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JOURNAL OF VOYAGES 
 
 TO CHINA AND RETURN 
 
 1851-1853 
 
«•• 1. 
 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/journalofvoyagesOOblan 
 
HENRY BLANK Y 
 From a photograph taken shortly after his return from China 
 
HENRY BLANEY 
 
 BOSTON 1822-1S96 
 
 journal of l^opageB 
 
 TO 
 
 CHINA AND RETURN 
 
 1851-1853 
 
 llBosfton 
 
 PKIVATELY PRINTED 
 1913 
 
COPYRIGHT, I913, BY DWIGHT BLANEY 
 

 PREFATORY NOTE 
 
 The following Journals written by my father, 
 touching as they do on that wonderful period 
 of American shipping known as the " Clipper 
 Ship Era," are of sufficient interest, I am sure, 
 to those of my generation to warrant their pub- 
 lication. 
 
 Those of us, his children, relatives, and 
 friends, who remember him, and love his mem- 
 ory, will have recalled to them by these pages 
 the enthusiasm, generosity, and love of friend- 
 ship of this kindly man. 
 
 I am under obligation to Mr. George C. 
 Wales, whose knowledge of the sea and ships 
 and whose personal regard for my father have 
 combined to make him of great assistance in 
 the publication of these Journals. 
 
 Dwight Blaney. 
 
 Boston, February 28, 1913. 
 

 ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 Henry Blaney Frontispiece 
 
 From a photograph taken shortly after his return 
 from China 
 
 Benjamin Blaney x 
 
 1794-1857 
 
 Abigail (Bowman) Blaney . . . . xii 
 
 1794-1873 
 
 Clipper Ship, " Flying Cloud " . . .82 
 
 From a print in the collection of Mr. George C. 
 Wales 
 
 Facsimile of a Page from the Journal 
 of Henry Blaney 120 
 
 End Paper Track Chart of Outward 
 and Homeward Voyages 
 
HENRY BLANEY 
 
 Born January 3, 1822 — Died February 2, 1896 
 
 HENRY BLANEY, the author of the 
 Journals, was born at No. 19 Common 
 Street, Boston, the son of Benjamin (born Sep- 
 tember 20, 1794; died 1857) and Abigail 
 (Bowman, born 1794; died 1873). He was 
 descended from John Blaney (born 1629 ; 
 married Hannah King), who settled in Lynn, 
 Massachusetts, in 1659. He received his educa- 
 tion in the Boston Public Schools and Chauncy 
 HaU School. 
 
 In 1844, Mr. Blaney became a member of 
 the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Com- 
 pany, and on July 15, 1850, was elected a 
 member of the Independent Company of Ca- 
 dets, becoming sergeant in 1854, and was for 
 a number of years clerk of the First Corps of 
 Cadets, M. V.M. He was also a Mason, joining 
 the Columbian Lodge in 1843, and at the time 
 of his death was a Knight Templar. He was a 
 
x HENRY BLANEY 
 
 charter member of the Boston Art Club, of 
 which he remained a member until his death. 
 He was also a life member of the Massachu- 
 setts Horticultural Society, and for many years 
 a member of the Bostonian Society. Returning 
 from China, as shown in the Journals, June 6, 
 1853, he entered the counting-room of F. Skin- 
 ner & Company, where he remained for nine- 
 teen years. 
 
 On March 14, 1854, Mr. Blaney married 
 Mary French Wood (born December 22, 1833 ; 
 died January 6, 1912) and resided first in 
 Dedham, and later in Brookline, corner of Park 
 and Vernon Streets. In 1870, the family, now 
 with four children, moved into Boston, living 
 at 47 Commonwealth Avenue for some years. 
 In the panic following the great fire of Boston 
 in November, 1872, he suffered severely finan- 
 cially, and was forced to give up most of his 
 property, including the Boston house and his 
 Babcock Street, Brookline, property, which 
 entire street he owned and laid out with shade 
 trees. 
 
 He died in Salem, February 2, 1896, at the 
 home of his daughter, Mrs. Ross Turner, and 
 
*i 
 
 BENJAMIN BLANKY 
 
 1794-1857 
 
HENRY BLANEY xi 
 
 was buried in the family tomb at Mount Au- 
 burn. 
 
 "We know little about Mr. Blaney's father, 
 Benjamin Blaney, though a Boston paper of 
 the year 1857 has the following notice of his 
 death : — 
 
 DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN CITIZEN 
 
 Mr. Benjamin Blaney, one of our well-known 
 citizens of the old school, died on the 10th inst., in 
 the 64th year of his age. The deceased was born 
 in Boston September 20th, 1794. He was a mason 
 by trade, and worked on many of the most substan- 
 tial structures built in the city from 1815 to 1835. 
 He was a Representative from Boston to the Legis- 
 lature in 1853 and 1854, and has served in other 
 public trusts. He was for many years a prominent 
 member of the fire department, and received a 
 handsome testimonial from the insurance companies, 
 for his efficiency at the famous Beacon Street fire. 
 His integrity and stability of character won for him 
 the respect and regard of a wide circle of friends. 
 
 Benjamin Blaney patented a domestic oven 
 in 1834, the papers from the United States 
 Patent Office being signed by President Andrew 
 Jackson. He was in charge of the work when 
 
xii HENRY BLANEY 
 
 the granite gate- and fence-posts in front of the 
 State House were put in place. He also had 
 the notoriety of shooting an eagle on the vane 
 on the spire of Hollis Street Church, about 
 1837, an occurrence which made some discus- 
 sion in the Boston Transcript of March 30, 
 and April 20, 1885. He was a pewholder in the 
 Hollis Street Church, the plan of which, with 
 names of pewholders, showing the position of 
 his pew, is shown at the Bostonian Society. 
 
ABIGAIL (BOWMAN) BLANK Y 
 17114-1873 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 THESE Journals of Henry Blaney, of a 
 Voyage from New York to Hong-Kong, 
 and a Voyage from Shanghai to New York, 
 were written during his passages to and from 
 China, in the employ of Wolcott, Bates & 
 Company. The Outward Journal was sent to 
 his family in Boston, after his arrival out, as the 
 narrative of his experiences. The Homeward 
 Journal, of course, returned with him. Both 
 were written chiefly as intimate family letters. 
 
 The Editors have felt that, beyond the ad- 
 dition of notes, the Journals should have no 
 more changes at their hands than those abso- 
 lutely necessary. A few omissions have been 
 made, where the daily entry was merely the 
 ship's position, or where an account of the 
 writer's physical condition could hardly in- 
 terest the reader. In such anecdotes as might 
 give pain to the families connected with the 
 actors, other names have been substituted. 
 
