Herbert Mackarsie journal

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get steam up, and Commdr and some officers went ashore to shoot play at Caits, and otherwise amuse themselves. While shaving at 7 AM, heard a report of fire, and seeing the Corporal pass my cabin, inquired if there was any danger, but found, it was merely a quantity of broom stuff, that had been hung round the funnel to dry, had ignited and set fire to the topsail yard, and was spreading to the spare sticks on the booms. At 10 they all came off, when we again weighed and went toward the lagoon, and at 20 minutes to one we let fires go out and made sail - As usual, the same amount of discontent and growlling. In the evening played at Drafts-

May 13th A fresh breeze but as usual deadanend Amusing myself by making out report of Survey on Invalids, preparatory to going in to Rio. Went to bed with rigors and next morning felt very unwell.

May 14th Quite unable from Fever to do my duty and was obliged to keep my bed all day, and at night it came on to blow so that I passed a very bad night.

May 15th Standing in towards the land of St Sebastian under all possible sail. At 2 PM the wind headed when steam was got up, and we steamed round the point, up the beautiful Straits the weather being beautifully fine and came to an anchor off the town. Most of the Officers went ashore to play at charts - Felt a little better

May 16th The morning was very fine the sunrise over the surrounding mountains was very picturesque: some of my messmates, went ashore before breakfast to buy Stock and came off with an ample supply of fowls and ducks - At 9.30 went to General Quarters, afterwards scraped masts

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and booms: there were seven on the List. In the afternoon the Commdr went over to the other side, returning to dinner and afterwards going ashore with the rest of the Officers to play Taits again when they came back we had drafts, and Beg of my neighbor, and after taking supper with the Engineers, and a pipe turned in.

May 17th At 5 got steam up, while a Steamer was seen in the distance: 6.30 weighed and steamed out of Bay. At 9 passed the Steamer Josephine on her way to Santos 9.30 let the fires burn out, got the Screw up and made sail for Rio with a fair wind. In the afternoon the wind fell light - Went on the Quarter deck and complaining to the Commdr of not having a Sick Bay Man, after asking the Commanding Officer for one - In the evening we had music, and made it Saturday night, turning in about 11 after supper.

Sunday May 18th At Sea. Light winds and a drizzling rain, with a nasty cross swell, making the ship roll [?] uncomfortably, but what wind there was happened to be fairAt 3 Commdr dined with us - The evening much the same.

May 19th At 4.30 A strong breeze from ENE which soon got up a nasty cross sea. At 9.30 tacked and made sail but everything very uncomfortable. At night it came on to blow and we shortned sail when a nasty sea got up, and we tacked every four hours -

May 20th Off [Marambienos?], with a strong breeze from ENE. At 6.30 got steam up, shortned sail and steamed for Rio; busy making out papers &c for Admiral. At 7.30 passed the Fort, and afterwards came to an anchor and moored ship. Boarded by Lieut Bushell Office of the Guard. Commdr went alongside the Madagascar, where the Admiral's Flag was still flying

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and got our letters and papers, one from Liz, Ellen & Mother, and one from Baby, Canada Peace Proclaimed.

May 21st 10.30 a signal to weigh and go to the Coal Island to fill up. By noon we were alongside the wharf and commenced - In the evening a party of the Officers went ashore .

May 22nd By 8.30 we had finished coaling and at 9, cast off and steamed over to the old anchorage where we moored ship again. Were informed of our going up to Parama with the Charge d'affairs, Mr Christian. At 10 went on board Madagascar, and saw the Sick with my firend Bynoc - At 1 went on board the Indefatigable, met Woodcock who was just going on shore to see the Grand Processing for Jesu Christo. After Service went to Cobras, Eversfield from home, but in the evening he came in, when we had a long yarn - Went ashore afterwards and played at Billiards at which I lost - Got on board before the rest of them by ten.

May 23rd A letter on Service from the Admiral came on board late in the previous evening ordering us to have Steam up by daylight, to go in search of some suspected vessel. At 9 we passed and spoke the Fyne going into Rio. 9.00 Went to General Quarters. Searched in rain for the missing ship and got back again by 7.30- when we moored and the Commdr went on board Madagascar-

Saturday May 24th 1856 - Queen's Birthday: all in full dress who could sport it, at 11 the Emperor went on board the Indefatigable and was saluted with 21 guns - At noon there was another salute and manning gards, and when the Emperor left

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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