Herbert Mackarsie journal

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2151_6-1-diary

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by open list, inspected ship, and performed Divine Service - At 11 a large ship reported, soon made her out to be the Admiral, with Express in Com At 12 Christian dined with us : at 35 anchored close to the Flag Ship, Commdr went alongside.

November 12th Communicated by boat with Flag received a letter from an old Messmate. Commdr went ashore: in the Evening Haywood came on board and slept all night, going ashore early in beef boat, with Ross

November 13th At 8 Christian came off - 9 Signaled from Flag to spread awnings : 9.30 another to go to General Quarters - Commdr went alongside the Flag Ship and from her to the Express, returning with Dr Sole: he told us the Admiral intends to hoist his Flag on board of us when we are to take him inside the Recife, where he and his Sente will go to the Consuls for four days, when we shall take him back to his own Ship, and then proceed in company with him to Bahia - In the evening Christian and Sole went ashore.

November 14th Sent cutter in for fresh beef for Indefatigable In the forenoon Pridham struck work being superseded by McLennon (Mate) the farmer going home in the Packet. Express went inside of Recife - In the afternoon Commdr went ashore - A long heavy swell setting in. Joined Mr Netton

November 15th Sent boat for fresh beef for Admiral and ourselves - In the forenoon went on board the Indefatigable went round her decks with the Flag Lieutenant G Burgeon, and afterwards inspected the sick (36 in no.) with Woodcock Gave a supper to Pridham before his leaving for England, three of the Flag Ship's Officers being part of our Company

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November 10th: At 10 the Admiral with his Secretary and Flag Ship came on board, and inspected ship: at noon they left. In the afternoon Ross got very drunk, and was put under arrest.

November 17th Very hot, and little wind - Commdr went on board Flag Ship - At noon Woodcock came on board to luncheon, during which time the Yellow Flag was hauled down, putting us both out of Quarantine. At 1 our English Consul went on board, and was saluted with the usual number of guns afterwards saluted the Brazilian Flag. Arrived a Brazilian Brig of War - Exercised at musket drill firing blank.

November 11th Mustered by Divisions, and performed Divine Service. Released from Quarantine-

November 19th In the morning a Steamer reported from the Sward soon made her out to be the Packet for England: finished my letter to L-y- Admiral's Band came on board and at 10 a Pilot - 10.30 Admiral came, and we got steam up and proceeded inside the Recife - Pridham left for the passage home in Tamur - In the evening all the Officers went ashore to the Consul's spread -

November 20th In the morning all confusion, and many people sudy from the evening party at the Consuls. At 10 the Admiral came on board, and afterwards went on board the Brazilian Commodore's Ship, and on leaving was salute with 13 guns, which was returned by the Flag Ship - Captain Hope came on board, and had a long yarn about what happened many years ago. In the evening the Band played some Scotch tunes, but very badly, most of them

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being very drunk, the Lass of Gowrie quite a failure

November 21st At 9.30 went on board Express on a Surrey on Invalids - 10.30 Admiral came on board, remaining till 1, writing Cards of Invitation for Monday to a ball on board - In the evening went ashore with the Flag Lieut.

November 22nd Admiral called on Brazilian Commodore saluted on leaving the ship which was returned by the Indefatigable - Dr Woodcock came on board - In the afternoon went to Mr Bowmans Foundry, and at 6 crossed the river in a canoe, and called on Mrs Bowman, where we spent a very pleasant evening, with music and whiskey toddy, and it was midnight - before I got on board -

November 23rd At 10 the Admiral came on board, and at 11.30 We were all in cocked hats &c to receive the President, Brazilian Commodore, and our Consul: there was a grand turn out, for they all had a Lieut with them - after remaining about an hour they left and I was glad to see them over the side - In the evening we had the Band up -

November 24th All hands busy, shifting guns, and preparing for our grand fete on Monday - At 11 the Admiral came on board, remaining till 1 PM, where he went ashore with the Commdr and Secretary to a party, The Band being sent ashore shortly afterwards. In the evening we had cards, music and singing making it Saturday night with the "Maids of Merry England".