 Of the data included in this introduction, 
 
xiv INTRODUCTION 
 
 and in many of the footnotes, it is obvious 
 that the Editors can have but little knowledge 
 at first hand, and they wish to express the 
 deepest sense of obligation to Captain Arthur 
 H. Clark, of New York, whose interest in the 
 Journals, and whose kindly advice and sug- 
 gestions have been most encouraging and help- 
 ful. Not only has he given freely of his time, 
 but also his permission to quote his work, TJie 
 Clipper Ship Era (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 
 New York, 1910) ; and with his assistance, a 
 task, otherwise involving chance of inaccuracy 
 and loose statement, has been made compara- 
 tively simple. Quotations and records, unless 
 otherwise credited, are from The Clipper Ship 
 Era. 
 
 The Editors present these Journals of the 
 time when America furnished the speediest 
 and surest bottoms, domestic or foreign, that 
 the world's carrying trade had ever known, — 
 a period that lasted until the great develop- 
 ment of the steamship, and until our national 
 policy in regard to navigation laws threw the 
 foreign carrying trade into other hands. 
 
 GEORGE C. WALES. 
 
JOURNAL FROM NEW YORK TO 
 CANTON 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 FROM NEW YORK TO CANTON 
 SHIP "SAMUEL RUSSELL" 
 
 CAPTAIN LIMEBURNER 
 
 March 13, 1851 
 
 AFTER making a few purchases in New 
 York, and settling my bill at the Astor 
 House for 6 days' board and washing, etc., took 
 a carriage, and with my trunk and other bag- 
 gage, left the house at 91 o'clk for the ship 
 Samuel Russell, lying at Pier 27 East River. 
 Found everything in readiness for Sea, and 
 Capt. Limeburner anxious to get off for Can- 
 ton. Went up to see Mr. Wolcott and the own- 
 ers of the ship — A. A. Low & Bros. — got my 
 letters, directions, etc., and accompanied by 
 Mr. Henry G. Wolcott — my Employer — 
 started again for the ship, and arrived just as 
 she was leaving the Pier towed by a steamer. 
 
4 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 The deck was crowded by persons taking 
 leave of their friends, they were not few as you 
 may judge from the nature of our passengers 
 — There were nine passengers in all, 2 male 
 and 3 female missionaries, — 1 squalling 2 year 
 old — (pleasant augury for a 3 months' voy- 
 age — ) property of one of them. Mr. A. . . . 
 (a brother of Geo. A. . . . , Lawyer of Bos- 
 ton — he was once a man of property, but was 
 unfortunate and took to drinking — was going 
 out to China to retrieve his fortune) — a Chi- 
 nese boy of 21 years of age (fine specimen) — 
 and myself. We had a crew of 22 men and 
 boys (who paid $100. each for the privilege of 
 going, and by the way, one of them looked 
 very much like Frank Bowman, but about as 
 large as James) — 3 mates and with the Cap- 
 tain (a fine fellow from Thomaston, Me.) 
 making in all 39 souls. 
 
 The Steamer towed us out to Sandy Hook 
 where she left us, together with the friends 
 of the passengers — the pilot left us about 
 10 miles outside and we then bade adieu to 
 America. 
 
 March ljf. Blew very fresh — sea high — 
 
HENRY BLANEY 5 
 
 made a fine run of about 250 miles up to 12 
 o'clk this day — which is called the first day — 
 good health and spirits. 
 
 March 15. Queer feeling in my stomach — 
 wasn't anybody — my health barometer indi- 
 cating squally weather. 
 
 March 16. Sunday. Do. Do. Would have 
 sold myself for a shilling — could n't find any- 
 body up for a bid — all turned in — Steward 
 in great demand. 
 
 March 17. Do — Do — slight variation in 
 my barometer — heard an order to heave the 
 log ; felt my stomach Do. about the same time 
 — faint recollection of the blk. Steward ask- 
 ing Massa Blaney if he hab nothing — tried 
 to speak — uttered a grunt — did just as well. 
 
 March 18. Health barometer rising — Still 
 blowing fresh — out and on deck. Mr. A. . . . 
 for the want of his customary stimulants, was 
 very nervous and was troubled in the same way 
 as Aunt Eliza — fancied he could hear people 
 talking to him — said he had just heard from 
 his wife in N. Yk. of the death of 2 of his 
 children — were to be buried at 5 o'clk that 
 day — he was in a horrid state of excitement 
 
6 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 — but perfectly harmless — would take on very 
 bad — asked me if I could hear people talking 
 to him — would go up on deck in the night and 
 imagine his wife was talking to him from the 
 mast-head — the Captain was fearful he would 
 get overboard — and set a man to watch him 
 closely. 
 
 March 19. Beautiful day — weather very 
 warm, 74 degrees, — got out my thin clothes 
 and stowed the rest away — health and spirits 
 first rate — began to eat my allowance — 6 
 days out — Lat. 33-57 North — 50-59 Long. 
 West, about 1500 miles from N. Yk. — first 
 rate run — Captain and I first rate friends. 
 
 March 20. Splendid Day, very warm — 
 wind S.E. nearly ahead — at 12 o'clk going 
 only 8 knots — made this day 185 miles — 
 shortest day's sail since we left N. Yk. 
 
 March 21. Fine day — not much wind — 
 Saw 5 sail — signalled one — 
 
 March 22. Made up my mind last night to 
 get up early this a.m. and take a bath — 
 backed out when I woke and found the wind 
 blowing fresh from the South. 
 
 March 23. Sunday. Fine day, wind blow- 
 
HENRY BLANEY 7 
 
 ing very fresh from the South, none of the 
 Ladies made their appearance at breakfast — 
 all sick, only one came to dinner — The Mis- 
 sionaries had made up their minds to have 
 services after dinner on deck — but nearly all 
 being sick, gave it up. The Captain had noti- 
 fied the Crew that all who felt disposed might 
 prepare themselves to come aft the mainmast 
 after dinner to attend the Services but were 
 obliged to give it up. Wind ahead all day and 
 blowing very fresh — estimated to be about 
 2000 miles from N. Yk. A fine run — had we 
 been going to England with this wind would 
 have arrived in 10 days — Steamer time — 
 
 March 2J±. . . . Shall try in a day or two 
 shower baths — by going on deck early in the 
 morning while the crew are washing the decks, 
 and have them pump on me — made an agree- 
 ment with the Captain to get up yesterday 
 morning and try it — rather cold — we backed 
 out. 
 
 March 25. Very warm day — not much 
 wind — commenced studying Spanish. 
 
 March 26. Continued very warm — head 
 winds. 
 
8 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 March 27. Calm — and head winds. While 
 we were at dinner quite a scene occurred — it 
 was calm — hardly wind enough to move the 
 ship ahead — and unbeknown to the 2d. mate, 
 whose watch it was on deck, she commenced 
 going astern while there was a very bad sea 
 running — when all at once we were startled 
 by the water pouring into the after cabin win- 
 dows — she being very sharp astern as all 
 Clipper Ships are, she did not have the bear- 
 ings which other ships have — therefore instead 
 of rising on top of the waves while going astern 
 — would plunge into it and in a few moments 
 the movable articles in the cabin were all afloat. 
 Then commenced a scene which I am unable 
 to describe — it was an exciting time for a few 
 moments. The Captain started on deck to get 
 headway upon her — while the steward and the 
 two Chinese boys and some of us passengers 
 succeeded after considerable trouble in closing 
 the ports of the windows, while the Ladies 
 mounted the tables and chairs to save a swamp- 
 ing ; after a while with the assistance of swabs, 
 buckets, etc., we succeeded in clearing the cabin, 
 and sat down to finish our dinner. 
 
