![Thomas Keir diary - 28 December 1863 entry [National Library Micro-MS-0837]](http://mermaid1864.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/24-18631228-ViewScan_0115-k.png "7-18631126-ViewScan_0098-k")
Monday 28th – Was called out at 3 A.M. this
morning by M[iste]r Scrimgeour to see a very bright
star I went up to forecastle without anything
on but my shirt, and stood for ten or fifteen
minutes, and did not feel the least cold, it
![Thomas Keir diary - 28 December 1863 entry [National Library Micro-MS-0837]](http://mermaid1864.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/25-18631228-ViewScan_0116-k.png "7-18631126-ViewScan_0098-k")
occurred to me if I had done the same in Scotland
on a December /morning\ I should be in danger of being
frozen to the spot. The star or rather planet
that attracted M[iste]r Scrimgeour attention proved
to be Venus, which was indeed so bright as
to rival the moon higher up and a little to
the right was Jupiter also very bright it
was well worth to get out of bed to see
them shinning in silent splendour in the
morning sky. Two sails in sight in the morning
one of them we spoke The “Anglesea” from London
to Australia. Forty four days from Plymouth.
The wind has fallen and she has gained on
us, in the evening she was right a head a
few miles. The sun is right above our heads
and very powerful. but still the breeze is so
cool that sitting on the forecastle in the shade
of a sail, I actually felt chilly when I rose
to go to dinner, of course I was lightly clad
nothing but trousers shirt & light coat, we are
[page]
out of the tropics and our water is limited
to the three quarts. Scrimgeour baked a soda scone
a piece in the afternoon to tea, and I got a real
good heat in the galley getting them fried. But
I was repaid for my trouble for cut up with a little
treacle put on (for our butter is done) they were
very nice to tea which I enjoyed very much
STANDARDISED
Monday 28th
Was called out at 3am this morning by Mr Scrimgeour to see a very bright star. I went up to forecastle without anything on but my shirt, and stood for ten or fifteen minutes, and did not feel the least cold. It occurred to me if I had done the same in Scotland on a December morning I should be in danger of being frozen to the spot. The star or rather planet that attracted Mr Scrimgeour’s attention proved to be Venus, which was indeed so bright as to rival the moon. Higher up and a little to the right was Jupiter also very bright. It was well worth to get out of bed to see them shining in silent splendour in the morning sky.
Two sails in sight in the morning one of them we spoke The “Anglesea” from London to Australia. Forty four days from Plymouth. The wind has fallen and she has gained on us, in the evening she was right ahead a few miles. The sun is right above our heads and very powerful. But still the breeze is so cool that sitting on the forecastle in the shade of a sail, I actually felt chilly when I rose to go to dinner. Of course I was lightly clad, nothing but trousers shirt and light coat. We are out of the tropics and our water is limited to the three quarts. Scrimgeour baked a soda scone a piece in the afternoon to tea, and I got a real good heat in the galley getting them fried. But I was repaid for my trouble, for cut up with a little treacle put on (for our butter is done) they were very nice to tea which I enjoyed very much.
HENRY SCHOFIELD DIARY
Dec 28th v fine
Could hardly sleep last night for toothache and the rats over me. Saw 2 ships, 1 the Anglesea for Melbourne from London, 49 days out with about 500 passengers on board. Going about 4 knots per hour. For dinner pea soup & pork, for tea fat cakes. I commenced eating my butter which was very good brought from home and used some of my own sugar.
![Venus as seen by Japan's Akatsuki space probe on November 11, 2016. At the time this photo was taken, Akatsuki was located approximately 85,000 km above the Venusian cloud tops [Justin Cowart - Flickr]](http://mermaid1864.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2016-Venus-JustinCowart-flickr-ft.jpg)
Venus as seen by Japan’s Akatsuki space probe on November 11, 2016. At the time this photo was taken, Akatsuki was located approximately 85,000 km above the Venusian cloud tops [Justin Cowart – Flickr]
