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Lt. Col. Robert Story - Diary notes 1892

Notes from Robert's diary by MN D-W

January 1892

Jan 1st. "The new year finds me fairly well in health, spending Xmas with my mother. I have been engaged to Helen Beckwith since last August. Vida is also with me at Salisbury Lodge for the holidays. She is still with Mr & Mrs Pye and getting oin very well having just finished he first term at Norwood High School,"

"Florie and I went for a ride to Dundry morn and home by Bedminster. Went for a walk with Vida aft. Charlie & I went to a dance at Mrs. Lethbridge, rather a slow affair - bed about 2am. Wrote to Helen."

Robert stayed till the 4th walking and visiting with Vida, Florie, Charlie & Fran. He wrote to Helen every day. When he got back to Highfield (Winchester) he saw Helen every day for walks, dances (bed 4am), meals, theatricals and the hospital Xmas tree. On the 9th it was cold enough to skate on Winnal Moor.

He returned to Clifton on the 10th and went skating with his sisters and Fran. He spent a day visiting old friends at Bradford-upon-Avon. On the 14th he noted the death of the Duke of Clarence, when he tried to get into the service in the Cathedral and all the seats were gone. They all went to the pantomime on the 16th but "rather a poor performance" They got home from that at 1am, not surprisingly next dat Vida was "rather seedy". His old friends the Liebricks came to dinner. He saw the tunnel for the funicular railway. On the 23rd Vida went back to school.

February 1892

Robert stayed on in Clifton till Feb 9th, going for long walks and parties, using Arthur's microscope, playing racquets. He still wrote to Helen every day, and to Vida several times a week. When he went home Fran went with him, but Helen must have been away as he was still writing to her.

17th. "Very cold. Snow. Wrote a long letter to Helen about our prospects.. Read German as usual with Fran."

There was heavy snow on the 19th. On the 26th the Beckwiths came back and Robert and Fran spent the evening with them. Next day he returned once again to Clifton.

28th "Morn. service at St. Pauls. Mother wrote to Mrs. Beckwith to ask her and Helen to stay. Walk with Fran over the downs."

March 1892

He went for many other long walks, another dance (5am) but on March 4th "Helen Beckwith writes to break off our engagement which has lasted for over 6 months. I wrote to her and Mother to Mrs. B. Went for a walk with Fran aft."

5th. "Took the 10am train & came home. Sent back Helen's letters etc. Took the 5.22pm train for Southampton and came back by the mail." Well who could blame him? (usual script ending)

He stayed at home for 4 days, writing twice to Helen's mother then he went back to Clifton. There was a coal strike on and coal went from 29/- to 32/- per ton.

March 15h. "Heard from Plave (Os' wife) that she is expecting an infant. (Her address is noted in the front of the diary as Yerton, South Street, Double Bay, Sydney, New South Wales). Sent for my box of baby linen from Winchester. Heavy rain in which Fran and I got caught." They were sent shamrock from Bingfield on St. Patrick's Day. His dog Jack had been to the vet several times for dressings and the police called twice to ask if he had paid his dog tax.

April 1892

Robert went home on April 5th, it was very hot and dull there. Unlike his usual self he stayed in for days at a time, sometimes calling in at the Club in the evenings.

April 12th. "Telegram from Boultbee asking me to join at once. Wrote to him and to Butler about his Busby. Pyramids at the Club (?) even with the marker.

13th. "Packed up and ordered a new fatigue cap at Flights. Clowes drove me into town & I saw Butler who cannot let me have his Busby."

14th. "Clowes & I took the 12,27pm train and came here (Barnet). Took lodgings with some people of the name of Paul, we have each a good bedroom and share a nice sitting room for £1 5/ a week & feed at the Salisbury Arms. Boultbee, Gosling, Ward, Powell (brother of my old subaltern), Armitage and Goring form the party. Being senior to Boultbee I am C.O. but have given the reins to him."

Now he was busy everyday at the barracks, with men to talk to and play billiards with. He did not forget to write to Vida, and still twice to Mrs. Beckwith. He went to London one day and saw Olympia and a play at the Price of Wales called Blue-eyed Susan'. He also went to the Aquarium (which I begin to wonder about). Vida came to stayfor 4 days at her ½ term on the 30th.