Sunday November 25th At seven the Band returned, and there was a great deal of polishing and preparing

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for Divisions and Church, on account of which an order was given for all of us to appear in [peaked?] hats, & side arms . At 9.30 went to Divisions, performed Divine Service, and then sent a boat for the Admiral - My sick list increasing with an occasional drunken accident from the shore, in consequence of liberty men being on shore. The evening was very long; so I was just turning in when a message was sent from the Express requesting me to go on board some one being taken ill - this helped to pass half an hour, and by ten I was turned in -

October 26th. At daylight great preparations for the Admirals [spread?] : I got up at my usual hour to see my sick, such was glad to turn in again, being seized with violent headache, shivering, and vomiting, which put an end to my joining in the fun, and I was obliged to keep my bed, and have my curtain drawn. At 2 the Company began to arrive, and by half past there were about 50 ladies and gentlemen collected and a very handsome [?], ornamented with evergreens, flowers [?] I could hear Mrs Bowman's voice and could not go and see her - The Band began to play and dancing commenced till the tables were laid: unfortunately there was not sufficient room for all, and several had to go to the Gun Room. After lunch the usual Toasts were given, and dancing again began, continuing the sun had long set : altogether the whole (I am told much to the satisfaction of all

November 27th Employed all forenoon getting the Admirals traps on shore, sending flags on board the different ships - At 10 Captain Hope, Commdr Boyce

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and the Consul came on board. At 4 the Admiral gave a dinner on board to two of the Gun Room Officers, during which time Ross went ashore -

November 28th Very hot, and my sick much increasing in consequence of getting drunk on shore - Admiral remained on board all day. Arrived the mail from England.

November 29th Held a survey on the Gig. At 1PM went on board the Estravida, a Dundee Ship, and dined in company with three other Scotch Captains : after desert went on shore, formed a party and went out to Cashnagas in a carriage, and some on horseback : got out about 7 and after playing at bowls, had tea, winding up with Claret and cigars, and getting into town a little before midnight, when we hailed for a boat and turned in.

November 30th Making preparations for going to Sea. In the forenoon Admiral went ashore. At 2 I went ashore to settle mess accounts, the Caterer being Commanding Officer. Met several Scotch Captains with whom I had several games at Billiards, and feeling tired went off early, and it being very dark, when I went on deck, I reported myself to the Admiral instead of the Commander.

December 1st 1855 - At 8 lit fires and prepared for going to sea 8.30 Pilot came on board when we commenced to unmoor ship, and made a signal to the Express to be ready for towing out when it was high water - 9 Consul came on board after which we weighed and dropped down to Express, and as soon as the towing hawsers were fast towed her out to sea where we joined by the Flag Ship, let the fires go out, and made sail. At 2 the Admiral made a signal to heave to, and soon

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afterwards went on board the Indefatigable, the Band and servants going after him - As soon as all the boats were up, we formed in line, the Flag taking the lead, and shaped a course for Maceio - Made it Saturday night and turned in.

Sunday December 2nd 1855 At sea - Soon after daylight a signal was made to get steam up, bear up and run in to the land - At noon stopped as we were getting too far a head - 3 Commdr dined with us - At 5 Commdr and two Officers went ashore after the ship was brought to, the Frigate having anchored a long way off. In the evening a Brazilian Steamer sailed -

December 3rd At anchor, off Maceio - 8.30 a Signal from the Flag for the Masters of the Squadron to repost as to the facility of watering a large fleet at this place - In the forenoon he went ashore, and on returning made a signal for us to close him, so at three we weighed, made sail and ran down anchoring about 1/4 of a mile from the Flag - Commdr dined on board Flag Ship

December 4th - Very hot at 10 minutes to 9 a signal from Indefatigable to shift fore topmast, which was done in 50 minutes, the Flag ship taking more than three hours. In the afternoon the Commdr went on shore, returning about 7 with Dr Sole, who was very [?] and at once turned in on a sofa in the cabin.

December 5th Prepared for going to sea - at 9 Admiral went on board Express to inspect her. 10 signal to weigh, exercised at reefing topsails till noon under a scorching sun. In the afternoon commenced capers by wearing & taking for no earthly reason - Before dark formed order of sailing the Flag taking the lead -

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December 6th Signal made to close the Admiral who was about two miles ahead of us - Kept very quiet till after quarters in the evening when we exercised reefing

December 7th A strong breeze made and shortened sail when ordered. At 9 a signal from Admiral to go to General Quarters, at 10 an invitation to Christian to dine with him, and directly afterwards to commence firing blank, and he kept the three ships at it, blazing away for three quarters of an hour - 11.30 made sail and bore up. At 4 Commander went on board Flag Ship to dinner with the Admiral, returning at 6 when we were exercising again at reefing topsails wearing ship &c

December 8th At 9 there was a Court of Enquiry on board the Express. I believe on Mrs Inglefield, Mate, Captns HOpe and Luard, with Commdr Boyce composing the Court - At 11 bore up and steered North; Eight on my Sick List. In the afternoon the Brig parted company standing away to the Nward. At 4 saw the land and tacked stretching out to sea on this Port tack. No Saturday night.

