Herbert Mackarsie journal

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Marines for Drunkeness and insolence - In the evening went on board Sharpshooter returning at 9 PM

January 14th Closed my letter to Sissy. Mark Netton superseded by Mr. Higgs from Sharpshooter who came on board very drunk - My Servant left me, obliged to empty my own slops &c-

January 15th Avon left for England, neglected to send by her letters from Eversfield & Crockes - of Sharpshooter who sailed yesterday - 10 Commdr waited on Admiral - In the evening very rainy.

January 16th arrived a French Corvette. At 10 the American Commodore and his Flag Lieut came on board to call on the Commdr - Most of the Officers on shore at the Opera, one or two very drunk.

January 17th Admiral Johnstons with the Master came on board about altering the Gun Room accommodations, and rake of Mizenmast - A party by the Consul in the evening - Old Ross very drunk -

January 18th - Commdr told Ross he must leave the Ship - Surveys of ale sorts going on - In the afternoon went on board the Flag Ship with Netton had a chat with Woodcock. At 5 a race came off between two of the Indefatiguables boats, and our was run down by a Brazy steamer, two men narrowly escaping drowning - In the evening [Wenstanley?], Gayer, Guy and Pascoe came on board to supper and just as they showed up, it came on to rain very heavily, and the plug in the boat's bottom un-

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unfortunately came out and it was surely a case with them.

January 19th - All of us feeling rather seedy after our Turkey supper last night - A Picnic given by the Commander of the Flag Ship to all the youngsters - At noon went on board Madagascar during dinner hours - Master and Carpenter of Flag Ship came to approve of an alteration proposed to be made in Commdrs cabin and Gun Room - 9 PM very heavy rain with lightning and thunder.

Sunday January 20th In Rio de JaneiroNo one on the List: 9.30 went to Divisions, perfomed Divine Service, and inspected Ship - Very wet and sultry all day - 11 Brazilian Steamer went to Sea. In the evening several of the Officers went on shore.

January 21st The same sultry oppressive weather with drizzling rain - At 9 went to Cobras to visit Coleman, very sick, and evidently an Invaliding case. 10 A court of enquiry on Flag Ship as to ventilation and the number of Sick on board. Commdr went to wait on Admiral - In the evening played at Cribbage for a pair of shoes, which I of course lost - Very wet again with thunder.

January 22nd - Four on the list, three from diarrhoea, one from Stricture - Still raining and apparently likely to continue - All arrangements as to the alteration in the gun room and Commander's cabin put a stop to, much to my satisfaction - Siren went out, with a light sea breeze. Employed painting

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and refitting.

January 23rd - Again a wet morning, spoiling all our paint work. Put a stop to the Burn Boats coming alongside on account of Diarrhoea in the vessel, much to the annoyance of the men - At 9 a signal for the Commander from the Flag Ship. In the forenoon we were busy painting. Commdr dined on board Flag Ship. In the evening the Ex Flag Lieut with two other Officers came on board supped, smoked, and went to their own ship in a shower of rain -

Janurary 24th. Raining again in the early part of the morning - At 9 it cleared up a little and the sun came out very hot. After dinner a party was formed to walk up the Cacavado a distance of some eight miles. In the evening it came out to rain very fast.

January 25th A dull sultry morning and by ten raining like fun, washing our fresh paint away like gossamer. In the forenoon a small Brazillian Steamer of War came in.

January 26th At 4 aroused by hearing fire bells ringing from the different Churches on shore, and our boats being called away manned & armed : on going on deck saw a fine blaze about the proximity of a theatre, but unfortunately there was not any breeze to increase the flame: but by 8 when one of our Officers returned it was only one very large house, that was destroyed, a Portuguese Theatre. After

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breakfast sent another letter to the Commander about leaving the Ship : our Second Master and old Ross very bilious and unpleasant - In the afternoon active work was going on in Flag Ship, preparatory to a Ball. In the evening the Ocean Monarch with Emigrants for Autralia moored close to us, having many pretty girls on board. After a game at Cribbage made it Saturday Night.

Sunday January 27th In Rio de Janeiro - Went to Divisions and performed Divine Service, at the usual time - Commander got leave for four days. At 1 PM there was a heavy thunder squall, with plenty of lightning. At 3 some gentlemen came on board from the Frigate to dine.

