A Voyage To Queensland

In April 1863 Daniel Baldwin and his family sailed from England to Australia. Aboard the same ship, as fellow passengers, were William Theaker and his family. Although Baldwin does not mention his fellow travelers I thought it worthwhile to transcribe the diary he made of his journey, after all they must have met and must have had more or less the same experience of the journey. The diary was published in the Courier-Mail in January 1988 and a photocopy was sent to me by one Judy Hall. Mrs. Hall’s family also sailed on the same ship, though they embarked in Ireland. She also has a Theaker who married into her family – a descendant of William Theaker .

 The ship in which they all sailed was the Golden Empire of the Black Ball Line.

 A note about the spellings and the grammar. Baldwin was poor at spelling, even his daughter’s name has at least two variations. I have not corrected any spellings and it is possible I have added one or two.

We managed very well in the railway. We got into Kings Cross station about 6 o'clock. We found Mr. Riding and family as soon as we landed and friends from (Sadm or Sadin) got in with us at Colne and helped us with our luggage.

 All was bustle. Mr. Riding went to seek a cart. We had two men from Manchester with us to see us off. there were 16 of us in all with a good deal of luggage. 

The cabmen offered to take us for 15 shillings. We wanted to go to Black Wall near East India docks. After waiting a long while Mr. Riding came back with an old broken braced horse and four weeld cart or wagon for 10 Shillings. We got our luggage in first and then the females and children. Most of us men walked. 

It is about 7 miles to the docks but it is up hill and our driver took us some miles around. It was midnight when we got into a miserable lodging. We got our supper for tea at twopence per cup. Our room was three floors high.

 A separat room with wood sealing little larger than the bed which we had two shillings to pay for it. It was a very large lodging house but neither clean nor convenient but very dear. Our money went fast. 

Good Friday: We found this morning that our Suzannah was sick which made Mrs. Baldwin wish over and over again that she was at home and this was by no means the last time that she wished that. As soon as we had got our breakfasts we went to the docks. The dock warehouse was closed so we could not see whether our luggage was come or not. We could do little but stare about us. The part of London that we was in was narrow, dirty and noisey. 

April 4: The day we should sail. As soon as we could Mr. Riding and myself went to see about the luggage. Some had come but ours was not there. we inquired at the railway staion close by the dock. They told us to go to another staion 8 or 9 miles further. Our luggage landed alright and payed for through. I had 5 shillings for docks dues. Every thing was busy when we got to the ship. It was with great difficulty that I got the beds and boxes I wanted in the birth up the ladder and below they all slept in the ship. But for us it took them till 12 o'clock to get ready for bed. (Se) slept ashore for our Suzannah was very badly. It was as much as I could to to keep my dear wife's spirits up and I must say to see our little one so bad gave me more trouble than all put together. Still, my trust was in the Lord and if ever I prayed to God to help us it was then.

 April 5: Sunday we got up very early. We went to look at our future home for 3 or 4 months. I will assure you that we could see nothing promissing in it. I felt assured that God would help us and I thought we could manage. But Ann was as usual meeting what was to come and it was as much as I could do to get her to make the best of it. It was anything but Sunday like till night when we had a prayer meeting which made a wonderful difference with me. We began to move out of the docks soon after we got in the ship. We moved down the river where we anchored for the night.

 April 6: Monday we started by 5 o'clock in the morning. We anchored at Gravesend. We was busy today trying to put the most in the least place to be as convenient as possible to do this right we had to do jobs over and over again. This you will understand better if I could give you the dimensions of our birth. It is four beds in two, 2 up one side each over the other with 3 foot by 5ft for dressing hanging clothes and so you see that our storerooms was under our own bed that was the botton bed at the end. It is about 2 feet high under not as much as our heads with a post supporting the topmost bed which made it a task to crawl in and out past the confounded post. We went ashore today to get some things requisite. The Government Doctor came on board to inspect us. we were all called on deck. The shipowners clerk looked at our ticket at the same time he looked at our poor Susannah, asked her age. We had a minister on board and that gave me some books and advice. Our little (one) made it very trying for us still I tried to do my best and trust in God for the rest.