Sunday December 9th At sea. Standing in toward Bahia under easy sail with a very light air of wind. At 10 Went to Divisions and performed Divine Service. 3 Commander dined in the Gun Room. At 7 saw the light off the town of Bahia.

December 10th About 9 miles from the Light house. Very very hot with a light land breeze tacks in a co with the Flag Ship as requisite.

December 11th At 9 shaped a course for Bahia and set Stinsails and about 4 came to an anchor in 8 fths after the Flag Ship had anchored: the usual salutes were

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but for what reason no one could tell - Captain Suard away in the galley, in command of the boats of the squadron. The Mail hourly expected; At noon the boats left with the Marines - At 6.30 the Mail passed -

December 19th - All hands busy finishing letters, mine done very soon on account of a signal from the Flag Ship. At noon several of the Officers went on shore: sent letters to L, Al, and Mary Machell. In the evening had a small party in the gun rooms

December 20th A signal to prepare for sea, lots of dunns coming off, for bills - At 2 a signal to weigh, and we managed it in an half hour before the Flag. At 5 PM a signal to part company, when we squared yards, set stinsails, and steered for Mauro St Paulo. 6 shortned sail, and at 8.30 came to anchor close to the Light house: finding there a small Brazilian Schooner of war.

December 21st In the afternoon Commdr and other Officers went ashore, coming off to dinner at 4 when some other fellows went - Made out a Warrant for flogging Wallis AB for desertion -

Saturday Decr 22nd At 4.30 turned the hands up, and on mustering found that Wallis had again run: 5 shortned in cable and prepared for sea; 6 weighed and made sail: cleaned ship throughout on making enquiry about Wallis, we were all of opinion that he must have attempted to swim ashore and in all probability was drowned as we were laying at a considerable distance from the shore: however we were saved the unpleasant

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task of punishment preparing for Christmas dinner Made it Saturday night and turned in early.

Sunday December 23rd At Sea. At 3 am ware and stood in for the land. 9.30 went to Divisions, inspected ship, and performed Divine Service - At 3 Commander dined with us in the Gun Room

December 24th Made sail running in for the land, at 3.30 came to an anchor in 5 fathoms, furled sails. In the evening had a game at Snap Dragon and afterwards, cold whiskey Punch in the middle of which I was sent for - on the lower deck, and there found a man had been beaten by three others, and was bleeding profusely from the nose; after making him all right I returned to the GR, where the Punch was going on, and singing was kept up till 2 am

Tuesday December 25th XMas day9.30 went to Divisions, but had no Divine Service and gave leave to some men who wished to go away fishing in the dingy: 11.30 made it seven bells, and smoked: Commdr very seedy and sulky. Making great preparations for Xmas dinner: thought more about dear L than all our French Cook could produce - Noon shifted tables, wine chest, side board &c and laid out a table for dining ten: 4 P.M. dinner was on the table and all seemed to enjoy it: after the removal of the cloth the Queen was drank, and many other toasts followed and after coffee we went on deck to smoke, and there found a procession formed, accompanied by a band of music, and a chair, on which we were all carried round the deck, and on being put down again, three

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cheers were given. At 6 the main brace was spliced and after the procession, brandy and whiskey were given to the several messes, and by 10 fighting began, and several got a good hammering : after settling it as well as could be, the Commander came down and made a large bowl of punch, and every one sang a song till some could sing no longer : however it all ended well and I got to bed very much pleased before 12.

December 26th I was not at all surprised on going on deck to find many with marked faces, one fellow in particular had got a fearful pounding: but most of my messmates could not appear at breakfast, and there was a great demand for beer and Quinine - At the usual hour we sat down to dinner, but very little was eaten, and rum and water was at a maximum. 3 lighted fires and got steam up, with much difficulty, most of the Stokers being very seedy, and many a black eye was to be seen among the men and of our Officers one got very drunk.

December 27th Woke in the morning very unwell so much so that I was unable to see my Sick & kept my bed all day.

Decr 28th Little better but after a shave and walk felt my head easing, my tongue very foul & very thirsty. At 9 went to General Quarters. Tacked as requisite to a Southerly wind. Very dull on board.

Dec 29th In the middle watch the breeze & assured us and we made all possible sail standing to the Sward; busy making out and preparing to close, a very unpleasant job for me - Ships Co. cleaning ship throughout. In the evening she lay her course and, we shaped a course for Esprito Santo.

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