May 1892

On May 9th Robert moved his lodging to The Red Lion. He then went to stay for two days with a friend at Shepalbury and shot 84 rooks and 25 rats. When he returned to Barnet he found all his party had moved out of the Red Lion again and he joined them at the Salisbury next morning.

The days passed busily with parades, inspections and musketry.

May 23rd. "Went up to London by train. Went to Boosey about music for the band. Lunch at my club. Took the 4.55 train from Waterloo and came home. Saw Potter about my steam engine." He sold this to Potter next day, then returned to Barnet.

29th. He drove to Harrow and saw hiw old house, then returned to barracks to pack. The whole unit went by train to Aldershot and marched to camp on the racecourse at Tweseldown Hill. "Very hot." Aldershot was just as busy as Barnet with the addition of a visit from the Queen.

June 1892

June 9th. "Saw part of a field day from Tweseldown Hill. Cavalry, Infantry and Artillery all out. Clowes drove me and Boultbee to the Fleet Station, we went to London for the Regimental Dinner. Aquarium aft (script - I was right!). Saw Aunts Fanny & L. Louard at Sussex Place. They told me that Mother and the girls are in town."

He lunched with them next day and went to the new Gallery but found the pictures there very poor, He went back to Aldershot that evening. The next day musketry started at 4am, after a hot day he walked to Farnboro' and got a train home for the weekend. Here he arranged to hire/borrow a horse.

13th. "Started about 3am on my horse and rode quietly to Alton. Breakfast 9am. Left Alton 11.30am and rode in here from Crondall. Changed into uniform after lunch and rode to meet the Battn, at Fleet."

The next day he prosecuted a man of the Battn. for belonging to 4 different militia groups.

27th. "Short parade morn. Parade at 1.45pm and marched the 13th and 14th Brigades to the Queen's Parade and lined the road while the queen passed. Afterwards formed up in a line of Quarter Columns on the race course where she passed on the return journey. Very hot day. "Got home about 8.30pm."

28th. "Short parade morn. Parade at 1.30pm for musketry, owing to bad arrangements, did not begin to fire till 4.30pm. Very hot sultry day. My bad back on the range. Heavy thunderstorms during dinner."

29th. "C.O.s parade morn. Reported Gosling for yesterday's fiasco. Rip attacked my boots again."

July 1892

On July the 9th camp broke up, they had to get up at 5.30am, march to the Govt. Siding for a special train at 9am and go to Barnet to pay off. Robert went on to London where he dined at his club, saw a Hansom horse fall in Regent St. and went to the Aquarium. The next day he spent with Vida, then went home. The weather turned wet, he stayed in, or in bed for days on end, but he did get his lathe out of store and his tools and cleaned them.

August 1892

It turned hot again and Robert went for a few walks and a swim. On the 5th he spent the day in Cowes photographing yachts and met several Winchester friends there. He got a new rifle from London but when he tried it both barrels fired at once! It took several visits to Hammonds to get it right. "Wrote to them" Again the mysterious game of Pyramids at the club in the evening. He got in an agent to see about letting his house.

16th. "Took the 8.23 train from Waterloo went on to Cannon St. drove to the docks and saw the Hesperus and had a chat with Captain Barrat. Took the 2pm express and met Vida at Basingstoke and brought her home." Having Vida at home was a good thing as young people came to see her and she and Robert were often asked back to their houses. On the 20th the two of them went to Southampton and booked a steam launch for the following Tuesday. They went to a cricket match the next day, not a great success as Vida hurt her hand in a chair and Mrs. Bush was there (with Lady Freeling).

23rd. "Took Vida, Emily Cante and 2 servants by the 8.25am train to Southampton where we got on board the launch which I had ordered last Saturday. Ran past Netley to Calshot where we landed for lunch. I took photos etc. Saw a houseboat where two men and a boy are living for punt-gunning, Ran round the Ppit and Calshot lightships and then up the Hamble for tea. Got to Southampton at 6pm, send Vida and the rest home by the 6.15 train. I stayed to take the boat to her moorings and got caught in a heavy thunderstorn in so doing. Home be 7.15pm train."

He took Vida shopping, played tennis and started visiting again, sometimes to Southampton in the evenings!