 April 8: It was to day we started with a steam tug before us to Queenstown.

 April 9: The motion of the ship caused sickness to appear on every hand. My wife was sick and vomited a little. I felt dissey as if I was drunk but I did not vomit. Amelia was free of it. It did not seem to make any difference to her. She played about and has good hapitite.

 April 10: Our Percer was busey putting us into messes. He put a lot of names on a board and we receive our stores together. We had about twelve on our mess card but Mr. Riding the other taken off so that we are a mess of ourselves which makes it better for we have no dividing. We all eat off the same lot.

 April 11: Saturday. Things are much as usual. Our Susannah is bad. I am trying to think that we shall have to put her into the sea. This causes me to pray to God in earnest for her. Our case looks rather glooming but still I believe that all things work together for good if we love and serve our God aright.

 April 12: This morning when I got on deck we were anchored into Queenstown harbour. It is a pleasant sand locked bay. The town looked beautiful from the bay. Our Sabbath was a little better than the last. Passengers was coming on board and some was going on shore. We stopped on board and spent the day as much like Sunday as we could.

 April 13: Everything was buisey getting on-board passengers, boxes, sheep, pigs, ducks, poultry of all kinds for use of the first class cabin. I suppose we shall only have to look at them. we went ashore to get some things but we did not buy much. Evwery thing was so dear. The shops looked dirty inside, Irishlike.

 April 14: We started at 10 O' clock, four hours sooner than we should have done. The sailors were getting tipsey and wisely the Captain was afraid they would go ashore. He had three of them in irons. When we started we had a good wind. The pilot left us soon after we got out of the harbour. The bresse was so fresh that we was out of sight of land very soon. We had a deal of sickness. the ship pitched and rowld but we was as usual.

 April 15: The weather the same. Our Susannah much the same. Her hapitite is bad. She eats nothing. She is as little as she was before she went sick. we get milk suger with a little wine. She drinks most of it at night.

 April 16: Our wind is almost gone and we are making little ahead. we had pleanty to eat, potatoes, steam peasupe, raisin pudding and salt beef and pork but we do not eat much of the salt meat for fear of scurvey. If you could but see the masses of salt meat and pudding up into one boiler. I am not very fond of the pudding scoured with salt but we have some pudding good sometimes when boiled by themselfs. I am thankful my hapitite is good but we cannot manage the biscuit. I got some bread at Queenstown. When that is done we shall have to bake. We have agreed with the cabin cook black man to have pudding and bread. For this we pay 10 shillings per month.

 April 17: Our Susannah a little better this morning for which we are thankful. I hop the Doctor as some strict rules going on. He has appointed Constables to make every one mope and clean before and in our birth. This is to keep back disorders and is quite right for the place smeels already. It will be a blessing if we get through.

 April 18: Saturday but no going to market. We can see nothing but the water safe now and then a distant sail. Yesterday a foreign ship went close to us. Se (we?) spoke to her. She is in sight today. Susannah much better and she begins to eat something. I believe we are thankful to God for it.

 April 19: Sunday and more like the sabbath. the doctor read the church service on deck and when he had done a young Scothsman gave us a very good sermon.

 April 20: Good wheather but not very fresh wind. We are beginning to get use to this kind of life. We are getting use to the rowl and pich of the ship. It felt like Bedlam at first. The confusion and noise on deck from 8 till dark is like a fair. At meal times such a noise and confusion.

 April 21: 45 degrees which seems to be able to Susannah, for thank God she is still better. She takes eggs, milk, wine tea.

 April 22: I have been buisey this morning taking beds on board to air. Ann is in better spirits. Have just seen a whale from the deck. Nice weather yet thank God. We have had some disturbance about our allowance of meal and rice we ought to have. 1 pound each adult of oatmeal and half pound each adult of rice. Instead of this we have had porridge once all mashed together in a boiled yinse we started and no rice - only a leading part in it and got much abusef language for it. The Percer wants to stick to all he can as it will be his own when we land but we are determined to look to our rights. The result is that we have porridge twice a week and a pound of oatmeal served out to each, but the rice we have to promise about it yet. I expect another row about it.

