Travel Diaries and Journals

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

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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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everything is new. New places & associates help to pass the time pleasantly 2 months from the date of sailing from England they are landed in adventure. Fresh news are heard of the attrocitties in India. Young Albert has a brother at Cawnpore. With eagerness he looks over the list of slain. His brothers name meets his eye he had died a noble death seized by this infuriated native hes taken before the Rajah: there are no means of escape by an oversight on the part of the Savages. The Young man has his revolver with him he resolves to sell his life dearly. Five fall by his hand. The sixth shot was [struck through: destined] [Written above & struck through:Kept]for the Rajah. He shot misses he is seized bound & a death awaits him the most horrible that can be imagined crucifixion luckily the savages in their eagerness to torture give releif to the sufferer by bayonet thrusts he is

Last edit almost 2 years ago by Dendendaloom

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him only, she never can love another his cheek is pale. the lover places one kiss on the girls now unwilling lip. One heart broken sob escapes him. As he turns to leave her, he dares not trust himself with another look Soon he is gone from her sight, from Jessie who had concealed her feelings from the last now seeks her room & the tears which had not before been shed now come down in torrents. She was alone bewildered sad. She could not realise the full amount of her mercy it seemed like a dream Albert parting on his way, as fast as he could tries [to keep close? scored through] as if to outrun his thoughts he goes to the Railway Station. Kind friends, press his hands on all sides, the hour arrives & he is gone from the midst of them all. The voyage out is a prosperous one the first going Albert has made

Last edit almost 2 years ago by Dendendaloom

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beauties of womanhood. [scored through: embarassment] they met often, his attachment grew stronger every time they met Jessie seemed sometimes indifferent sometimes she seemed more interested in the conversation of others. She would show more favour to others. A spell bound him when in her society he could find [scored through: nothing to say or tell her] no subject of conversation & he fancied himself inferior to other young men who could converse gaily & freely with the object of his affections. At last came the order to join his regiment & sail for India they met the evening before he was to leave it might be forever his native land. No trace of sorrow no weeping was there in her face He must tell her of his love Suspense is no longer to be borne. He pours his tales of love into her ear & wrings from her the confession that she loves

Last edit almost 2 years ago by Dendendaloom

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most of her life in this spot. She was now about 17 lovely as the early dawn & what is more important, she was good as well as beautiful she was unsophisticated & artless. [scored through: From] In Boyhood Albert King was only happy when he was beside the sprightly little girl. Albert having gone to Edinburgh to study [scored through: they became] [scored through: separated] & Jessie having gone to Ireland to live with a relation they were thus parted. Albert returned from College with a mind well stored & as handsome an exterior as one could wish to look on Jessie too shortly after returned from Ireland. When they met she received him with all the Cordiality of her nature pleasure sparkling in her eyes to see her old the friend [scored through: of her girlhood] grown such a handsome young man. & he was also pleased to find the little Jessie Duncan [scored through: Beautif] grown a beautiful girl & in all the open

Last edit almost 2 years ago by Dendendaloom

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would have an opportunity of rarity for three long months to send on shore by the pilot. The young mans name was Albert [struck through: Parmenter] Kay, born of an ancient & noble family in Perthshire he was a younger son & as younger sons do generally he had entered the Army & into a regiment the pride of his own county one wearing the garb of Old gaul. he had lately joined & his regiment had now embarked for the Capital City of the East. there were hearts that yearned for him at home, he had his elder brother now already in motion torn himself from a broken hearted mothers arms. From sisters from brothers & from one whom he scarcely could confess to himself had such a place in his affections. Young Jessie Duncan was the flower of the village adjoining the estate on which Albert Kay had spent most of his youthful days. She was the youngest daughter of the medical man of the village & had likewise passed

Last edit almost 2 years ago by Dendendaloom

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