HENRY BLANEY 9 
 
 March 28. Calm — made only 72 miles this 
 day — saw the first fish — a Bonito — about as 
 large as a Haddock — jump out of water. 
 
 March 29. Fine day and very warm — saw 
 a School flying fish, which was the first new 
 sight to me, excepting a gale and storm at 
 sea. 
 
 March SO. Sunday. A more beautiful day 
 I never saw. The Missionaries were able to 
 appear on deck which they were unable to do 
 on the previous Sunday. By permission of the 
 Captain they were allowed to hold services on 
 deck, and just after dinner all hands were 
 called aft where seats were provided for them, 
 although there were probably only 3 or 4 out 
 of the lot who could speak English, yet all were 
 there dressed in their white pants and blue 
 shirts, and a more attentive and orderly crew 
 you would not find anywhere. 
 
 The services commenced with a prayer and 
 hymn which one of the ministers had the po- 
 liteness to ask me to lead off — which I did in 
 true Unitarian style, but it was rather a quick 
 trot for them, as I really believe I had finished 
 before they were at the end of the third line, 
 
10 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 but I had the Captain on my side, and also 
 half the Crew, so I put them through. The 
 tune was Old Hundred, and they being Meth- 
 odists fairly tired me out with their drawling. 
 After the singing one of the Ministers quoted 
 a passage from the Bible — " Boast not thyself 
 of the Morrow" and from that preached a 
 discourse Ex-tempore — which was very well 
 done. The Services were concluded by another 
 hymn which one of the Ministers started but 
 broke down — and after hemming a few times 
 and looking at the other Rev. — as much as to 
 say " what a bad cold I have," he commenced 
 it again and carried it through. Then with a 
 benediction the Services were dismissed. 
 
 Although we have had two or three very 
 calm days we have made good headway, our 
 position this day at 12 M. was Lat. 15.55 
 North ; Long. 29.46 West ; having made since 
 yesterday 12 m, which is one day, 222 miles — 
 we are about 800 miles from the Equator — 
 we are in hopes to cross it in about 22 days 
 if we have ordinary winds — which will be 
 within a day of the shortest passage ever made 
 from N. Yk. to the Equator. This ship hav- 
 
HENRY BLANEY 11 
 
 ing crossed it in Feby. 1850 in 21 days from 
 N. Yk.i 
 
 March 31. After breakfast went forward on 
 the Cat Head to watch the flying fish as they rose 
 up from the water. It was a lovely day and as I 
 sat looking over the bow it seemed to me as 
 though we had just left Boston on a fishing ex- 
 cursion — the sea was about as rough as it 
 would be off the Castle of a pleasant day, and 
 while the whole horizon was obscured by a thick 
 mist, as is always to be found at sea near the 
 Equator, the sun was shining very warm — 
 wind N.E. — the air balmy and although we 
 were 250 miles S.W. Cape Verd Islands the 
 wind was blowing fragrant and fresh from off 
 the shore — a few birds were flying around us 
 evidently having wandered from the Island, in 
 search of flying fish — It is just about 9 o'clk 
 — (we breakfasted at 8) and I am imagining 
 that you are all sound asleep while I have been 
 up these 2 hours — I calculate it is just about 
 i past 5 o'clk, — 4 minutes to a degree — by 
 the difference in Lat. and Long, with you, and 
 
 1 The Samuel Russell later made a record of nineteen 
 days from Sandy Hook to the Equator. 
 
12 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 when I turn in to sleep, — lOo'clk, — you are 
 just about finishing your tea, — so you see I 
 get the first look at the sun, and see it rise and 
 set, which by the way is a glorious sight at sea, 
 something which I have seldom seen at home 
 and account for it by the high buildings, not 
 that I don't get up early enough — Oh ! No ! 
 While I was sitting aft on deck this morn- 
 ing with the Captain, one of the sailors passed 
 us and I noticed some lines of India Ink 
 pricked into his arm ; when he passed again 
 the Captain noticed it and called to him — 
 they were — 
 
 " From Rocks and Shoals and barren Laiid3 
 O God wilt set me free; 
 From Pirates Guns and Womens tongues 
 Good Lord deliver me ! — " 
 
 April 1. Pleasant and warm — " Tricks 
 upon Travellers " the order of the day. 
 
 April 2. Squally, with rain — Fine breeze — 
 April 3. Raining and Squally — not such 
 showers as we see at home — but down it comes 
 in one sheet. One shower lasted about 15 min- 
 utes — and the Captain said he caught about 
 2 hhds. 
 
HENRY BLANEY 13 
 
 April 4' Rainy nearly all day ; calm — made 
 about 40 miles on our course — Quite an un- 
 pleasant affair occurred just after Tea — with 
 one of our passengers, Mr. A. . . . who en- 
 deavored to commit suicide by taking about 3 
 oz. laudanum. He was sitting alone at the table 
 
 — all the Gentlemen but him had left and gone 
 on deck ; the Ladies had retired to the after 
 cabin, which is separated by a partition with a 
 door at each end — they heard some one jump 
 quickly over the table to a large medicine chest 
 at the end of the table, and then saw him open 
 it, take out a bottle, put it to his mouth and 
 drink two swallows. The Captain knew the 
 bottle was full, therefore knew how much he 
 took — Mrs. Wiley ran to him, took the bottle 
 away from him, and called her husband — it 
 was very fortunate for Mr. A. . . . that Mr. 
 Wiley was a physician, or it would have gone 
 hard with him — he asked him why he took it 
 and it was a long while before he would say 
 anything, and seemed much disappointed that 
 he had been observed. Soon he began to feel 
 the effects of it which brought him to his senses 
 
 — " It is too late " — says he, " Capt., sew me 
 
14 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 up and bury me tomorrow at 12 — heave the 
 ship to — put the flag at half mast — and read 
 the Church of England Service over me — " 
 Finally he called for a stomach pump, and 
 seemed very anxious to get relief — Dr. Wiley 
 gave him 20 grains Sulph. zinc and 20 of Sulph. 
 Copper to vomit him, which not producing the 
 desired effect, repeated the dose, which were it 
 not for the Laudanum would have killed him 
 
 — but in a few moments set him to vomiting 
 
 — and for half an hour kept it up continually 
 which relieved him much and he went to bed — 
 and singular as it may seem, was up and drest 
 the next morning before any of the rest. He 
 was very penitent and said he felt very foolish 
 for what he did — he seemed as well as ever. 
 
