fine, and getting warmer, and in consequence a decrease seen on my Sick List. We again anchored at dusk, just as the Engines broke down. Engineers & Stokes employed repairing the mishap - Walked with Mr Christie till 9 then turned in.

June 15th The old yarn again, at daylight weighed and steamed up the river. A difference of 15° on the thermometer. At 2 PM passed St Pedro where a few Schooners were at anchor. Sunset or a little after we reached Obligade, where we hailed by an Argentine man

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of War - and of course paid no attention to her but went on, till we came to the proper anchorage, and then came to in 8 fathoms.

June 17th. Weighed at daylight & commenced steaming but unfortunately the engines broke down, which caused some slight delay, and we had to make sail in lieu. About noon passed the place where Machell jumped overboard on the 8th of April - At sunset again anchored

June 18th At 6.30 we were again under weigh, and came to an anchor off Rosario, at 9.30 when the Vice Consul and several other gentlemen came on board : drew the fires, in order to clean the flues- During the forenoon some French gentleman came off and invited all the Officers to a ball, so it was at once determined not to proceed - till the morrow. The Minister, Mr Freeman, & Commander went ashore with their guns, and the two female servants, also went ashore to stretch their legs, or perhaps for some other purpose. The lot came on board early in the afternoon, and having dressed, the gentleman went ashore to dine with Mr Dale, the English Vie Consul, and in the evening went to a Ball, where they met several very pretty girls.

June 19th At 6 drew the fires forward, got steam up and hone short: before seven the Vice Consul came off, for a passage to Parana, after which we weighed and steamed up the River - A large Sick List and myself, suffering terribly from a chafe, caused from wearing blue trowsers, and walkng with very great pain and difficulty - We passed several schooners, and kept at till after dark, the coals being bad they were unable to keep the steam up, and the current being

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strong we made but little progress. About 7 we anchored : the night very beautiful, a bright moon and no mosquitoes.

June 20th At it again by daylight - My sick list still on the increase, my own person much as before. At 9.30 went to General Quarters. Passed any quantity of soild birds. Came to an anchor in the evening about 7 miles from Parana.

June 21st Weighed at daylight again, and soon got aground, but easily got her off, when we went on and came to an anchor off Parana at 8.30 when we moored ship. Sent an Officer on shore to enquire if they would return a salute when we fired on the landing of the Minister, which was agreed to - Mr. Dale and Freeman went ashore, and some of our Officers went away shooting. At seven bells we fired the worst salute, I ever saw by some mistake of one of the Captains of a gun, and instead of 21, 22 every fired at irregular periods - The salute was returned late in the afternoon in much better style - Some of the Officers went ashore shooting, and brought back several brace of Partridges. In the afternoon Mr Christie and Freeman went ashore. Towards seven a very thick fog came down.

Sunday June 22nd Port of Parana. A wet morning, and nothing for breakfast. As I was in the list, I did not go into Divisions. In the afternoon most of the Officers went ashore : the Minister went by himself, but returned to divisions.

June 23rd At daylight the Commdr, Messrs Freeman and Dale went after partridges - Employed unbending sails. The party returned about 10, bringing with them

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several brace of partridge, duck and pigeon. At sunset a Steamer was seen coming up the River, but we were disappointed by finding her to be a Brazilian Man of War instead of the Uraquay with our Mail. In the evening the Servants of Mr Christie went ashore, and two of our Officers went up to the town, the night being as dark as pitch - Played at Ecarte with the Secretary and beat him. Turned in about 10.

June 24th Daylight Commdr went partridge shooting : the weather being very cold, but beautifully fine - Employed refitting ship, and landing Mr Christie's luggage. My sick list on the decrease, and my own health improving. During the forenoon Commdr returned with 5 1/2 brace of birds. In the evening we had music and songs in the stoke room.

June 25th Preparations for Mr Christie landing - At 1 the Minister came on deck in Uniform, when the guns were loaded and the Jack hoisted at the masthead, and as soon as he, the Secretary & Commdr had shoved off a Salute of 15 guns was fired : a Royal Salute was then fired from the Battery which we had to return, and again fired a third salute for the Argentine Flag - The party returned to dinner and we passed the evening in the Engine Room.

June 26th At daylight a shooting party went away but returned with very empty bags: several strangers came on board to look at the Ship. Everything as dull as usual in the gun room and very little to eat, in the evening we had some music and singing combined with pipes and hot grog, before a nice fire in the Engine Room. After I had turned in for the night as I thought, the Assumption came in, bringing our Mail.

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June 27th. Every one busy answering letters, as it was said, the mail would leave again in the evening for the Mount - Weather very cold but healthy, only four on my list - Wrote to L, M. in Canada. E. Woodcock and Eversfield.

June 28th Very cold, after Quarters exercised at target shooting, which was done in the usual slummy way, very few ever hitting the target, which certainly was at a long distance 270 yds - Closed all my letters. Raining all the time we were firing, and the men of course being disgusted fired at random - We had the usual evening performance in the Engine Room, and made it Saturday night to all absent Friends.

Sunday June 29th Parana - It was 10 before we went to muster, article of War-, and an order from our Queen to express her thanks for the gallant behaviour of our men during the War in the Crimea.

June 30th Very cold, with a strong Nly breeze: a shooting party again went ashore. Commdr returned with 10 1/2 brace of partridge - Mr Christie went ashore for good.

Thursday July 1st 1856 At Parana - Another shooting party went ashore, so that we had always plenty of partridge, sometimes pheasant, and duck and pigeon to any amount - The same monotonous yarn; cards in the evening in the Gun room and smoking afterwards in the Engine Room, got to bed by 8.

July 2nd Mr Dale, Vice Consul came on board to breakfast with me, bringing an invitation to a ball, and a ride into the country next day on a shooting expedition: as usual declined.

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