 April 24: Susannah is still better. There is a ship just crossing our bow. As it is very calm we are going to send a boat with letters.

 April 26: Yesterday we were thankful to be able to send a letter to you and I hope you have received it all. It was a small ship bound for India to Spain. They had 119 days and was in want of water and they sent a boat to us. The Captain will now allow preaching on deck. I think he is to fond of the ladies than sermons. He and the Docyor made strict regulations to keep the sailors from them, though I am afraid they do not keep clear of them themselfs. We have some females fear and males to. We had two teaspoonstaken from our table in the daytime. I bought a chairstool in London for Ann to sit on. On our first or second day we lost it. I walked about till I saw it in a birth. I went in and asked where they got said they found it. I was glad to get it back for it is useful for Ann to nurse upon. We have everything marked.

 April 27: The morning is cool and it looked likely for winds. It will be a great blessing if we get a good wind till we get so much on the other side of the Line as we are noe on this as it will be very hot and unhealth if we are becalmed. We have the sun more over our heads. we shall soon be inside the Tropics.

 Tuesday 28: We have had a strong wind in the night. It has given us a rocking. If we were half rocked before we started we shall be rocked out before we land. Everything shakes and crashes. Pots and tine falling and tumbling about. The ship was all on one side so that everything loose slips. When we got up it was wet wild looking morning. We was going very fast but not in the right course we should prahaps to go 20 miles to go 10 to miles askew. We go to bed soon and get up sooner so we can sleep well.

 Wednesday 29: A fine morning wish a fair wind in our favour. Our Suzannah is still mending a bit thank God. Her hapitite is still very good now but she is much relaxed. The Doctor gave her a powder to stop it. It does not answer as well as the chorke mixture we took from home which is nearly done. It will be a great blessing if it will please God to restore our little one to health before we number one more - for it will be bad or worse than twins in a place like this. But hitherto by God's help are we come and we must rust for what is to come. My dear wife is in good health and better in spirits. Amelia is looking paler since we came on board. She has a very good hapitite, plays about as a boy. She says we are going a long way from grandmother. She talks of Aunts Mary, Sarah, Margaret, Elizabeth and granmother and granfather and cousins Sarah and Francis.

 Thursday 30: The barometer is at 72 in our birth but on deck it is much cooler. We have a good steady wind in our favour. The call it a trade wind and it may last 2 or 3 weeks. We have a little swell in the sea and our large ship glides along smoothly at 11 miles an hour. We had a boiled raysonseed pudding to dinner.

 May 1: I have seen no horses with ridings on, yet the weather is as yesterday. We have rice and salt pork to our dinner. I would like to give you some idea of the multitude we are dayley shouldering among. Swell young men with huge shirt collars, rifel men with their rifels with them, one that talking with me with pegtops trousers on. He said he was an engraver on silver plate from London. He had left his bad companions debts to reform himself in Queensland. He has something to find out. We have a shopkeeper and all kinds of fancy men and some fancy women to with crinolines which trys my patiens sometimes. we have a good number of distressed Bibin weavers from Coventree. I can tell them by their clothes which they have given to them. It is of rough grey cloth. We have a lot of respectables, some educated men, Scotsmen with their familys, moneymen. I think we have a good lot of Irish chiefly of the lower class. They lounge all day hudled altogether, men women children up one side of the deck some of them with their barefeet. They say they are lousey allready and I am sure if one is they all will be soon. We have one old women that looks 80 or 90 years old. We have plenty about 60.

 May 2: Wind and whether, everything we can wish. Susannah still mending. She alows the girls to nurse. She would not alow anyone to nurse her but her mother an myself and would not notice anyone till now. She can walk a little by hand.

 May 3: Wind and weather still the same. It looks more like Sunday. Today we had two sermons with good singing upon the deck. It was a good Sunday. I felt thankful that we had a little religion among so much wickedness.

 May 4: Wind wether the same. We had averaged 10 or 12 miles an hour as three or 4 days back we shall be at the line in a week if all is well. Our days shorter every week till we get to the Line. The barometer was 78 today in our birth. The night having fine moonlight.