 April 5. At 8 o'clk a.m. it was hotter than I 
 ever felt it before — not a breath of air stirring 
 
 — we lay like a log on the water and the rollers 
 pitching us so that it was with difficulty we 
 could keep our feet. By the way ! the water 
 last night had a most splendid appearance — 
 covered over by brilliant little stars — called 
 phosphoric lights — caused by the Animalculae 
 in the water — We have been hovering between 
 
HENRY BLANEY 15 
 
 2 and 4 degrees of Latitude the last 3 days — 
 hope for some wind by noon. 
 
 April 6. Sunday. Still very warm — a 
 dead calm. 
 
 April 7. Very warm with frequent showers. 
 Rain pours down in torrents without the least 
 warning, bringing with it a little breeze, which 
 when it ceased, would all die away again, — 
 Saw a few albacores. 
 
 April 8. Crossed the line at 7 o'clk this 
 morning — had anticipated some sport at the 
 event, but was disappointed, as all hands were 
 busy trimming sails, and a prospect of a breeze 
 springing up, the Captain was anxious to im- 
 prove it — so the boys escaped a shaving — 
 and maybe the passengers also. Poor Mr. 
 A. . . . was in agony for fear they would Bar- 
 ber him — and threatened all sorts of punish- 
 ments if they attempted it ; he said his face 
 was tender, and he could n't even shave himself 
 and certainly wouldn't trust Neptune. This 
 evening the North Star went down in the hori- 
 zon and the Southern Cross arose in the South. 
 
 April 9. Very warm day — Calm — Ther. 
 90 degrees in the shade. Captain treated us 
 
16 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 to a row round the ship — it was a beautiful 
 sight. She lay perfectly uncontrollable in the 
 water, and the long rollers would pitch and 
 drift her about at their will — After rowing: 
 round once the Captain saw a squall coming 
 up — and put for the ship — hauled the Boat 
 up, and in a few moments, down came the rain 
 harder than I ever saw it before. 
 
 April 10. At 8 o'clk a fresh breeze sprang 
 up from the South and started us on our 
 course ; by 9 o'clk at the rate of 10 knots — 
 which was quite a relief after being becalmed 
 nearly a week. 
 
 April 11. Fine breeze ; going over 10 knots 
 nearly all day. 
 
 April 12. Pleasant day — going finely — 
 passed a ship about sun down, steering N.E., 
 probably bound to England. Nothing else oc- 
 curred during the day to change the monot- 
 ony. Thermometer 70 degrees. 
 
 April 13. Sunday. Very pleasant — Had 
 
 services on deck just after dinner ; 2| o'clk, 
 
 imagined you were all at church at Morning 
 
 Service — Hope Tom 1 preached you as good 
 
 1 The Rev. Thomas Starr King, — minister of Hollis Street 
 Church. 
 
HENRY BLANEY 17 
 
 sermon as we had — I sang — Capt. blowed. 
 Our minister — Methodist — exhorting the 
 sailors to read the Bible, not occasionally, but 
 often — and in order to impress upon their 
 minds the importance of it in order to be 
 safe, told them the old story of the African 
 Ostrich, who, when pursued by hunters, al- 
 ways, after being unable to get clear, put their 
 heads underneath the sand, leaving their bodies 
 exposed, and are then caught — Jacks looked 
 incredulous — looked as though they could 
 spin a better yarn themselves. Cook looked 
 squint eyed — pulled his wool over his eyes 
 in imitation of Humbug. These services are 
 very unpopular with the sailors — they be- 
 lieve there is no good luck at sea when mis- 
 sionaries are on board. The ministers are 
 young men and very gentlemanly. Saw a ship 
 at daylight this morning ahead of us, going the 
 same way; did not speak her — in two hours 
 she was astern of us and out of sight. 
 
 April 14' I had the impression when I 
 started, that I should find enough to interest 
 and amuse me all the way out — but I am mis- 
 taken — although I have everything for my com- 
 
18 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 fort on board, yet I am fairly tired of a Sea 
 Voyage — missionaries no companions — young 
 brat yelling — A. . . . fidgety, silly, and nerv- 
 ous; fairly sore from sitting — although there 
 is plenty room on the quarter deck to prome- 
 nade, yet it is not so convenient when we are 
 going with a 10 knot breeze, for it takes all 
 the time to hold on and keep on your feet. I 
 would give a month's salary to have a good 
 walk or run round Boston Common — have 
 almost made up my mind to go for'ard with the 
 sailors, and go to work with them — Now and 
 then come up with a vessel but go by them 
 just as though they were lying at anchor. Ex- 
 pect to be down tomorrow on the banks oppo- 
 site Rio Janeiro — where we shall no doubt see 
 some whales and whalers — weather getting 
 quite comfortable, growing cooler every day — 
 nights splendid — nearly full moon. 
 
 April 15. Fine day ; going 9 knots — feel 
 about the same. 
 
 April 16. Down sick with the Dysentery — 
 Dr. Wiley prescribed Castor Oil, Laudanum, 
 Dovers Powders, etc. Think it is all owing to 
 eating too freely of Roast Pork. The pig was 
 
HENRY BLANEY 19 
 
 killed last Saturday, and it was brought on in 
 some shape every meal — as it would not keep 
 long, fresh. Am very partial to it, but it is too 
 hearty for warm weather. Dr. Wiley and Mr. 
 A. . . . unwell from the same cause. 
 
 April 17. Tired of lying down — drest and 
 went on deck ; think it as well if I keep quiet 
 
 — missed the little attentions I had when I 
 was sick with it before. Cannot get those little 
 comforts at sea which we can on shore — 
 weather nearly calm. 
 
 April 18. Little better today — "Wind light 
 
 — from the North — heavy rollers from the 
 S.W. which stops our headway. Made only 60 
 miles today — Lat. 23.01 South ; Long. 32.33 ; 
 about 630 miles from Rio Janeiro. Saw the 
 sun and moon yesterday rise and set at the same 
 time — a very beautiful sight. 
 
 April 19. Pleasant day — not much wind — 
 health improving. 
 
 April 20. Sunday. Fine day — no wind — 
 Missionaries had services on deck — about 
 half the sailors present — Health improving. 
 Saw the Magellan clouds over the Southern 
 Cross — always remain there stationary — Cap- 
 
20 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 tain cross — and expect we are doomed to be 
 stationary — 
 
 April 21. Still calm — but about sundown 
 the breeze sprang up and sent us over the 
 water 10 knots — Steering South — 58 miles 
 to 12 o'clk M. this day — Lat. 28.07 South; 
 Long. 32.20. 
 
 April 22. Eat nearly my allowance — Al- 
 tered our course from South to S.E. Fresh 
 Breeze — going 11-i knots. 
 
 April 23. Fine day — sailed 205 miles. 
 
 April 24- Weather beginning to grow cool ; 
 changed my thin clothes for thick ones — 
 There are light clouds trying to come up from 
 the S.W. — but are beaten back by N.W. 
 winds — think it will change to S.W. soon. 
 
 April 25. Fine day but very little wind — 
 
 April 26. Wind fresh from W.N.W.— 
 Lat. 35.32 South; Long. 14.03 West; distance 
 today 203 miles — Wind directly aft and sent 
 us thro' the water about 10 knots — sea very 
 high wh. caused the vessel to roll considerably; 
 — have got quite smart again and begin to 
 enjoy the trip very much. 
 
