Travel Diaries and Journals

do something for me? " Father was doing all he could do and had sent for the Doctor. Carrie and I wept in silence - just then Julia Waterman came in, she was much shocked at his altered appearance, at first too much so to come into the room but when she entered a few moments after Natty observed ^ her and said "Julia, Julia and soon after "Come here Julia." she came to him "Talk to me." he said - she was too much distressed to speak and, after waiting a moment for her reply, he said "Julia, I love everybody." He had formerly not been very partial to her and now wished to assure her that all such feelings were forgotten. The Doctor now arrived and did his best to revive his sinking patient - all was done that could be done and with the rapidity that the case required. Dear, kind Mr Murrow what should we have done without him in that moment of hate and despair _ with his bare hands he rubbed Natty's limbs with the burning liquid that none of us could have borne to touch, andquick as thought he brought all that was asked for and did all that was required __ but all in vain, the stimulants failed to rouse the sinking pulse and the stagnate blood refused to flow into the [Dr?] and motionless limbs, but the sufferer had forgotten all bodily pain. Death he knew had come and with that dread knowledge all the energies of human love were roused; his first thought seemed to be of Father who had left the room a moment. "Where's Father?" he exclaimed, "call him back. Father! Father! Father!!" he repeated in accents of entreaty and affection. Father was beside him but still that supplicating cry went up as if that beloved name could shield and save him. Voice strength were failing rapidly but still he repeated it again and again and as he

grew weaker substituted the word "Pa" __ "Pa ! Pa ! Pa !" Oh! how sad and entreatying was that cry ! __ Then after a pause he said sorrowfully but resignedly "Dear Father Dear Mother Bye Bye; Bye Bye!" as if speaking to us all _ it was all he had strength to utter. _ This had passed in a very few moments and our attention had been divided between his words and the vain attempts to rouse him into life Was it strange that we still hoped? _ that so sudden was the dreadful shock that we could neither believe nor realize it _ Father was the last to give him up, how could^he with those tones sounding in his ears? The Doctor stopped in despair but Father said "once more" and again he raised the drooping head and poured the brandy into his mouth it gurgled in his throat __ "Try Natty; try to swallow it." he entreated, but the next moment laid him back on his pillow his eyes fixed in death. Never shallI forget the agony of that moment as he dropped helplessly into a chair and covered his face with his hands in all the anguish of despair of a parent's heart. Poor Mother, bending over her dying boy, lifted an imploring glance to the Doctor while the fearful question faltered on her lips - "Can't you save him?" "No earthly power can do that" was the heart-rending answer Oh the agony of that hour to us all! - Carrie and I wringing our hands in the wildest grief that we had yet known, while Cornelius and Frederic with a bitter cry threw themselves to the bed beside their dying brother. Only for a moment did Father forget himself; his child he could not save from the power of the ruthless destroyer, but the immortal soul was still lingering in the land of hope; he sprang up and again

bent over the bed of death, "Natty," he said, "we cannot save you, can you trust in the Lord Jesus?" "Yes," was the prompt, clear reply. "Give your heart to God, Natty, cast yourself into the arms of the Saviour can you do this?" "Yes," he again replied and to several other questions of the same nature he likewise replied. Then Father knelt in prayer -- Oh such a prayer -- it was like wrestling with Jehovah, and seemed to take hold of every promise to the faithful, and the dying, and plead them with a merciful and covenant keeping God. -- Doubtless it was heard and accepted. __ When he ceased Natty appeared to be talking to us for some time, but his voice was so feeble and indistinct that we could understand nothing that he said. He was composed and after a pause seemed to be singing to himself, then again he seemed in prayer, but all we could make out were these two words which he pronounced clearly and distinctly -- "Lord Forgive." -- Soon all was hushed, he still breathed, but lay speechless and motionless with his eyes fixed. Father paced the room absorbed in prayer suddenly he stopped, clasped his hand upon his breast exclaiming "I can give him up now - let him go [Dr?] 'The Lord gave and the Lord taketh away and blessed be the name of the Lord"for as he spoke he had within himself the [Dr?] assurance that his prayers were answered and his child was saved. He says it seemed to him like a flood of glory suddenly let in upon his soul __ the most glorious thing this side of heaven - while to us it seemed as if God had spoken to Father and through him to us assuring us all of the eternal happiness of our beloved one. Just as Father uttered the last words Starr and Albert arrived and caught the expression as they entered. What a shock it must have been!