 May 5: We are making ahead through this waste of water. We crossed the suns light last noon. It is straight over our heads. We shall be at the equator in a few days if it please God. There was a sham trial last night in the second cabin on a breach of promis. I saw the Judge and counselors with wigs made of tow. I was in stearrege at a prayer meeting at the time.

 May 6: We have a strong wind last night and we are running 14 nots a hour and the sea is rather rough. We are 9 degrees from the Line. We are in our hottest now but the barometer is 80. The sun declines a little to the north. They say we shall lose our trade wind tomorrow and I hope it will please God not to let us be becalmed while we get into the next trial. We had a birth on board in the first cabin last night. Suzannah is still getting better and thank God she is cutting tooth. she is relaxed but a good hapitite. We got two pies made for her yesterday.

 May 7: We still have good breces. We are three degrees from the line. We hav gon 236 miles in 24 hours. It is very close in our birth. We keep as much on deck as possible. Some of the passengers will not sleep insides their birth. They sleep on form tables. I saw a lot of porpeses while on the forecastle this morning. I saw a lot of flyfish . The Captain tryed to hit them with lister but he missed. Last night while the ship was going fast at dark I went onto the forecastle to watch the ship cut through the sea. The fire flashed from it very beautiful dancing like so many hundreds of gloworms.

 May 8: Fine morning and the wind with us but little. It is very hot in our birth and my wife gets a good share of it for she is not able to sit up long. We are all in good health. Susannah is still mending thank God.

 May 9: I slept last night on two forms upon a long pillar. Ann and the children slept on the bed without clothes with the sweat running down them. I am all day with only my shirt and trousers without stockings. Plenty of us lie on the forms. Some sit and sleep with their clothes on. The barometer is at 85 degrees. Last night we are a great stir as we are just goeing to cross the line. The sailours expect something from everyone that they can get it from that has not crosed the line before. One of the sailours with a blackened face and tan wig, long cloak and carpet bag. The sailours called him Peption and that he had come on board from the line and that he would want 6 pence from everyone that had not crossed the line before. Anyone that would not pay had to be shaved with tar after dinner. Toady the sailours got a lose sail, put it up on two poles, filled it about 5 foot deep with water. Anyone that come near enough they pitched into it. A young timid shipman a gentlemana he was shaved with tar and passed overhead in the water two or three times. Our stowaways got a good ducking. One of them, an Irishman, while trying to run up the rigien from them fell overboard into the sea. The second mate jumped after him with a rope tied round him and they were both pulled up. It was clam or we should have to left them. We have five stowaways, one a female. The sailours got the pump that they swill the deck with and tryed to drence all on deck. The pump works on the prinsebell (principle) as your strawberry deger (digger) scores of them was wet through. I got through without wet and without sixpence paying too. We crossed the line about 4oc in the afternoon. All this finished with heavy rain. After we are calm.

May 10: Still becalmed. The barometer 89 degrees. A Sunday without sermon but not without prayer and Bible reading. We often think and talk about Park Hill and when you will be sat in the pews. Susannah is still recovering. She is cheerful and will let the girl nurse her but she cannot walk yet. She is to weak.

 May 11: Still becalmed. As hot as ever. Some will stop and sleep on deck all night all wether but I prefer sweating before wetting with rainwater. Many bring their meals on deck to eat them. We do so sometimes. I sleep on deck on the forms. Yet we have a great lot of Popess (porpoises) with us. The roll about all round the ship, sometimes jumping over somerset. Our riffelmen practiced on them. Some of the bals hit them but after shooting on all sides for 3 or 4 hours not was got. In the afternoon the clouds made there appearance. Wind and rain we had in abundance all in a sudden for an hour but the both went away together.

 May 12: We had a little wind all night but it varys and gives the sailours a deal of work in triming the sails. We have a better more wind all day perhaps 4 or 5 nots a hour. Thank God it is beautiful cool on deck. In our birth 84 degrees yesterday. A young Scotchman was sunstruck. He had exposed himself to much to the sun on the forecastle. They have shaved his head. How he is today I have not heard.