September 1892

On Sept. 6th Robert booked a cabin on the sailing ship Hesperus and paid ½ the passage money for Sydney. He heard that Olave had had a son on August 24th. He and Vida went to stay at Aunt Carry's (Awebridge Ho. Romsey). Here he watched his Uncle Nevile and Cousin Nevile fishing and shooting, and heard that Aunt Fanny had dies at Ravello. They were quite a big party, Robert took photos, was weighed at the mill (12st 9lb) and had a picnic round a fire in the woods.

13th. "Walked to Romsey to get some squibs for destroying a wasp nest which we did before supper. I got stung."

The next day he and Vida went home, he met some whose brother-in-law, by name Todd, was a tea planter in Jalpaiguri. He took Vida back to school on the 17th, showing her the Hesperus as they went through London. Fran and Florie came to stay but Robert was "Very seedy." Their comapny did him good and he was soon out and about with them. Then Lou and her husband (R. always referred to him as Field) and Dot (daughter?) came to stay so Robert moved out! However Fran went home next day and Lou and her family the day after. Florie stayed on to help him pack up the house prior to his trip.

October 1892

Octobet saw Robert in a fever of preparations - collect his golf clubs, see about insurance, pack his chest of drawers, and people looking over the house too, He finally left for London on the 7th and took his luggage to the Hesperus where he was told she was going to Melbourne not Sydney. "Wrote to them about it." He paid a last visit to the Aquarium, bought a bookshelf and a towel rail for his cabin. He took Vida to the Crystal Palace variety show and show of 'lime light views of India'.

Tuesday 11th, :Ship Hesperus. Took the 9.35am train from Norwood with Vida and Mrs. Pye and the 10.28 from Fenchurch St. for Tilbury, came on board, said our farewells (Vida very good). Started our voyage in tow of a tug about 1pm. Calm sea but rather cold. 22 passengers on board, no ladies. Set to work to put my cabin in order after lunch. I sit next to the Captain."

12th. "Did not sleep very well last night. cast off the tug off the Isle of Wight and made sail about 5am. Calm sea and light N.E. wind at 9am we were doing about 8 knots. Passed an Orient Line steamer homeward bound. Finished putting my cabin in order. Wrote to Vida etc. Got to Plymouth about 1am and dropped our pilot. The pilot took our letters ashore. I stayed up to see him leave. Bitterly cold night."

13th. "About 30 miles from the Lizzard at 9am. Steering nearly west with a good N.W. breeze. A little rolling and pitching, but the ship sails very well doing sometimes 12 knots. Practised my cornet (with mute) in my cabin. Passed the Brig San Antonio labouring heavily."

14th. "Cloudy day with very slight showers. Course about W.S.W. goot steady breeze, Lat 46.21N Lon 10.52W. Distance from Lizzard 326m. One passenger, the elder Matthias down with D.T. and rather noisy at night, Doing 14 knots at 10pm."

15th. "Lat 42,29N Long 14.20W. CourseS 36W Run 258m. Fine morning after a rather lively night. D.T. patient rather better. Doing 5 knots about 11 am, calm sea. Hammond (my cabin companion) talked a good deal in the night in his sleep. D.T. patient had to be taken out of his cabin and moved forward. Cricket on the main deck afte."

16th Sunday. "Lat 39.25N Long 14,27W. Course S 1W. Run 204m. Morn service in the saloon read by the Captain. Very calm sea. Overtook and passed a barque with Fore top gallant mast carried away. Very light N. wind, getting very much warmer."

17th. "Lat 37.15N Long 15.1W. Course S 28W. Run 68m. Got onto the port tack during the night, Squally and rainy day, going from 7 to 10 knots. Almost calm towards evening. Played the cornet and sang."

18th. "Lat 37.15N Long 15.43W. Course S 25W. Run 77m. Amused myself adjusting my sextant and taking photos morn. Sat on the jib boom end for a time afternoon, and played cricket. Rathe squally at night and wind heading us."

19th. "Lat 35.5N 15.57W. Course S 1 W. Run 130m. Rather seedy with indigestion morn. Carpenter and I overhauled the piano and played duets even."

20th. "Lat 32.58N Long 17.49W. Course S 37 W. Run 159m. Sighted Madeira in the early morn. & remained in sight of it most of the day, Spoke Barque Kishna of N. Shields. Doing 2½ knots at 4pm nearly calm sea. Sat on the jib boom part of the afternoon."

