![Thomas Keir diary - 18 January 1864 entry [National Library Micro-MS-0837]](http://mermaid1864.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/33-18640118-ViewScan_0124-k-1.png "7-18631126-ViewScan_0098-k")
Monday 18th – Blew hard with some rain
from the northward this morning. Early in
the morning a stay & studding sail was blown
down. The shouting of the sailors & the blowing of the
wind awoke me early and I could not fall asleep
[page]
again. about 5 o’clock the fore topsail gave way
and was blown to shreds. Went on deck between
6 & 7 and she was driving before the wind
with only four of the sails up. Lent them a
hand hauling up the mainsail. Soon after the
main & mizen topsails were single reefed. This is
the first gale of any consequences that we have
got. Before 10 A.M. it moderated a little and
the evening is fine, wind right aft. Longitude
I think about 36° east. Engaged mending the
lock of my desk &c, but it was no easy business
the ship rolls so much. My mind glances to
home and I fancy if I were there I would be
in the middle of the Handsel Monday festivities[1]
but alas! no, I am rolling in the middle of the
Great Southern Ocean. Passed near Prince
Edward’s Isle today.
STANDARDISED
Monday 18th
Blew hard with some rain from the northward this morning. Early in the morning a stay and studding sail was blown down. The shouting of the sailors and the blowing of the wind awoke me early and I could not fall asleep again. About 5 o’clock the fore topsail gave way and was blown to shreds. Went on deck between 6 and 7 and she was driving before the wind with only four of the sails up. Lent them a hand hauling up the mainsail. Soon after the main and mizen topsails were single reefed. This is the first gale of any consequences that we have got. Before 10am it moderated a little and the evening is fine, wind right aft. Longitude I think about 36° east. Engaged mending the lock of my desk etc, but it was no easy business the ship rolls so much. My mind glances to home and I fancy if I were there I would be in the middle of the Handsel Monday festivities but alas! no, I am rolling in the middle of the Great Southern Ocean. Passed near Prince Edward’s Isle today.
HENRY SCHOFIELD DIARY
18th v wet
A very rough night blowing two sails away & splitting others, going 16 knots an hour. In the night breaking ropes & chains & waves coming over the bulwarks on deck. Next morning when we got up every thing looked in a desolate fashion. For breakfast hot bread, dinner spice pudding & potatoes & pea soup. Saw a great many porpoises black fish Cary chickens Morihawkes & other birds. Passed Prince Edwards Island 41 Long 44 Lat.
Notes
1. Handsel Monday: in Scotland, the first Monday of the year. In rural areas Auld Hansel Monday is traditionally celebrated on the first Monday after 12th January (since the calendar change in 1752 and the “loss” of eleven days). [Wikipedia]
Further reading
To find out more about the tradition of Handsel Monday, take a look at Dr Jean Barclay’s great article on “Auld Handsel Monday“, Dunfermline Historical Society.
![THE IMPERATOR ALEXANDER BENDS TO IT. Deck view of rolling ship. [State Library of Victoria]](http://mermaid1864.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Imperator-Alexander-1885-1920-StateLibraryVictoria.jpg)
THE IMPERATOR ALEXANDER BENDS TO IT. Deck view of rolling ship. [State Library of Victoria]