 April 27. Sunday. At 3 o'clk a.m. the Cap- 
 
HENRY BLANEY 21 
 
 tain came to my state room and awoke me, 
 and asked me if I wished to see some pretty 
 tall sailing, to come up on deck. The wind had 
 changed at 12 o'clk from W.N.W. to S.W., 
 and at that time (3 o'clk), was blowing fresh. 
 I hurried up on deck and found the ship lying 
 over so that her lee rail was within a foot of the 
 top of the water — Just then, as they were taking 
 in the top gallant studding sail, it swung round 
 and struck the main top gallant sail, and split 
 it in two. I soon found there was tall sailing 
 indeed ; such a sight I never saw before — The 
 sea as far round as I could shy a biscuit was 
 white with foam, and it was with difficulty I 
 could keep my feet. Upon throwing the log, 
 we found she was going 13 knots, and the 
 noble ship did plough through the water in 
 gallant style. At 4, the Captain and myself 
 turned in. The Mate was reported to the Capt., 
 as being very sick and unable to stand his 
 watch, and the 2nd. mate had to stand a double 
 one — I turned out again at 7 o'clk and found 
 the ship going 12 knots — owing to short'ning 
 sail in order to bend a new main top gallant 
 sail — but she soon came up again to 13 knots. 
 
22 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 There were hundreds of Cape pigeons flying 
 about, as large as a duck ; albatrosses measur- 
 ing 10 feet to the extremity of their wings and 
 " stink pots " 2 about the same size without 
 number. There was now a prospect of making 
 up for the calms we had upon the Equator. 
 And a short passage was in prospect, — soon 
 to be verified. — It was a splendid day, but too 
 rough for the missionaries to hold forth, — 
 pause — The Capt. has invited me to take a 
 bottle Hock Wine with him — sorry — but ah 
 — zoell I donH care! inner man much re- 
 freshed — that 's me — will proceed — The 
 sea was running high, and covered with foam, 
 and was altogether the most beautiful scene I 
 ever saw — We had run this day 235 miles 
 and were in Lat. 36.21 South; Long. 9.27 
 West; having run within 60 miles of Tristan 
 d'Acunha — passed it about midnight. 
 
 April 28. Wind came round west N.W., 
 directly aft and we are rolling heavily now as 
 I write — going about 101 knots. Amused our- 
 selves shooting at the Albatrosses — didn't 
 kill any — must have been in the powder — 
 
 1 " Stink pots " ; — also known as " boobies." 
 
HENRY BLANEY 23 
 
 very likely — Cook advised us to elevate the 
 gun a little below the birds. There 's a bull — 
 Yes, and a blot too — but lay it to the lurching 
 — we have run this day 220 miles. 
 
 April 29. We are now nearly in the latitude 
 of the Cape, and the weather is similar to that 
 of Nov. 1st in feeling and appearance. I have 
 doffed my summer suit, and donned my winter 
 one — have made up my mind to experience 
 some severe weather. The change is so great 
 and the air so bracing that I have to be very 
 select in regard to my diet — have lately adopted 
 Sally's advice and have had recourse to senna 
 which I found in the Ship's Medicine Chest. I 
 find it helps me. Lat 38.20 S ; Long. 5.54 E ; 
 265 miles. 
 
 April 30. Still blowing fresh, with showers 
 of rain — No observation today — had to go by 
 dead reckoning — Capt. had delayed taking in 
 the boats thinking we should get clear of 
 stormy weather, but he was mistaken. About 
 10 o'clk, as he and myself were walking the 
 Quarter deck preparatory to going below, a 
 heavy sea dashed up on the quarter snapping 
 the Guy that confines one of the davits to the 
 
24 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 boats — He immediately called all hands aft to 
 take them in, which was not accomplished with- 
 out a deal of trouble and time. During the pro- 
 cess some of the men had a very narrow escape 
 from going overboard, and losing the boats. They 
 had fastened one end of the boat to a tackle in 
 the mizzen rigging — let go the guys — and 
 about ten men were hauling it inboard over 
 the lee rail, when a sea struck her which 
 caused her to heel over so that it was impos- 
 sible to hold the boat until she was lurched 
 against the fore davits, and it was possible to 
 recover her — thanks to the strength of the 
 tackles — as it was, some of the men were bruised, 
 but not badly — it was the most unpleasant 
 night I ever passed, and I think none of us 
 slept more than two hours all night. 
 
 May 1. Lat. 38.11 Sj Long. 10 — made 
 185 miles — sea running very high ; the most 
 uncomfortable day since we have been out — I 
 never have felt and realized the strength and 
 force of the wind and waves before now — it 
 goes ahead of my imaginations even in my 
 very dreams. I lack the power of description. 
 I should like to be gifted with the spirit of a 
 
HENRY BLANEY 25 
 
 G. P. R. James — Dickens or Willis for an hour, 
 that I might describe the scene around me — 
 though I am fearful that he, — G. P. R. James, 
 — would commence with his oft proverbial 
 style: — of — "The sun was just rising over 
 the hill when two horsemen were seen approach- 
 ing at a brisk trot," but that would hardly be 
 applicable to our present situation. It would 
 be more like if I were to alter it to : — " The 
 sun was just going down behind a large black 
 cloud, when a person was seen in the Cabin of 
 a Ship, holding on with one hand to the table, 
 and attempting to write with the other" — but 
 the scene is so new and so different from my 
 wildest imaginations, that I lack the power of 
 describing it. 
 
 Another squall has struck us and I must 
 give up journalizing. 
 
 Around me everything is in commotion — 
 the ship's lee rail is laying over even with the 
 water. All sails are set, including the wind- 
 ward studding sails alow and aloft. The sky 
 sails were fortunately lowered upon deck two 
 days ago. The Captain is upon the Quarter 
 deck, giving his orders in a rapid and thun- 
 
26 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 dering tone, which are repeated by the three 
 mates, who with the sailors are distributed 
 about different parts of the ship. The "Watch 
 below have just been ordered up, as is custom- 
 ary in case of emergency, and are taking in 
 studding sails, with all possible despatch — 
 but before that is completed, one sail is split 
 and one boom broke short off to the yard. The 
 other sails are left to their fate, as these clippers 
 carry on as long as possible, and with the top- 
 masts bending like bows, we are sailing — with 
 the wind on our quarter — through the water 
 like mad, at the rate of 14 knots per hour. It 
 is a splendid sight to me and one which I en- 
 joy, to see the sea running higher than our 
 house — home phrase — all around us, rushing 
 and plunging, and seeming to do its utmost to 
 overwhelm the ship — now and then breaking 
 over and leaving a foot of water upon the 
 deck. Then it is difficult for the men to move 
 about from one place to another — they are 
 well experienced and watch their chances with 
 the roll of the ship. Often pieces of plank 
 break loose and go back and forth with the 
 rush of the water making it a shin-breaking 
 
HENRY BLANEY 27 
 
 business to move about. One of our boys a 
 day or two since, was so unfortunate as to lose 
 his hold and slide across the deck to leeward 
 with such force as to nearly break his ankle — 
 but it was found upon examination to be only 
 sprained. One of the reverends, a 6 feet 2 
 Chap took a launch to leeward this morning, 
 catching hold of one of the steerage doors in 
 his course, which broke from its fastenings, 
 and away he went into the lee scuppers. I hap- 
 pened to come on deck just in time to see him 
 pick himself out from under a spare spar, for 
 all the world like a drowned rat, and consol- 
 ing himself with the remark, — that " Such is 
 life," as he went below to seek consolation 
 from his more fortunate brethren and a dry 
 shirt. It is amusing to see a regular salt and 
 a green horn in one of these fetchaways. Old 
 Jack, when he finds himself going, always 
 snuggles himself into as small a compass as 
 possible, puts himself into a sort of squatty- 
 bumbo position which is amusing to the spec- 
 tators, and embarrassing to himself. 
 