21st. "Lat 30.17N Long 17.31W. Course S 7 E. Run 133m. Getting much warmer. Overtook and passed about 5pm a 4 masted ship "Marion Lightbody" 14 days out from Liverpool. Took a couple of photos of her and one of the Capt. and Chief Officer. Baggage day. Boat and fire stations afternoon."

22nd. "Lat 28.28N Long 18.49W. Course S 30 W. Run 135m. Rather seedy all day with dyspepsis. Played cricket. In sight of the island of Palma all the morning. Wind nearly aft an night and the ship rolls heavily."

23rd Sunday. "Lat 26,29N Long 20.32W. Course S 37 W. Run 156m. Wind aft and ship rolling heavily. Service in saloon 11am. My dyspepsis is much better."

24th. "Lat 24.56N Long 21.22W. Course S 24 W. Run 113m. Still rather seedy with syspepsis. Helped with the breaking up of one of the boats which we threw overboard, and it floated away astern instead of sinking, Light winds nearly dead aft. One or two of the passengers went up the mizzen rigging and got tied up."

25th. "Lat 28.26N Long 22.25W. Course S 41 W. Run 120m, Dyspepsis rather better. Fresher wind, almost cold on deck. Duetts with Carpenter even. Heavy rolling at night sent all my books off the shelf."

26th. "Lat 21.24N Long 25.18W. Course S 30 W. Run 141m. Found that the wet had rotted the bottom of my small portmanteau. Gave it to the boatswain to mend. Got my fish hooks set up ready for use. Wind came on the port beam aft. with showers of rain. Deck quoits. Queer talk on spititualism among some of the officers and passengers after dinner. Songs etc."

27th. "Lat 19.16N Long 25.18W. Course S 29 W. Run 147m. Running steadily at about 6 knots before the N.E. Trades. Steam up in the condensing engine. Faily cool day. Rigging being set up etc. Lottery drawn for passing the line. Hot night."

28th. "Lat 16.26N Long 26.16W. Course S 19 W. Run 59m. Wind rather more on the port beam doing about 5½ knots. In sight of San Antonio the most northern of the Cape Verde Islands. Steam up in the condenser and rigging being set up. Not a sail in sight. Fished for Bonitas off the port boom for a couple of hours, but caught none. A large steamer crossed our bows about 5 miles away after dinner. Very hot night."

29th. "Lat 13.46N Long 26.5W. Course S 1 E. Run 180m. Very hot day. Cricket, Officers and midshipmen v Passengers the latter won easily. Semaphore etc. as usual. Very hot night."

30th Sunday. "Lat 10.36N Long 26.5W. Course S 6 E. Run 192m. Very hot day but good steady breeze, doing 11 knots at 10am. Service in the saloon at 11am, everyone very languid. One of the men caught a Booby on Main Royal Yard. Our nice little black cat fell overboard during the night."

31st. "Lat 9.6N Long 25.27W. Course S 12 E. Run 91m. In the Doldrums. Moist heat very trying. The second condemmed boat broken up. Heavy showers, light winds and calms at times. The ship at times going astern. Found that the claret, soda and seltzer are nearly all done."

November 1892

Nov 1st Tuesday. "Lat 7.35N Long 25.53W. Course S 16 W. Run 93m. Rather steadier breeze, very heavy showers, heat not so trying. Royal Mail steamer Tamar of London bound for Lisbon passed within hailing distance at 1pm. Took our number and gave us 'Pleasant Voyage'. Burns the chief steward sick, syndicate say that it is on account of the liquor having run short. Heavy squall of wind and rain came on after dinner and sent for a short time at about 10 knots. Cooler night."

2nd. "Lat 6.42N 26.18W. Course S 25 W. Run 58m. Fairly steady breeze at 9am falling calm soon after. Heat not great. Barque near us (nationality unknown) drifting all over the place took no notice of our signals. Perfect deluge of rain sent us in about 2pm and lasted about 12 hours."

3rd. "Lat 6.11N Long 26.14W. Course S 6 E. Run 31m. Light airs and calms. Caught a shark about noon. Four masted ship near us doing the same as us i.e. going in all directions. Some heavy showers but not so bad as yesterday. Caught a second shark just before dinner. Cool pleasant night. Ship going astern when I left the deck about midnight."