They joined the sobbing group around Natty's bedside, and like us begged in vain for one more look, one more word. Twas a scene beyond description -- strong hearted men [Dr?] as children and brothers and sisters, Fatherand Mother mingled their lamentations together, kiss after kiss was pressed to the still burning brow, and words of [Dr?] love, and of hope and heaven were poured into the ear of the dying - we suppose he heard and understood all and was conscious to the last. It was about seven o'clock P.M. as I hung over him Ikissed him and spoke to him, and oh how my heart thrilled! --- there was a movement, and one faint, expiring glance was turned upon me, -- but for an instant however, and it was the last effort of life. I felt that he knew me and for a moment almost hoped -- How vain! Gradually the breath died away -- there was no struggle or sigh but calm as an infant's slumber was the transition from time and sorrow to eternal blessedness. Though I kept close to him till the last I knew not when he drew his last breath But I heard them murmer "he is gone" and Starr shut down the lids over those beautiful eyes, and I turned away with a breaking heart . --- Poor Carrie fainted Father was very calm -- Mother scarcely spoke or moved, and the boys had sobbed themselves into quietness. The room was filled with friends who had gathered in one by one and whom till now I had not noticed. -- Bye and bye we went down stairs and I did not again see the dear inanimate body that evening. Friends came and went and several prayed with us before leaving -- but I scarcely saw or heard anything -- I felt stunned and bewildered, and though every chord of feeling ached I was

Course South 64° East 234 Current Setting to the westward. 20 miles in 24 hours.

Sept. 18th. thermom[eter] down to 50° this morning Queen of ondes natives. difference in temperature during the voyage.

Sept 19th dancing this afternoon on the quarter deck. finished with a fight. Morris blanketted Lat 38.46 S. Long 152 West 220 miles.

Sept 20. Time now seems to pass quickly passed Tristan de Cuhha and Goughs island Lat 39.29 S. Long. 2.14 E. 205 miles.

Sept 21. Eugenia put in view Kept in 24 hours. This eveng concert. Hoblyn Surg. Laura. Lat 39.46 S. Long. 5.59 W. 186 miles. ,

Sept 22. Theatrical performance this evening. Slasher & Crasher & Box & Cox married & settled Sailor Russell danced a hornpipe. Usual theatrical cries by Slade & others, Fox of the 34th. Sweeping the floor. Lat 39.45 S Long 13.49 E. 203 miles

Sept 23. Squally weather. Sudden squall took us aback at 5 o'clock & carried away main top studding sail loose. repaired during the night L

By Moonlit [Pencil Drawing of hills and sea seen from ship] Lions Rump Cape of Good Hope posterior extremity seen from the Belgravia on 1st April 1858 when the ship was hove too.

[Pencil drawing of hills seen from on board the Belgravia]

from near Hants Bay

2 Continuation Cape

Structure of lights seen Hants Bay the right extremity the from the Belgravia 15 miles at Cape of Good Hope sea supposed to be at the entrance of

[Pencil sketch of hills seen from on board Belgravia ]

Cape of Good Hope & Cape Point. Seen from belgravia 2nd. April 1858.

[Pencil sketch of hills from on board Belgravia ]

Table Mountain from the West. Constantia to the right. seen from "Belgravia" April 2/58 on the other side & Lions head

Kedgeree. After resting a short time Mr. Cloete Senr. & Junr. the Genl. Cafer Dadson & I went out to see the vineyards. the season of the grapes was nearly passed & they had been nearly all gathered. A very large tract of ground was under Culturation extend- ing a good long way up the side of the Hill. Constantia is the place famous for its manufacture of wines. A great many spurious imatations are sold [the only meth scored through] & have consequently given the Cape a bad name for wine but the genuine Constantia which is only to be got bygoing to the vineyards is in reality one of [written above] the finest wines possible to procure. We went to the Vintry & saw the processes by which the grape is fermented the pressing of the grape, [illegible] & exposure & fermentation &ec. & then we had