 May 13: We have first light winds then rain then calm. We are making little ahead but are thankful we are not becalmes. It is the hottest now in our births. Ann gets to much of it but we are going to let the children sleep on the table. Amelia slept on two campstoods with a shal over her. I slept on the table. The forms were taken up. They say we are close to the trade wind. It will be a great blessing if we get into it and it takes us into a cooler quarter.

 May 14: Lite wind much rain. We are close to Brazil but not close enough to see the land. The Captain is taking this course hoping to get into the south east trade wind to take us from this round the Cape. We have a Captain that does not approve of this plan. He thinks taht we sould put to the tack before now.

 May 15: It has rained torronts all night. The water has come day archway. They had to get up and carry it up in buckets. Ours neighbours opporsit had 1 or 2 inches deep in their birth. we missed it being on the windward, that is the highest side of the ship. though it was cooler in the night it was unpleasant in the morning. the steam rose from the damp like the top of hot bread. The Doctor and Captain is to blame for this. It should have always a cover over the top. We got one up this morning by going to the Captain about it. They seem to care nothing about us, only to get at the bad girls. Some of the passengers intend to complain when we land. One of the sailours has taken £10 and some clothes out of a passenger box for which he got 18 lashes on his bare back with his hands tied to a pillar. He has another to come in yet if he is not pardoned. We have had rain till noon with a fine afternoon. it is the rain season on the Brazil's coasts and I hope it will please God to give us a good bresse and take us out of this. We are only 4 degrees over the Line this morning , that is about 170 miles since last Saturday.

 May 16: Lite winds with heavy showers of rain at night. The wind freshened. Our Susannah still mending but she cannot walk by herself yet. She has two corner teeth cutting. She is relaxed which keeps her back but we are thankful of life for so much of God's favour. we are giving the Doctor a present.

 May 17: we had a stif brees all night with squal which makes us go down much on one side. It is a side wind square upon her side. The Captain carries a great deal of canvas for such a wind when the squals are coming. He calls out "stand by the roycel all deck" that is for a man to stand with rope in his hands which holds down the sails in case of danger of blowing away. He will be ordered to let the rope go then the sails will fly lose and so escape the presser of the wind. After dark was watching the sea rising in hills during a squal when a pin broke that fastens the rope which holds one of the sheets burst lose making tremendous noise by flapping lose in the wind and against the rigen. many of the passenger was alarmed. Jones and myself got away the best we could tumbling down one the other from under it. Mr. Riding laughed at us for being not bold. The Captain cursed and told them to get iron pins to fastened the sheets. We had two sermons today. Once, thank God it felt like Sunday.

 May 18: We had a stiff brees all last night and day. I think we must be running 11 or 12 nots a hour. Thank God for it for we shall soon be through. the hottest of our voyage without any infection, deceas. It is so hot that our ham looks half cooked for we have not gone through bare quarter of it. Yet the fat stands in drops upon it. But I think it will be good when the outside is cut of. I have just been looking at two of the currants loaf we took from home. They have gone moss like withing 3 or 4 days and if we were on land we could not eat them. But we are glad of bread. The sun rises and sets very beautiful about 6 Oc with little or no twilight. Soon after the sun goes down we have it quite dark. You have seen pictures of the setting sun the red strokes shooting upwards in the sky and those beautiful twisted clouds. We can see this every fine evening.

 May 19: A very good bresse that glides us on very fast. the Captain keeps his sails spread, the wind fills all the sails. One side of the ship will be 5 or 6 feet (higher) than the other. We have plenty of fun sometimes when she rolls in watching a lot slide down and tumbling one over the other. I watch the ship pich sometimes and I think it rises and falls 5 or 6 yards last night. I thought it would have pitched me off the forms.

 May 20: We are goeing ahead as yesterday and it is a little cooler. yesterday a small Dutch Briged came close by us. They had 5 or 6 sailours. We gave them three cheers which they returned.

