Travel Diaries and Journals

at the National Gallery - fine old pictures + wonderful [?]. One by [blank] is so much retouched that they talk of having it cleaned to come down to the originalty. He brought us a guide book to London a hundred years ago to look at. Among the coins he brought was one of silver of Queen Elizabeth made so old + ugly that she ordered them all destroyed, about a third of her has been cut off, but the head is left entire. This is the only one know to exist. The British Museum offered him ₤60 for it which he declined but has left it to the museum in his will. After he left us I bought this book +c [&c, etc.]. Miss Cary made us a very agreeable visit in the evening. She told us that it has been quite the fashion this summer to make excursions in the [environs?] in certain six horse coaches, which are often driven by the owners gentlemen, sometimes [peers?] of the [?]. They start from the White Horse cellar, close by.

Sept. 10 - Thursday. To Northumberland House, Trafalgar Square which is entirely dismantled, every thing moveable gone even to the mantels + the timbers, stone, [?] windows stair cases +c [&c, etc.] are being sold at Auction. The Ballroom, + Pompeian room must have been superb. The kitchen, offices, pantries, + the arrangements for

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lasted longer when I was a boy, hedges and ditches to be repaired, whilst if time could be spared a day was allowed for rabbit hunting, and wildfowl shooting, and oh! when the 'Broad' was frozen over, the pleasure of flying over the ice with my old skates. And thus the seasons went and came, bringing toil but many, many pleasures with them, and all was bright and prosperous, but a change was coming. My uncle returned from sea and commenced practice of his profession as a surgeon in the little town of Beccles, about seven miles from where we lived, from him I heard about the sea and the sailors, ships, and foreign countries, and I longed to be a sailor. My old boat although not at all adapted or built for the purpose, I tried to bring into sailing trim, one of the sheets of my bed I fixed up in her for a sail which took her across the 'Broad' in a strong wind to my great satisfaction, and great fright of a neighbor who stood looking on, with threats to acquaint my father with my daring, believing the boat would capsize, but I never heard that he put his threat in execution, if he had I well knew a flogging would be my lot. My sisters' shawls also, whenever they accompanied me in my boating excursions, were sure to be hoisted off their shoulders on to a jury mast rigged on to the boat for that purpose, causing much wonder to dear mother as to how the garment got into the damaged state, which was sure to be the result. However 'go to sea' I would and got my fill of the hardships to be met with on board the collier trading from the northern ponds with coals from Yarmouth +c, and cargoes of flour for London.

One morning at my request my father

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soon ready to take out turn under one of the wooden spouts, or shoots, to have our hold filled with coals, brought down from the pit's mouth in little square wagons on iron tramways, at that time the only form of railway in use.

In waiting our turn at the 'spout' we spent a Sunday at Shields, and getting leave from the Captain to go on shore, having never before been far from home I had much to look at. I soon left the black dirty town of Shields behind me and struck into the country enjoying the beautiful sunshine and the song of the birds, and was sorry when night coming on made it necessary to seek my close sleeping berth on board the vessel once more. I had a great wish to see the famous old town of Newcastle about eight or ten miles higher up the river than Shields, but want of opportunity forced me to defer it until my next voyage.

As soon as we were full of coals we dropped down with the tide took a pilot and went out of the harbour and found a very heavy sea outside, and we being very deep in the water we were continually under water, every thing washed off the decks and not a dry thread about us. The cooking coppers stood on deck but we could keep no time there, our work was harder now the sails required a deal of attention, and I was obliged to stand my watch and not take my share of the ship's duties as far as my stomach would allow me, with the men, except taking the helm, and wondrous short my four hours watch below, 'Starboard watch', to which I belonged [illegible?] to be called before I had closed my eyes ten minutes, however we reached Yarmouth harbour all in due time discharged coals, and again took cargo for London, and such with slight variations is the routine on such vessels, and in the winter

[Flag in circle "Clarence" written at top arc]

Abstract Log.

of the E. I. East India Ship "Clarence" from London to Madras & Calcutta From Calcutta to St Helena and Demerara British Guiana and back to London.

In the years 1864 & 1865 commencing the 18th of June 1864 and ending the 3rd of May 1865 Rept. [Report] by Joseph Watson commander

E. I. Ship Clarence

Joseph Watson Commander From London to Madras & Calcutta

June 18th 1864

at 11.15 AM, Hauled out of the East India Dock. in charge of Mr Martin Pilot & proceeded down the river in tow of the steam eng. [engine] "Caledonia" at 2.30 PM moored ship to the buoy off the town pier Gravesend.

June 19th

Fresh SW wind & fine. The "Winchester" sailed PM with thalf the 18th Regiment of Hussars.

June 20th

Fresh SW wind & fine troops provisions were sur- veyed employed taking in baggage tc.

June 21st

at noon embarked the Head Quarters of the 18th Hussars consisting of 15 officers and 3 ladies 257 men 33 women 4 children over 10 years & 32 under 10, together with all their baggage