Travel Diaries and Journals

James Adam diary: 1857-1863 (Ms. Codex 1948)

Diary comprising two volumes spanning the years from 1857 to 1863 written by James Adam. Volume 1 contains Adam's descriptions his journey from Scotland to India as a medical officer. On August 15, 1857 Adam departed from London on a steamer ship the Candia. He wrote of his sea voyage including officers he traveled with, the weather, landscapes, missing his family, sea sickness, and miles traveled. He arrived at Kalkota on November 5, 1857. Adam worked at a hospital and witnessed a portion of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. In February 1858 Adam was deployed to the ship Belgravia to take charge of the wounded and sick at the South African Cape. He traveled with his servant Harold. Once anchored at Table Bay Adam described the native people, seeing Dr. Livingstone. Adam noted he had a muster of forty natives whom he reluctantly treated for skin diseases. There is a copy of a letter to his parents and pencil drawings of the Cape of Good Hope. On the journey back to Calcutta there was an incident with the captain regarding ailing horses. In June 1858 Adam mentioned seeing cholera cases, reading Waston and works on homeopathy. Adam also worked off of the H.M.S. Proserpine. In March 1859 Adam began his voyage back to England on the Ivanhoe he mentioned playing chess and catching fish. Reading volume 1 from back to front are poems and songs. One of the poems was "written on board the Candia". Tables of daily latitude and longitude for the voyages to India and England are in the volume. Some accounting of receipts and expenditures is in the volume. Adam arrived back in Edinburgh on August 5, 1859. Volume 2 commences in 1861. In sporadic entries Adam described his arrival and work at Bethnal House Asylum with Dr. Ritchie. and Dr. Miller. In August 1863 Adam wrote of his trip to Scotland and attending a wedding in Portobello. He mentioned seeing family members in Edinburgh. Reading volume 2 from back to front is a clipping of an epitaph for Lord Clyde pasted over writing in pencil. Adam wrote an autopsy of a young woman named Ann Jones aged 23. A majority of volume 2 is blank. Inscribed on the first leaf of volume 1: J. F. Adam journal, commenced August 13, 1857 on leaving home for the first time to sail for India. Inscribed on the last leaf of volume 1: James F. Adam, Surgeon, H.M.S. Proserpine. Volume 2 is inscribed: Private, Jame Adam M.D., January 20, 1861. https://franklin.library.upenn.edu/catalog/FRANKLIN_9977359130603681

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[Cover of book, no writing observed]

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36 Sherry 1 Spitting pot 6 Sea Cots 3 Sauce pans 113 units pickles 1 Urinal 100 lbs Sago 1 Bed pan 3 Close Stools

Dr. Adam was born 13 April 1834 Dr Livingstone 22 April 1858 M. 43 a

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[Calligraphy swirls above and below text, and on either side of Dr. Adam's name] Dr. J. F. Adam Journal Commeced August 13th 1857 on leaving home for the first time To Sail for India

Last edit about 1 year ago by Dendendaloom

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[blank page with foxing noted]

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Edinburgh August 13th 1857

In the morning called at Macfarlane's bade Mr Young & the rest good bye at the head of Infirmary Street. Met several students & while standing speaking to them, Saw Sophia & James Forbes coming down. Walked down the Bridge with them, left S. to go to D. Thomson's & J. F. & I went to see Fred at the Brewery. J. F. & I in the afternoon went down in the Leith coach & called on John Moore. Saw Mrs M. bade them good bye. Walked along to Trinity & dined there. Fred did not come down. Went down to the greenhouse to smoke got a fuschia which S. wrapped up for me, bade Mr. R. good bye. Maria asleep. Did not awake her. bade Mrs. F. good bye. S. came to the door, nearly broke down at last on leaving all my dearest friends [good bye--2 lines drawn through this] for how long? had to run off to the train. J. F. with me. We called again on Fred & then I went home. Oh such a trial I had, tried to keep off the evil moment to the last but the hour came

Last edit about 1 year ago by Dendendaloom

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