 May 21: A very fine day. The wind rather. We had a birth about 5 Oc this morning in the stearage. A fine boy and they are doeing well.

 May 22: It was a rather rough night. It blew squals about.

 May 23: Rather rough today and a little cooler. The barometer is 70.

 May 24: Very rough last night and all day we had plenty of fun in watching the tins jump about on the table. We had to hold our plates on the table. We had a birth last night in the stearage. We had the sermons in the second cabin. Thank God it felt like Sunday.

 May 25: We were thinking and talking last night of Park Hill and Cornfield. Our mainmast has given way. Sailours and passengers arfe busey splicing it up with spars to keep it from breaking in till we land.

 May 26: Last night about 9 Oc we numbered one more. My dear wife brought into this world a fine son. He is not a very large child but a plump round faced child. She commenced on Sunday night and went into the females hospita about 7 on Monday. She got through well but the Doctor ordered her to be put into bed. She is now getting on very well. You may immage how I felt while this was goeing on. I was nursing Susannah in the front of our berth for she would not go to bed with me without crying and her Mother could hear her if she cryed. So I sat up with her till morning and if ever I prayed it was then - that God would in his mercy spare me my dear wife the weather which had been rough for 3 or 4 days before. It was better on Monday  night which made it mush better for Ann as the ship was steady. The Hospital is a roomey airey place. There was two women in when Ann went in. One has been removed since for another is expected every day. Ours makes the fourth boy born on the ship.

 May 27: I am thankful to say that my wife is doeing well. Susannah behaves herself well without her mother. She rested well last night. She never wants her Mother. She is relaxed which keeps her very thin though her hapitite is good. She is to nurse for she cannot walk. the barometer is about 78 degrees but much cooler on deck.

 May 28: Ann doeing very nicely. Our James is a hungary boy. I must say that I am proud of a son. Ann gets fresh mutton broth every day. I have pleanty of work. I get up soon. I get up the children, wash and dress them. Margaret is her nurse. She washed a great deal of clothes today. I tide them upon a line and put it up in the (berth). Mrs. Riding is as good as a Mother to Ann as far as she can. She is in better health this voyage.

 May 29: We have a very good wind in our favour. we are making 10 nots a hour. We have had so much head winds and we are got so far west we have near 3000 miles of longitude to make round the Cape. Ann got up and come into her own berth this forenoon. She is very well considering and James the same. She has a very good hapitite and I look to getting her what she wants.

 May 30: A wet day and cooler. I caut some fresh water for washing. I have pleanty of work looking to the children, hanging up clothes in the rigien. I have little time for writing.

 May 31: Raining has gone with our wind. we are near a stand. I heard a sermon last night. Peter Chapter 1 verses 3 and 4. I was to busey to atend morning serves. I felt thankful to God for his special mercies to us.

 Jun 1: My wife on deck today. She is doeing very well thank God. I have got her a bottel of pale ale for 1 shilling. She has a mess of Ox tale supe every day, ham and eggs. Our James is a fine good hungery boy with a ginger topskin. His Mother has not suck enough. She feeds him with sago.

 Jun 2: We pass close by a merchant ship last night. It was moonlight. We spoke to them and them to us. I forgot her name. She was heavy laden from Liverpool to India 50 days. We gave her the goodbye for in the morning she was near out of sight. We had a total eclipse of the moon last night. I watch till it was covered. It is much cooler today. The barometer is 70. We have a good wind. We are goeing along well.

 Jun 3: Good wind and weather. Ann is coming on well. Susannah is looking well but she cannot walk. I think she would walk if on shore. We have a good wind and are making about 10 nots. We have a large ship in sight. She seems to be on the same rout but we cannot come up to her.

 June 4: A light wind and less speed. The days are shorter and colder. we had a alarm of fire last night in the syearage. The opened the hould but nothing could be found. Some of the Irishwomen were baling in a terable fright but nothing could be found of the fire. I think someone had got some rags on fire inside their berth and would not tell for fear of blame. I felt thankful to God that it was no fire.

 June 5: We are becalmed but the weather is cool and pleasant. Two Irishmen stopped the prayer meeting last night. The constables took them to the Captain. They said they were of another religion and did not want them praying in front of their berth.