 May 2. We find ourselves today in Lat. 
 38 — ; Long 15.43 East; having made the 
 
28 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 good run of 265 miles — Still blowing fresh, 
 and going round the Cape of Good Hope — with 
 a 12 knot breeze and a strong head current. 
 
 May 3. Blowing fresh, and a head current 
 — frequent showers rain. Lat 38.42 S ; — 
 Long. 20.51 — 250 miles. 
 
 May 4' Sunday. Sea subsiding — going 
 10 and 11 knots — still with a strong head 
 current against us, and frequent squalls — No 
 probability of seeing a sail (unless we over- 
 take one), until we get nearly to Anjer, as 
 those going west keep within a dozen miles of 
 the Cape in going round, and then head for 
 St. Helena — while we steer directly East for 
 St. Pauls and then up to Anjer Point. Had 
 heavy hail storm last night, took in all the 
 light sails, and double reefed the topsails. Blew 
 a hurricane all day and at night had to tie my- 
 self into my bed for fear of suddenly finding 
 myself on the floor. 
 
 May 5. Temperature much warmer — sea 
 and wind quite calm. 
 
 May 6. Lat. 37.25 S. — Long. 34.07 East. 
 228 miles. Find ourselves about 25 miles north 
 of yesterday's observation, and much warmer. 
 
HENRY BLANEY 29 
 
 May 7. Lat 37.34 S. — Long. 37.17 E. 
 158 Miles — quite calm all the morning, but 
 in the afternoon a 7 knot breeze sprang up. 
 
 May 8. Going at a moderate rate, about 7 
 knots, Nothing unusual occurred worth relat- 
 ing. Lat. 37.58 — Long. 40.39 ; — East 7 
 degrees S., 1 165 miles. 
 
 May 9. Blowing fresh nearly aft. Ship rolls 
 heavily. Mr. A. . . . was so unfortunate as to 
 get a lurch to leeward, sprained both ankles, 
 one badly — his mind has much improved and 
 he makes good company. 
 
 May 10. Made 12 knots an hour up to 12 
 midnight — wind then died away to a calm. 7 
 knot breeze commenced at 8 a.m. Made at 12 
 o'clk 224 miles ; find ourselves in Lat 39.04 — 
 Long. 50.53 having made an E. 3 degrees S. 
 course. 
 
 May 11. Sunday. Head the report 1851 
 of the Seaman's Aid Society — quote from the 
 Title Page — " Would you promote the pres- 
 ent as well as the future happiness of the poor 
 — Give them employment in the place of 
 
 1 The entry in the Journal is written as above. " East 7 
 degrees S.," indicates the course sailed. 
 
30 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 charity, that by lessening their dependence — 
 You thereby increase their self-respect." 
 
 Quote from Psalms 49.18 — "Men will 
 praise thee when thou doeth well to thyself." 
 
 Quote from Alton Locke : " But gin ye do 
 weel by yoursel, saith the Psalmist, ye '11 find 
 a' men speak well o' ye — if ye gang their gate." 
 
 Quere ! The Psalmist was minded to denote 
 the delights of spending borrowed siller. 
 
 May 12. "Weather fine — jogging slowly — 
 Such is life — Here today and there tomorrow. 
 
 May 13. Cloudy — breeze freshening, made 
 200 miles today — we are about 600 miles 
 west St. Pauls — improving my leisure time 
 by studying Spanish — find excellent oppor- 
 tunity to practice with some of the sailors — 
 having nearly every language on board. 
 
 May lJj-. Fine breeze up to 12 M. — made 
 285 miles — the best day's run since we have 
 been out — find ourselves in Lat. 39.13 — 
 Long. 69.59 — Wind died away at noon. 
 
 May 15. Been going 13 and 14 knots since 12 
 midnight. At 8 a.m. — threw the log and ran 
 the line entirely off the reel, going over 14 knots 
 — strong N.W. wind — made only 237 miles. 
 
HENRY BLANEY 31 
 
 May 16. Passed St. Pauls 2 a.m. blowing a 
 gale — At daybreak, dressed and went on deck, 
 as the vessel was laboring and rolling heavily, 
 and it was more comfortable on deck than 
 below. The wind was still blowing a gale, and 
 now and then I could see a terrible roller larger 
 than the rest come rushing and tumbling on, 
 higher than the others and soon the huge mass 
 would break over the stern or quarter of the 
 ship, and dash her with terrible force on her 
 way, to be succeeded by another perhaps still 
 larger — who t]»at has heard once, can forget 
 the sea moan of the wind in its rushing course 
 through the rigging of a ship. It is grand, yet 
 truly fearful. We had hardly canvas enough 
 spread upon the whole ship to make a main 
 top sail. The fore and mainmast each bore only 
 a single sail, — close reefed. The sky sail yards 
 were down — the boats safely housed upon the 
 quarter deck — not a man was aloft, as the 
 Capt. took care to have no occasion, before 
 the storm was upon us. Still I had no fear as 
 to the termination of the gale, for I had every 
 confidence in the Capt. — and a trump of a 
 fellow he is too — He knew his course, and 
 
32 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 was as cool and collected as though he was in 
 his own house ashore. Nothing would have 
 saved us had we but touched a reef, or come in 
 contact with another vessel larger than ours. 
 
 Made 270 miles this day. 
 
 May 17. Cold — raw — windy day — made 
 240 miles. 
 
 May 18. Sunday. Do. Do. Wind aft, ship 
 rolling very heavily — 236 miles Lat. 35.17 — 
 Long. 89.44. 
 
 May 19. Made 195 miles — light west 
 winds — getting accustomed to my sea life — 
 comfortable but tedious — have gained about 
 10 lbs. 
 
