Volume 10: Elizabeth Macarthur journal and correspondence, 1789-1840

No.5. experience however soon taught us a very disagreeable truth. Mr. Trails character was of a much blacker dye, that was even in Mr. Gilberts nature to exhibit. every thing was now disposed in order for Sea & we only waited for a fair wind Capn. Hill & Mr. Prentice & Mr. Harris was [were] in the Surprize Mr. Townson & Mr. Abbott in the Scarborough – & in the Neptune Capn. Nepean Mr. McArthur &c. Mrs. Trail was on board with her husband – & Mr. Shapcote the agent for the fleet, was also in our Ship – but as they all lived together & Capn. Nepean with them – we seldom benefited by their society – . The Wind continuing to blow westerly an attempt towards sailing was not made until tuesday the 5th. of Janry.; we then had a few hours fair wind, which First took us to Spithead, where we were again obliged to anchor. Friday the 8th. we again loosened "every sail to the Breeze" & proceeded to Sea. Towards night the wind began to prove faithless, & before the next morning blew directly again 2 hrs so as totally to impede our course The next day (Sunday) & night we continued to beat about, hoping that a favorable change would take place. but on monday morning appearances were so extremely hazardous, that prudence dictated the shortest way back

No.6. again, & our head was once more turned towards that Shore we had so recently quitted with an Idea of not seeing it again for some years to come: we passed through the Needles and anchored at the Mother Bank, on Tuesday about Noon. The Evening & succeeding day was so dreadfully tempestuous, that we had great reason to be thankful at our being safely in harbour.

We remained at the Mother Bank until Sunday the 17th. of Jany. when a fine clear easterly wind springing up, we soon got under sail, & proceeded down the Channel with very fine weather – On Wednesday being near the Bay of Biscay the wind shifted to the South & it began to be very tempestuous, that night and the succeeding day it blew exceedingly hard, and now for the first time I began to be a coward, I could not be persuaded that the Ship could possibly long resist the violence of the Sea which was mountains high. On Thursday towards Evening the wind considerably abated & the next morning it was a perfect calm, but the Sea continued greatly agitated by a swell.

On the 25th. of Jany. we were again favor'd with a fair wind & a small vessel was seen at a distance with french colours. About this time my poor little Boy was taken very ill & continued in a most pitiable weak state during our voyage to the Cape, added to this, my Servant was attack'd with a Fever, that reigned among the Women Convicts; and I had hourly every reason to expect that the infection would be

No.7 communicated to us as our appartments were so immediately connected with those of the women. we were however fortunate enough to escape from this evil. I have omitted to observe that when Capn. Nepean accepted of accommodations in the upper cabin, he thought himself at liberty, to dispose of the part allotted to him in the great cabin, as best suited his inclinations. adopting that really generous maxim "every man for himself – – &c &c. In consequence of this Idea, & a request from the owners of the Ship he gave permission for one half the cabin to be partitioned off, for the reception of female convicts, leaving the other half to to us. Mr. McArthur who saw the inconveniences that would arise from this arrangement, strove by every means to prevent it, he pointed out to Capn. Nepean, "That Government had contracted for a Cabin for the material benefit of the Officers ordered to sail on that Ship, and that there was no particular allotment for any officers": That therefore if he had the means of obtaining better accommodations" and had no use for those prepared him by Government It was highly indelicate, if not unjust to think of introducing a set of people to the possession of what was [original crossed out] prepared for him: and to the participation of what was assigned to us. But in this instance, as in many others, reason unassisted by power, proved no availing. A slight

No 7 [original crossed out] Partition was erected which was thought fully sufficient to separate us from the set of [original crossed out] abandoned creatures that were to inhabit the other part: and the only satisfaction or concession that Mr. McArthur could obtain for this cavil encroachment upon our rights; was a promise, & assurance that a passage which from our Quarter gallery communicated with the upper Cabin, should always be open for our use, & even for our servants

This assurance, trifling as it may appear, rests as an inestimable advantage, as the division in the Cabin had rendered the common passage to the deck, totally dark; and added to this, it was always filled with Convicts, & their constant attendants, filth & vermin. The altercations and little disputes, that the concluding of this business occasioned created a coldness between Capn. Nepean the master of the Ship & Mr. McArthur; and at best terminated in a cessation of every kind of intercourse, except on duty with The one, or on business with the other. Thus unhappily situated, we determined patiently to submit to the non= =pleasantries we could not remedy, and cheered ourselves with the hope of a speedy voyage, but not doubting but that things were at the worst: In this conclusion however experience proved, we had vainly flattered ourselves.

Many of the Soldiers frequently complained that a part

No 9 part of their Ration was purloined, and as often as they did, Mr. M – considered it his duty to report it to Capn. Nepean: the first time Capn. N. replied "Trail does every thing to oblige me, and I must give up some points to him". Subsequent informations on the same subject, were answered, "I will see into it". It would be an injustice to Capn. Nepean to suppose that he did not mention it, as there is every reason to conclude he did, from the monstrous and unprovoked insults that always ensued. I had made it a practice every fine Evening to go up thro' our quarter Gallery to the Mess Gallery, to walk or sit with Mr. M – and I also took the same road when ever my inclinations led me to the Deck – the common passage as I have before observed being rendered impassable – but of these enjoyments I was [original crossed out] suddenly deprived by the door of the Gallery being closely nailed up on Saturday the 30th. of Jany. without their deigning to assign any reason for so doing – – we have since been told it was to prevent Mr. M. from listening: a suggestion infamous & unfounded as it was, I shall ever be persuaded originated in the person, who of all others in the Ship, ought to have been most forward in support-ing it. Mr. McArthur immediately wrote an official letter to the Agent, complaining in the strongest language, of the injustice of this mans action. In answer to which, he was told verbally (a written answer being refused) "That he should not quarrel