 June 6: The wind is a little better but we are making little ahead. We are just rounding the Cape of Good Hope. Our James has been restless. His mouth is sore with rash but he is getting better. The Doctor has stopped Susannah. Amelia is relaxed. Susannah is now stronger and she can walk a little. Ann is getting on well and James is very well. Thank God for all this.

 June 7: Our Susannah's birth. 2 years but for two weeks older than James. I heard two sermons and I hope I profeted by them. We have plenty of wind today and plenty of rouling too. We are goeing 12 and a half nots per hour. When I got on deck the sea was rougher than I had seen it before. It rose to hills. The wind blew very strong but the sky was clear and it was not very dark. The deck was all confusion. The fore top gallant mast was brock in the middle. The Captain and sailours trying to get them down.

 June 8: The weather better. The sailours for 2 or 3 days to get our other mast up. Some of the passengers have plenty of moping. We are alright for we had everything made fast.

 June 9: The weather is colder. I have a pare of drawers under my trousers and a blue smock under my coat which I bought at Gravesend. It is to cold for the children to go on deck.

 June 12: We have rice to dinner today, perserved meat soupe and perserved potatoes. Sunday pudding. Monday pea supe. Today perserved meat supe and potatoes. Wednesday pea supe. Thursday pudding. We can boil pork or meat 3 or 4 days per week.

 June 27: Still cold as ever. We had a death in the second cabin. A unmaried woman of about 40 year. She was goeing out with another unmaried sister. The brother was taling his sisters out for there health (consumption) but she was to far gone to stand the cold weather. She died about 1 oC this morning. They are Scotch people. I saw the funeral the same night by the light of the moon. It was a solem sight. The wind was blowing strong and cold. The sea was running high. The sailours carried the coffen up the steps. The coffen was of deal with only strips on the bottom to let the water in to make her sink. She was placed on a plank, the sailours holding one end, the other on the side of the ship. The Doctor read a part of the furneal servece. They tide a bag of gravel on the top of the coffen. The sailours raised the end of the plank. The Captain let her go. After the plunge the coffen rose, bottom up, and we could see her face in the moonlight.

 July 1: Our James was taken ill last night. He looked bad and seemed fast in the throat. I fetched the Doctor. We thought he had something fast in his throat. The Doctor said he could do nothing for him. He said he thought we could not rear him. He was quite all night. He could not cry. When we saw him we felt sure he could not live long. I went for the Doctor. We wanted to put him into a warm bath but the Doctor said he praps would die. We put a meal polster on his breast on his breast and back, but all to no use. He dide about 9 oC. I got an empty bisket bag and rapped him and sewed him up. I carried him on deck under my topcoat. The Captain tide the bag of stones and let him go. I watch him sink (you may judge my feeling.) The Captain said as he let him go "The Lord bless his spirit" I thought it was already blessed.) It was about 9 oC when we commited him to the water. No one saw us but 3 or 4 boys. I felt proud of our boy. But the Lord's will be done. The Lord gave, the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. The Doctor said he would not have health if he had lived. We thought he was a fine boy. He was larger and fatter than either of our other.

 July 8: Yesyerday the sailours while getting out the coals brock into a cask of brandy belonging to the general cargo starboard watch and got tipsey. They used bad language to the first mate and refused to work. I saw the Captain and mate go into the forecastle. The sailours was armed with iron pins. The Captain had a revolver and cutlass. He told them the first that molested him he would shoot dead. He asked them if they would work. They all refused. He put them all in irons and took there knives from them. He told them he would have them tried for mutiny on the high seas and if the ship came to grieve through their refusal to work he would put them all to death. The Captain was in a awful rage. He stamped his feet and clenced his fist. There are 7 of the remainder of the watch are as bad but they are on the sick list.

 July 11: Burnley fair. I wonder how the strawberreys are at home? The sailours have agreed to work. They are all set at liberty but one, the ringleader. Wind and weather good.