 May 20. Lat. 32.33 — Long. 95.54 —Made 
 only 163 miles — weather very pleasant — 
 Thermometer 67 noon — shade — Since I 
 have been out, have divided my day's employ- 
 ment and recreation as follows — Arose about 
 sunrise, — when the weather was suitable took 
 a salt water bath ; — walked the quarter deck 
 till about breakfast time — ; 8 o'clk, — After 
 which, lounge on deck till about 9i o'clk when 
 I take to my Spanish — study till about 12^ 
 o'clk. By that time the Capt. has worked up 
 
HENRY BLANEY 33 
 
 his reckoning ; — the chart is taken out upon 
 tlie table, and we comment upon the ship's pro- 
 gress — currents — winds, etc., till 1 — when 
 the steward lays the cloth for dinner, which, at 
 1| o'clk is ready to be served up. Which 
 being completed, we disperse to different parts 
 of the ship where our fancy wills us — occa- 
 sionally I go aloft to look around — but often 
 look in vain for something new, — As far as the 
 eye can reach — nothing is seen but one vast 
 circle of water, with myself apparently left 
 alone except for the few visible beings below 
 me — with here and there a stray bird — it 
 puts me in mind of the painting of the last 
 man, all others swept from the face of the 
 earth by famine and deluge — and there I sit 
 for an hour thinking of what I was and what 
 I am — what I have been and what I will be. 
 The rest of the afternoon I consume in reading, 
 having plenty of books with me — some a pre- 
 sent from James Lawrence and Mr. Wolcott, 
 and about $100. worth sent out by Redding & 
 Co., 1 of which I have the use, with also a few 
 
 1 George W. Redding & Co., " periodical depot," 8 State 
 Street, Boston. 
 
34 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 sent by Mr. Parker — at A. A. L. & Bro. for 
 his brother Frank. Sometimes when the weather 
 is smooth, we have games on deck — joined by 
 the Captain and rest of the passengers — the 
 evening is spent by spinning yarns on deck, 
 reading in the Cabin, or studying Spanish — At 
 times we present a busy group — Mr. A. . . . 
 and Dr. Wiley studying French, Mr. Colder 
 reading old sermons and writing new ones, the 
 Capt. looking over his chart, writing up his 
 log — or reading some of my books, of which 
 I have given him the privilege. 
 
 May 21. Fine breeze from the N.W. rather 
 an unexpected quarter, as we are in the track 
 of the S.E. trades ; made 230 miles — Lat. 
 29.54 Long. 98.56 ; have run since we left New 
 York, 12,834 miles, and being 68 days out, 
 have averaged 188^ miles, which is very fair, 
 considering the winds we have had and not 
 having reefed our topsails but once since we 
 have been out, and not had a 10 knot breeze 
 more than 12 hours at a time. 
 
 May 22. In Lat. 26.16 Long. 100.56 dis- 
 tance — 248 miles. At 12 M. going about 12 
 knots. At 1, — a shower sprang up from the 
 
HENRY BLANEY 35 
 
 south, passed over, and left the wind light from 
 that quarter. 
 
 May 23. At 3 a.m. the wind veered round 
 to the S.E., and at sunrise we began to go 10 
 knots with the first of the regular trades — 
 The wind in this lat. commences to blow from 
 that quarter all the year round. 1 As soon as 
 the men had got their breakfast, they com- 
 menced clearing up and washing out under the 
 Top Gallant Fore-Castle, — preparatory to get- 
 ting out the chain cable and cat-heading the 
 anchor, which soon began to have the appear- 
 ance of approaching Java Head : Sun rose this 
 a.m. 6| o'clk and set 5| o'clk. 
 
 May 2Jf. Weather very pleasant — at noon 
 quite warm ; 238 miles. 
 
 May 25. Sunday. Fine weather with strong 
 trades; 1|- knot current setting down New 
 Holland Straits. 2 Had it not been for that, 
 should have made our best days work. Made 
 275 miles. 
 
 May 26. Wind headed us off at midnight, 
 
 1 That is, in this latitude a Teasel enters the zone of the 
 southeast trades. 
 
 2 New Holland Straits, — one of the Eastern Passages ; — 
 this name is not used on modern charts. 
 
36 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 but still blew fresh with squalls — expected 
 still to feel the current from N. H. Straits, and 
 the Capt. was surprised to find at noon, when 
 he took the sun, that we had passed through 
 them. The sails have been close hauled, and 
 getting to windward as much as possible. We 
 are Lat. 11.22 South ; Long. 104.50 E. Made 
 230 miles. About 4 p.m. Capt. discovered land 
 about 4 points on the lee bow, which proved to 
 be Christmas Island ; he immediately took the 
 sun, and found we were out of our reckoning 
 — We are about 50 miles further east, and 
 about 25 miles S.E. of the Island. To me it 
 seemed a great mistake, but the Capt. said it 
 was quite a common occurrence to be from 30 
 to 75 miles out of the way, when not making 
 land for so long a time ; this being the first we 
 had seen since leaving N. Yk. It was favor- 
 able that it was to the windward ; had it been 
 to leeward, would have given us a great deal 
 of trouble to have made J. Head, 1 as there is 
 a strong current setting through there to the 
 Westward. 
 May 27. Made Palambang Point at noon 
 
 1 J. Head, i.e., Java Head. 
 
HENRY BLANEY 37 
 
 this day, distant about 20 miles, this is a 
 promontory on the main land of Java. Wind 
 moderate from the S.W., at 4 p.m. died away, 
 and left us becalmed with a 2 knot current 
 setting to Eastward. This was rather dis- 
 couraging after having a good breeze to within 
 30 miles Java Head, to leave us within sight 
 of Anchorage. About sundown the Capt. 
 set his course due W. and at daybreak found 
 he had run about 25 miles. He then altered 
 his course due North — which in 3 hours car- 
 ried us within 10 miles of Java Head, a high 
 headland which we could see very plainly. "We 
 lay all day in about that position, with hardly 
 wind enough to stir a ripple on the water, and 
 the sun scorching. We amused ourselves in 
 catching with a net, small shells floating on the 
 water, Crabs, water snakes, etc., — specimens 
 of which the ladies preserved. We had a rain 
 squall last night, and I had the pleasure of 
 seeing, and happily not feeling, the influence 
 of a water spout. It passed just astern of us, 
 and we could distinctly hear the rushing of 
 the water as it was drawn up into the clouds, 
 though it would be impossible for a close ob- 
 
38 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 server to tell whether the water went up or 
 down even if it had been daylight. 
 
 May 28. At daylight Princes Island bore 
 N.E. 16 miles distant — Calm all day — 
 Amused ourselves in the course of the day 
 watching the water snakes rising to the top of 
 the water. They were from li to 3 ft. long, 
 colored, and with something which had the ap- 
 pearance of rattles like a rattle snake — they 
 would swim up to the side of the vessel on the 
 top of the water, and then swim back without 
 turning round, as though they had a head on 
 each end of their body, and in fact, they did 
 not taper off at the tail, but both ends ap- 
 peared to be of equal size. 
 
 May 29. In the Straits Sunda — becalmed 
 all day — Very warm. A man at the wheel 
 about noon today was sun struck — he would 
 have fallen had he not been just able to call 
 out to the Capt. who happened to be upon the 
 quarter deck. He was bled and in the course 
 of the day entirely recovered. 
 
