![Thomas Keir diary - 12 January 1864 entry [National Library Micro-MS-0837]](http://mermaid1864.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/31-18640112-ViewScan_0122-k.png "7-18631126-ViewScan_0098-k")
Tuesday 12th – Rained a good deal early
this morning wind right ahead. 8 A.M. the
wind shifted to the west and brought fair
weather. turned out a beautiful day with
bright sunshine. Reading the “Wide wide world”
scene’ season of christmas and the beauties
of the New England winter[1]. Our latitude
at noon was 42°.11’ south. The sun set in
silent splendour, and immediately after the silver
crescent of the new moon was seen in the northern
sky and all around the blue waters of the Soth
South Atlantic, blending with the Great Southern
Ocean soon after star after star made their appear-
ance in the blue vault of the sky. My mind was
strongly impressed with the grandeur of the universe
and the magnificance of those bright orbs scattered
far back in the [ageing?] of immensity.
STANDARDISED
Tuesday 12th
Rained a good deal early this morning, wind right ahead. 8am the wind shifted to the west and brought fair weather. Turned out a beautiful day with bright sunshine. Reading the “Wide wide world” scene season of christmas and the beauties of the New England winter. Our latitude at noon was 42°.11’ south. The sun set in silent splendour, and immediately after the silver crescent of the new moon was seen in the northern sky and all around the blue waters of the South Atlantic, blending with the Great Southern Ocean. Aoon after star after star made their appearance in the blue vault of the sky. My mind was strongly impressed with the grandeur of the universe and the magnificance of those bright orbs scattered far back in the [ageing?] of immensity.
Notes
1. The Wide, Wide World was an 1850 novel by Susan Warner, published under the pseudonym of Elizabeth Wetherell, and often acknowledged as America’s first bestseller. [Wikipedia]
2. William Edward Hadfield, a 20 year old weaver from Derbyshire.
3. Oliver Searle was a 23 year old labourer from Hertfordshire and had borrowed the money from Schofield on 2nd January.
Further reading
“The Wide, Wide World“, Redeeming Qualities, pub. 14 Feb 2008. Blogger Melody provides an entertaining and detailed synopsis of the plot.
![Borders of the oceans: map exhibiting the world’s oceanic waters. Five oceanic divisions are usually recognised: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern/Antarctic. [Wikipedia]](http://mermaid1864.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/five-oceans-wikipedia.png)
Borders of the oceans: map exhibiting the world’s oceanic waters. Five oceanic divisions are usually recognised: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern/Antarctic. [Wikipedia]