4th. "Lat 6.19N!! Long 25.30W. Course N 82 E. Run 38m. Another shark cought before breakfat. A fourth very large one is about the ship. Better wind and steadier towards aft. at noon we had gone back 9 miles from our position of yesterday. Four-master still in sight. Tried for dolphins off the forecastle but caught none, or rather watched the men and mids at it. Went up the Mizzen rigging adter dinner and got caught by the mids."

5th. Lat 4,56N Long 26.23W. Course S 5 E. Run 83m Good breeze with occasional calms and heavy showers. Sometimes we are doing 12 knots. Caught a quantity of Medusae with a tin fixed onto a pole, they look very pretty under a magnifying glass. We seem to have fairly caught the Trades. Nash seedy with fever. Very heavy rain at night wet me through my mackintosh."

6th Sunday. "Lat 2.38N Long 27.10W. Course S 38 W. Run 176m. Strong steady SSE breeze, sea moderate. Ship doing about 11 knots. Service in the saloon as usual."

7th. "Lat 0.4S Long 30.14W. Course S 49 W. Run 246m. Crossed the line about 11.30am. Athletic sports occupied the whole day and were good fun; especially the obstacle race before lunch. After dinner the men went through the ceremony of the 'Dead Horse' which was new to me. Some of the unluckily got drunk and the man at the wheel was carried away helpless. Some of the passengers also very 'tight'."

8th. "Lat 2.0S Long 31,2W. Course S 32 W. Run 125m. Changed plates in my camera, a very hot job. Took some photos of passengers asleep etc. Semaphore."

9th. "Lat 4.46S Long 31.28W. Course S 9 W. Run 168m. Steady breeze and quiet day. Read Peveril of the Peak, amused myself scraping paint off the mizzen deadeyes. Caught one Medusa."

10th. "Lat 7.38S Long 31.27W. Course S. Run 172m. Steady breeze and very quiet day. Finished Peveril of the Peak."

11th. "Lat 10.35S Long 31.36W. Course S 3 W. Run 177m. Steady breeze, nothing much going on. Passed a three masted schooner about 4pm."

12th. "Lat 13.11S Long 31.22W. Course S 2 E. Run 156m. Steady breeze and quiet day. Read Hindi and did semaphore. One sail in sight a long way ahead. Concert given by ythe men after dinner, a very poor affair interrupted by rain."

13th Sunday. "Lat 16.34S Long 31.35W. Course S 1 E. Run 190m. Steady breeze, quiet day, Morn service in the saloon. Feeling a little seedy, did not go. Passed one whale.Sun at noon nearly vertical (88.45)"

14th. "Lat 19.11S Long 31,13W. Course S 8 E. Run 158m. Fairly steady breeze, quiet day. We are apparently losing the Trades. Read nearly all day and finished 'A Social Departure' which I began yesterday. Music."

15th. "Lat 21.30S Long 31.0W. Course S 5 E. Run 140m. Had the oilcloth up in my cabin as the floor was getting saturated. Dried my portmanteau etc. Light winds, nearly calm at times. Passed a four-master Routernberg of Greenock, from Frisco to Cork or Falmouth about 2 pm. Gave her our longitude, Played the cornet on deck after dinner."

16th. "Lat 22.46S long 30.21W. Course S 27 E. Run 86m. Quiet day again, condenser at work. Passed a small baeque and a four-master, the latter spoke to us. Breeze a little steadier."

17th. "Lat 24.46S Long 28.51W. Course S 36 E. Run 148m. Quiet day, very light breeze. Got my luggage up from the hold and found that my pouch belt was spoilt, and moth had got at my mess jacket. Also Harrison (steward) broke my miniature medal in cleaning it. The Doctor pulled out a piece of a stump of a tooth which had been left in by Rogers after dinner."

19th. "Lat 28.0S Long 26.62W. Course S 26 E. Run 125m. Much cooler with steady breeze. Read Hindi, cricket match afternnoon, I did not play. Music with Carpenter and Hammond."

20th Sunday. "Lat 30.57S Long 23.22W. Course S 46 E. Run 258m String NE breeze. Morn service. Took some photos of the sea which is pretty heavy. Crosjack, Mainsail, Upper Mizzen, Topsail & all Royals taken in by 4pm. Had a heavy fall under the break of the poop about 5pm. Houston, Dr. and I fell together. Hurt my head, shoulder and knee & wind knocked out of me. Rough night."