January 28th Still no appearance of the Trident or Express. Great fun among the girls on Ocean Monarch.

January 29th Fever on board Madagascar, from I had an attack, having been there to see Bynse and his wife who were both suffering: Kept my bed all day drinking huge draughts of lemonade.

January 30th Took an Euretic which gave me some relief, but still very unwell.

Janurary 31st Felt much better, and as my friends Dr and Mrs Bynse were still sick, I killed two birds with one stone, calling on them, and going for my Medicine Chest: besides them, there were seven cases of Fever, who had suffered from the same symptoms I had. At 10 the Emigrant Ship was taken in tow by a Steamer, to take her up to the Shears, to have her foremast taken out, and 153 of the Passengers were sent to Madagascar

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Cholera, also had broken out the English on shore, and some deaths had occurred. This was one of the hottest days I ever felt in Rio.

February 1st Very sultry, went on board Madagascar to see Mr & Mrs Bynse, foudn the former a little better, but the latter very unwell - In the evening went ashore and met several friends, got off at 10 and turned in.

February 2nd At 6 heard a Steamer reported, got up, and was rejoiced to find she was the Packet - At 10 we got our Mail, a letter from Ellen enclosing one from Sissy and Mother, very unsatisfactory : made up my mind if better accounts did not come by the next, that I must invalid : altho' friends were on board all day, being Carnival time, kept myself strictly to myself pondering on what would be my best movement, being very anxious about L, in spite of all assurances as to her health. Commdr dined on board Flag Ship. In the evening some of the Flags came on board, and we had a hard match at Cribbage, and making it Saturday night with sundray jugs of Sangarie, tuned in about 11.

Sunday February 3rd Rio de Janeiro Early in the morning a memo came from the Admiral, ordering a certain number of blue jackets, marines and stokers, accompanied by an officer to go ashore to Church - 9.30 went to Divisions and inspected ship - 10.30 Party went ashore to Church, the Admiral going in his own whaler. Much disappointed at not being able to get ashore in time to see the Carnival Procession, on account of the Fever on board. Old Ross in a row again about his conduct, and cut by all of us in the mess - Several of the Officers went on shore after dinner.

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February 4th Went on board Madagascar after breakfast and was glad to see Mrs Bynoe much better, the Emigrants from the Ocean Monarch, all apparently very comfortable on board, making the old store ship look quite lively - In the evening we had some Officers from the Flag and Express.

February 5th Sent another letter to the Admiralty - Employed getting coals and preparing for sea.

February 6th The Trident came in on her way to England sent a note on board to Eversfield telling him of his appointment to Coleras Yard : so he went to work at once to get reports of Survey ready for the mail on the 14th, and came on board in the evening for half an hour.

February 7th In bed all day again, in the evening some of the Flags came on board.

February 8th Rose a little better, In the afternoon Syren came in, the French and American Frigates played our anthem and even dipped their Ensigns - Employed most part of the day on a Survey of Invalids on board Madagascar -

Feby 9th At 4 lighted fires, and by 5 steam was up, when we weighed and took the French Admiral in tow, the different Bands playing. 9.30 cast her off and returned into harbor, and moored again in our old place. This was the hottest day I felt for a long time. In the evening we had a thunder storm and made it Saturday night.

Sunday February 10th 1856 In Rio de Janeiro. At 8 the Camilla arrived from the Rio - 9.30 went to Divisions and performed Divine Service. In the evening great excitement was caused by the arrival of a Russian Steamer, under American Colors we were ordered to unmoor immediately, lay fires and be ready

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for starting at a moments warning. The Flag Ship also prepared for sea, as it was said a Russian Frigate was cruising outside - Heavy rain with thunder and lightning.

February 11th At 7 an order to get Steam up, as there was an appearance of the Russian getting ready for a start. Commdr went to Flag Ship and reported all right, & returned with an order to put the fires out, blow off steam, and our cable: great disappointment to all - In the afternoon the Admiral pulled round our ship. Had a Soirée in the evening making it eleven before turning in -

February 12th Got up in a bad temper, and was obliged to pull old Ross's nose round the Gun room - In the afternoon went on board the Flag Ship to see the Surgeon. In the evening M Netton came on board - Camilla came from the River.

