22 January 1864

Thomas Keir diary - 22 January 1864 entry [National Library Micro-MS-0837]

Friday 22d – Fine all day. turned a little cloudy

in the evening. Wind shifted to the starboards quarter
in the morning, veered round again to the port
in the afternoon. Our longitude by my watch
57° east, making a run in the 24 hours about 210
miles. A great many birds still hovering round
the vessel. A swell on the sea from the S.W.
and the vessel rolls a good deal, at tea we
had some difficulty keeping our dishes on the
table, my favourite china cup was nearly broken
I left it on the table unprotected when up
at the galley for some more water, by the motion
of the vessel it fell over, but Boyd[1] caught it in
time to prevent it from falling to the floor.

STANDARDISED

Friday 22nd

Fine all day. Turned a little cloudy in the evening. Wind shifted to the starboard’s quarter in the morning, veered round again to the port in the afternoon. Our longitude by my watch 57° east, making a run in the 24 hours about 210 miles. A great many birds still hovering round the vessel. A swell on the sea from the southwest and the vessel rolls a good deal, at tea we had some difficulty keeping our dishes on the table, my favourite china cup was nearly broken. I left it on the table unprotected when up at the galley for some more water, by the motion of the vessel it fell over, but Boyd caught it in time to prevent it from falling to the floor.

HENRY SCHOFIELD DIARY

22nd v fine

Dreaming at home with sister Hannah. Saw a many birds and some caught. Hanging clothes out for Mrs Earnshaw. For dinner boullie, tea spice cake. 9 knots per hour 56 deg Long. Reading Botany bay in sailors’ forecastle.

Notes

1. Boyd would have been Hugh Boyd, a 20 year old joiner from Ayrshire, who was travelling with his family: father John (64), mother Jean (51), and siblings Anne (30), Thomas (15), William (12), and Anne’s daughter Anne (2).