21st. "Lat 24.2S Long 18.36W. Course S 51 E. Run 308m Rather sore after my tumble yesterday. Strong NE breeze & brisk sea. Took some photos and changed plates in the lamp room. Breakwater put up in front of the break in the poop. Condenser going; very much colder."

22nd. "Lat 35.49S Long 12.59W. Course S 66 E. Run 250m. All sail set again except Crosjack. Steady breeze, no sea, very much colder. Got a shelf as a writing table for my cabin. Some albatross and Cape Hens (Stuck Pots) round the ship."

23rd. "Lat 36.17S Long 11.28W. Course S 26 E. Run 126m. Nearly calm all day. Spent the morn fishing for albatross and molly hawks, had several bites but caught none. Worked as stoker for the condenser for a couple of hours aft. Cape Pigeons, Petrels, albatross, Molly Hawks and boatswain birds all round the ship. Tristan D'Acunha in sight."

24th. "Lat 37.4S Long 9.2W. Course S 69 E. Run 129m. Steady moderate NE breeze, cloudy and quite chilly. Did a little semaphore and put up the shelf in my cabin. My back has been troubling me the last few days. Lay down and had a sleep after lunch.

25th. "Lat 38.59S Long 4.3W. Course S 64 E. Run 264m. Steady breeze, calm sea doing about 12 knots."

26th. "Lat 39.57S Long .56E. Course S 70 E, Run 240m. Steady breeze, calm sea, much colder. Lay down and read in my cabin part of the aft (He does not mention crossing the date line).

27th Sunday. "Lat 40.42S Long 12.5E Course S 80 E. Run 284m. Fog which cleared by 11am. Service in the saloon. A good many Ice Birds and Mutton birds about."

28th. "Lat 41.39S Long 12.5E. Course S 80 E. Run 284m. Cold showery unpleasant day. Wind aft and ship rolling a good deal, some heavy rolls during the night set things adrift in the cabin. Only Miz, main topsails, foresails, foresail & fore topsail set during the night."

29th. "Lat 41.36S Long 1744E. Course E. Run 253m. Rather seedy, unable to turm up to breakdast. Very unpleasant day, rolling and squalls, very chilly. Sails set as last night. Lay down a good part of the day."

30th. "Lat 41.26S Long 23.25E. Course N 88 E. Run 256m. Much pleasenter day, all plain sail set. Tried fishing for albatross but we are going too fast to succeed."

December 1892

1st. "Lat 41.40S Long 28.48E. Course S 85 E. Run 241m. Bright pleasant day. Slight squalls qith hail which lasted only a few minutes the sun again. Took some photos of the sea.

2nd. "Lat 42.11S Long 35.23E. Course S 86 E. Run 296m. Fine bright day, wind steady and nearly aft. Tried to do a little fishing for sea birds but the ship was going too fast to do any good."

3rd. "Lat 42.2S Long 41.4E. Course S88 E. Run 282m. Very cold. One or two showers. Began a letter to Vida and had a little music with Carpenter.

4th Sunday. "Lat 41.51 Long 48.9E. Course N 88 E. Run 300m. Pleasant bracing day, not too cold. Morning service in the saloon, wrote more of my letter to Vida."

5th. "Lat 41.42S Long 53.38E. Course N 88 E. Run 239m. Passed and spoke to the Barque Altcar of Sydney (70 days out from Belfast) about 4pm. Tried for albatross without success. Went on with my letter to Vida."

6th. "Lat 41.45S Long 56.51E. Course N 85 E. Run 151m. Bright pleasant day, steady breeze, calm sea. Holy-stoning of poop & sail cleaning etc, preparations for varnishing going on with the usual mess in consequence."

7th. "Lat 41.16S Long 62.60E. Course N 85 E. Run 272m. Very much warmer. Rather seedy all day with bad headache, had to lie down."

8th. "Lat 41.13S Long 67.6E. Course N 89 E. Run 225m. Bright pleasant day and steady N breeze, going about 12½ knots. Shot a Molly hawk and a large black bird (Mutton bird?) but they both fell into the sea. Practised a little with my pea rifle too.

9th. "Lat 41.0S Long 74.48E. Course N 88 E. Run 319m. Strong steady breeze, very little sea. Mizen topgallant sail split 8am. Wind freshened towards night, sail shortened. Stuffy night in the cabin, Hammond & I both slept badly in consequence."