February 13th Wet all day, finished letters for L, M, E and B. Went on board Flag Ship and had a parting pipe with Clayhills and Abercrombie : the Surgeon still confined to bed-

February 14th Flogged Boy Hagg for theft with three dozen - In the morning at 8.30 the mail went to sea - An order came on board to discharge Invalids to Trident - Went ashore in the evening with dirty clothes, and had a very dirty walk, getting back out through by 7.30.

February 15th a signal from Flag for Trident Syren and Indefatigable to prepare to go to Sea on tomorrow, raining again all day in the afternoon took Invalids to Trident. In the evening Admiral shifted Flag to Madagascar.

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could hear him say the Admiral intends going out in us for a cruize - Some American Officers came on board in the evening, but being in bed did not see them

February 20th Got up a little easier but passed a very restless night, and was glad to turn in again after seeing the sick. In the afternoon, Captain Sawson of O. Monarch came on board - A beautiful moonlight evening, and it was late before I turned in.

February 21st Carpenter from Madagascar came on board to make the necessary alterations - Cholera again on the increase, most likely owing to the weather - 9 Sawson came on board, bringing with him a daughter about 14 yers old, and very pretty for her Father was one of the most handsome men I ever met: they afterwards went on shore with Christian - In the forenoon my old Ship the Spry came in, and was made to cruize round the harbor - on acct. of not bringing up properly. I went on board in the afternoon, had tea in the gun room, and tried to make an exchange for our Purser and Second Master. Luckraft her Commander returning form dining with the Admiral and being an old friend of mine, I went into his cabin for half an hour, chatting of old times - After tea, the Dr (Stoddart a ruin sort of being) went back to our ship, and had a game at the Russians and Turks and after supper he left. Went to bed.

February 22nd only one on the list, dressed ship on account of some Yankee days: sent a party to the Dock Yard. An order from the Admiral to be ready for sea by next Tuesday. Carpenters busy making alterations in our pantry; completed with water. In the evening

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went ashore to Eolerad and had a quiet game of Crib with my old Messmate Eversfield - Returned a little after nine.

February 23rd Sent as usual a party to the Dockyard. In afternoon a Transport came up the harbor having Government stores for the Fleet. Sent another party to her to help in discharging her - Went ashore in the evening and played at billiards, won every game; went on board about eleven, made it [illegible?] turned in.

Sunday February 24th 1856 Birthday [scribbled image: considerable text is scratched out at this point] Got up in a very bad temper why I can not say put on a long face and tried to show unwell but without effect - An order from the Admiral to send an Officer and Party to Church - 9.30 went to Divisions and mustered by Open Sist, performed Divine Service - After dinner went ashore and crossed over to Braganza with Kinnear, and had a glass of grog (whiskey) with Mrs Beattie a real scotch old lady - Got back to Rio in the 8 o'clock boat, and had billiards at the Hotel de Paris; when we met Eversfield. Changed clothes at Portuguese Inn, and went out in muffty, and got on board by 12.

February 25th - At 6 I was in a large bath, feeling rather seedy from the effects of our Sunday dinner - 9 A signal from Flag for the Commander - A Report of a Slaver being here

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under false colors - In the evening a party of Officers came on board from Flags, and we had supper, played cards &c. and it was past midnight before we got to bed.

February 20th Got up early but feeling far from well, had half a dozen buckets of water thrown over me, which did not do me much good and I was compelled in consequence to have a pint of half and half - A Plumber on board repairing [?] houses. Signal from Flag to get ready for sea, as a report was current that [illegible scribbling obsuring sentence]

Several Slavers were trying to land a cargo at different places. In the evening the Officers went ashore to the Opera Harparal of Marines to apprehend our French Cook who had deserted.

February 27th At 8 a signal from the Admiral to get Steam up altho' there was a fine sea breeze blowing with the advantage of an ebb tide. At 10 passed the Fort, and after getting an offing, let the fires go out and made sail - standing on the Starboard tack to Cape Frio.

February 28th In middle watch very nearly got ashore through neglect of the Gunner: a little after daylight saw Cape Frio, distant about 25 miles. Weather very hot and unpleasant, no one in Sick List - Excercised a party at Gun drill.

February 29th At 1.30 got Steam up, and steered for Cape Frio - 6 abreast of the Cape, and at