 July 12: Before we got up we heard that land was in sight. When I came on deck I could see something like a dark stroke. It got nearer and by noon we could see the mountains of Vandiemans Land. Plane it was. Abeautiful clear day. The land was in sight till dark.

 July 14 - July 15: We are now on the coast of New South Wales neay Sidney but not near enough to see the land. We have a good wind.

 July 16: Land in sight again. I believe we can see the tops of the mountains. A beautiful day like spring at home. The sky is such a clear blue. The barometer on deck is 60, in our berth 70. The wind get little till it get dead calm. At noon it got up a little before dark. If the breese had kept good we should have been in the Bay on Saturday. he passengers are eager to land but we must wait God's time. I got up the rigin to watch the sun go down. It was out of sight about half past 5 oC. Behind the mountains. The colour it made on the sky was really splended. I never saw anything like it before.

 July 17: we have gon all last night and today phraps4 nots which is so much better than nothing. Thank God for it. We have about 300 miles to go. The day is fine as yesterday. The sailours are busey scraping, cleaning and painting to make us look nice for goeing into harbour.

 July 18: Good wind. We are making ahed fast. A young Irishman dide in stearage this morning. He was on deck yesterday. There is some bad reports about the Doctor's treatment. He called his decease decenter. I believe the Doctor has given him the wrong kind of medicine for after his last dose he never looked up. He has no one that knows but one man he told. This man he had some money in a legeran belt round his waste. Now his belt cannot be found.

 July 19: This morning about 2 oC we had a grand stir. we was in sight of the lighthouse on Morton Island on the enterance of the Bay. I got up, the wind was blowing strong. The ship was hoved to. At day light we moored. I was waked up with our cannon firing for a pilot. When I got on deck we were close to the lighthouse. we took the Pilot on board about 8 oC. He tryed to get us up the chanel into the bay but we had a strong headwind. We was obliged to slack from side to side. We got very little ahead till 2 oC when we were forst (forced) to anchor for the tide was gone back.

 July 20: We raised the anchor this morning at 6 oC. We tried again. The wind was as bad as yesterday. It was all taciturn till 10 oC when when struck on a sand bank where we stuck till 1 oC which was high tide. Then we got off and as soon as we got into deep watter we anchor again. The ship is no worse. I think the pasengers were much afraid when she grated on the sand. The pilot tride to get he off with the wind. The Captain tried to order her by ordering all us first forward and then aft (or first to the far end and then to the back end of the ship.) By this (he) got her to weel round. Cutter belonging to the Pilot startid came to us and while she was trying to get off by use of one of her anchors we got off. We were thankful to float once more. We anchrd about 2 oC.

 July 21: We drew anchor about 8 oC in the morning. The wind was favorable and we soon got into the Bay and anchord near the mouth of the Brisbane river at 12 oC. There is 8 ships at anchor and 2 more at anchor. Before us a ship that left London 3 weeks before us as sent us some beef in a boat. She has some of her passengers in quarantine having landed with fever on board but whethr this is true or not I do not know.

 July 22: The ship that came 2 behind us is the Young Australia which left London 15 days behind us. The Commisioners and Doctor boarded her first and though we came in first we had the satisfaction to see the passengers taken away with the steamer before us. The weather is beautiful.

 July 23: We were in full expectasion of going on shore. To day we got everything ready. The steamer was expected abot 11 oC. We saw it coming but is stoped at the Young Australia. Now we shall have to wait till to morrow. It is as well for it rained all afternoon. The sailour coute a shark 10 feet long with a hook.

 July 24: A fine morning. The steamer made her appearance about 10 oC. Everything was husel. We got our light ludge (luggage) with us. Everthing looked beautiful up the river. The river is all serpentine. The banks look like a park of evergreen. We was landed at South Brisbane at a temporary depot which was ful. Our Captain would not allow us to land so they took us to a old barn but he would not have that so they took us back to the Depot. But we could get no room inside. We took our first night lodgeings in a open shade among the boxes.

 Saturday 25th: We removed our beds to some tents which jad been made for us but it was cold in the night. The tents was made of poor canvas. The tents are very full. We got plenty of beef, bread, tea, sugar.

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