10th. "Lat 41.88S Long 81.55E. Course S 88 E. Run 326m, Bright and clear with stiff steady breeze. Reefed main sail and main top mast stay sail morn. Reef shaken out and more sail set during the aft. Slept badly at night and turned out on deck till about 1.30am."

11th Sunday. "Lat 41.5S Long 89.1E. Course S 86 E. Run 328m. (This was their longest run in a day). Misty damp day, steady breeze and slight sea. Did not go to the service as I felt a little seedy."

12th. "Lat 41.42S Long 95.41E. Course N 89 E. Run 290m. Misty, raw, cold day, calm sea. Not much going on, condenser at wotk. Played at drilling a squad after dinner."

13th. Lat 40.52S Long 101.13E. Course N 79 E. Run 256m Varnishing etc. going on. Breakwater taken down, condenser at work. Steady wind, bright sunny day & calm sea. Shot a Molly hawk 7'2" tip to tip of wings after dinner, got the butcher to skin it."

14th. "Lat 40.45S Long 107.53E. Course E. Run 302m. Worked morn and aft at the skin and head of the Mollie hawk. Bright clear day, steady breeze and calm sea. Varnishing & painting going on."

15th. "Lat 41.22S Long 113.10E. Run 242m. Bright clear day, steady breeze, calm sea. Painint, varnishing etc. going on, quiet day. Had a shot at an albatross after dinner but did not bag him. Wind much colder."

16th. "Lat 41.38S Long 118.13E. Run 225,. Bright day with slight haze, cold wind. Shot a couple of albatrosses morn, but both fell into the sea."

17th. "Lat 41.54S Long 123.50E. Run 255m. Rather seedy all day, spent most ot the time in my cabin reading. Bright clear day. Royals furled."

18th Sunday. "Lat 41.56S Long 129.45E. Run 264m. Light breeze and calm sea, very few birds about; but a few porpoises. I am a little better but still rather seedy. Morn service as usual but I did not go to it."

19th. "Lat 42.2S Long 133.35E. Run 176m. Calm sea but a hard wind prevents our going our course and we have to keep 2 points to the S of it. Lottery for sweepstake drawn."

20th. "Lat 41.51S Long 138.54E. Calm sea and light wind. Ship able to do her course but slowly. A swallow came on board but died from exhaustion. Anchors got out ready to let fo. Sail taken in after dinner in anticipation of a 'Southerly Bluster' which did not come off."

21st. "Lat 41.56S Long 141.34E. Run 290m. Fished for albatross morn, Latreille hooked one which got off. Calm sea and light winds, ship going her course."

22nd. "Off the Australian coast. Sighted Cap Otway soon after dawn and passed it about 11am. Signalled our arrival (69 fays all well). Smooth sea. Coasting along about 5 miles from a shore covered with Eucalyptus trees on undulating ground with here and there a few small houses or huts. Bright clear day. Seaweed and jellyfish about. Took in our pilot about 6pm."

23rd Friday Melbourne. "Came to anchor about 3.30am and furled sails after a voyage of 73 days from port to port. Read a letter from Vida and Mrs. Pye about 7am. Came alongside the peir at Sandridge about 10am. Went ashore and had my hair cut etc. morn. Lunched at Scots Hotel (very bad). Called on the Levers aft. and found Mrs. Lever who drove me to the office where I found her husband and had a chat with him. Dined on board and had some supper after at the Vienna Cafe. Sent off my letter to Vida & wrote to Olave (Os' wife)."

24th. "Went to Lever's office where I found Lever jun. who showed me the Town Hall & introduced me to the Town Clerk J. Clayton (who gave me a card for an organ recital) & to Mountain the City Surveyor - then on to the Parliament where I was introduced to Mr. Mason, chairman of standing committees. Saw about having my albatross skull and skin cured.

25th. "Morn. church service at the Cathedral. Lunched at Cafe Anglais. Went for a long walk."

The moment Robert arrived in Melbourne he started on a hectic round of calls and visits. Some people called Bouverie entertained him frequently, and he went to the zoo, a Promenade Concert, other ships, clubs and a music hall. Within a week he had founs another 'Aquarium' and the usual Hindustani script follows this discovery. He lived on board Hesperus but ate ashore.

Linked to Lt. Col. Robert Story