 May SO. At 10i a.m. — hove in sight 
 Anjer, and were beset by a number of Malay 
 boats, manned by from 3 to 15 wretched look- 
 
HENRY BLANEY 39 
 
 ing Malays, some of whom were entirely naked, 
 who set up such a holloing and jabbering that 
 it was difficult for the mates to hear the Cap- 
 tain's orders. As soon as they reached us they 
 fastened their boats along side, and were anx- 
 ious for the Capt. to trade. He told them he 
 would not till he came to anchor. This did not 
 silence them, for they redoubled their cries and 
 yells, when finding we still persisted in not 
 trading for their cargo — (which consisted of 
 yams, bananas, eggs, chickens, cocoa nuts, or- 
 anges, etc.,) they started off for another vessel 
 which was coming up in sight. Presently the 
 principal man of the Malays — " Penn " — as 
 he is called, came off dressed in his regiment- 
 als, blue frock coat with brass buttons — white 
 pantaloons fastened over the hips by a leather 
 belt with a brass buckle. He is a small sized, 
 intelligent looking man, of about 40 years of 
 age, and about as large as our George — He 
 was very polite, shook hands with the Capt. 
 and passed his book to me to examine. It is 
 customary for all vessels which stop there to 
 insert their names, where bound, and the num- 
 ber of days from port of departure, the names of 
 
40 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 the passengers, or any message which they wish 
 to leave for other Captains bound up the China 
 Sea. Our Capt. had made a bet with the Capt. 
 of the Ariel, 1 who was bound to Canton, on the 
 number of days out. The forfeit was to be li 
 dozen fat ducks. Although the Ariel left N. Yk. 
 the Sunday previous to us, we arrived at Anjer 
 before them ; — not finding her name upon 
 "Penn's" books, we ordered the ducks to be 
 paid for by Capt. Brewster of the Ariel, upon 
 his arrival at Anjer, with a message — " if he 
 caught up with us he might have them." The 
 stores we were in want of, were inserted in 
 " Penn's " books — amounting to about -$60., 
 with directions to get them off as soon as pos- 
 sible, as there were 3 ships coming around the 
 point, — 1 an American which the Capt. was 
 fearful might prove to be the Ariel. He or- 
 dered 5 dozen nice chickens, 80 cents a dozen ; 
 20 picul yams similar to potatoes; (picul, 
 133^ lbs ;) onions, bananas, cocoa nuts ; (Or- 
 
 1 " The Ariel, 572 tons, was built by John Currier at 
 Newburyport in 1S46, for Minot & Hooper, of Boston. This 
 ship became celebrated in the China trade, and was bought 
 by N. L. & Q. Griswold, and has a record of ninety days 
 from Canton to New York." 
 
HENRY BLANEY 41 
 
 anges poor), Eggs, etc. By the time the ship 
 was anchored and everything snug, dinner was 
 ready — of which we all partook lightly, hav- 
 ing lost our appetites with the prospect of going 
 ashore. By the time dinner was finished, we 
 found one of the boats on the davits ready with 
 a flag nicely spread aft. Two of the ladies took 
 their seats, (one being left to keep the baby in 
 tune,) the boat lowered, hauled to the gang- 
 way where the male passengers took their seats, 
 and with five oars were quickly rowed ashore, 
 wh. laid about a mile from the Ship. We passed 
 in between two dykes — about 25 feet apart, 
 formed by spiles driven into the mud — about 
 20 rods, and landed at the stone stairs — we 
 were beset by about 50 Malays, men, women 
 and children — and a Malay Custom House 
 officer with drawn sword — whom I think could 
 all have been easily disposed of by a stout reso- 
 lute American with a good stick. We were 
 permitted to land without hesitation by a word 
 to the officer from "Penn." This port is the 
 2nd. in size of the three on the Island of Java 
 — it is situated on the west — Batavia at the 
 north — and Sourabaya on the East. This is 
 
42 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 the town — Sourabaya, — where Mrs. Eaton 
 — Geo. Patten's J sister, resides. Mr. Eaton, 
 as the principal American Merchant in the 
 place, — has become wealthy, and intends this 
 summer to return to Mass. and take up his 
 permanent residence. This island belongs to the 
 Dutch, and is manned by one company of 
 Dutch and one of Malay, with 4 heavy Can- 
 non. We passed over a bridge, and were per- 
 mitted to visit the Fort, barracks, etc. but as 
 the Governor was taking his afternoon nap — 
 we were obliged to be our own guides. We 
 found everything in the neatest order, and 
 would have done credit to our Navy Yards. As 
 our time was very short, we had to hurry, and 
 therefore could not examine everything per- 
 fectly. We then recrossed the Canal, and found 
 the only shop in the place tended by three 
 Chinamen, but owned and under the direction 
 of " Penn." There we found everything in 
 " European Style." After taking a glass of 
 wine, by the Captain's invitation, we walked 
 down the main road lined on one side by fine 
 
 1 George W. Patten, of the firm of Jamea Patten & Co., 
 Importers, 40 South Market Street, Boston. 
 
HENRY BLANEY 43 
 
 Dutch buildings surrounded by Gardens, and 
 on the other by the seashore, where we saw a 
 bath house with the letters of " Bath House 
 for Ladies & Gentlemen " upon it. This walk 
 was about the width, before it sloped to the 
 shore, of Broadway — N. Yk., and in fine order. 
 We walked about a quarter mile, and came 
 round to the stairs through the Malay portion 
 of the village. We found the streets very nar- 
 row, the houses, small, low and some of them 
 in poor condition. We saw a few Cocoa Nut 
 trees, with tame Buffaloes grazing under them, 
 as quietly as cows, and here and there a miser- 
 able looking dog who looked as though 't would 
 take half dozen of them to lean against a tree 
 to get up a bark. We passed through a num- 
 ber of low sheds which was called their market 
 — the principal article for sale seemed to be 
 the Betel nut, which is chewed by the natives 
 the same as Europeans chew tobacco. We 
 found a great many things to excite our curi- 
 osity about a brick building in the course of 
 erection. We found no one at work, as it is a 
 custom there to work early in the morning and 
 late in the afternoon, to avoid the hot sun. 
 
44 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 Instead, like the Europeans, building their stag- 
 ing on the outside, they build theirs on the 
 inside which looks most as awkward as com- 
 mencing at the top and building down. As we 
 passed the houses some of the occupants would 
 bring articles to sell, and I saw a pair of China 
 Tea pots offered to one of the ladies for 75 
 cents. After examining a few of the strange 
 sights, we passed on our way to the landing 
 and noticed some women with a child in one 
 arm, and leading a monkey with a string, and 
 it occurred to me that the monkeys received 
 more attention than the children, who are left 
 to wander where they wished, some of them en- 
 tirely naked. Having arrived at the boat, we 
 put off for the ship and found all our stores 
 hoisted on board, which was expeditiously done 
 in the short space of an hour. The boat was 
 hoisted in with the Ladies, the mate directed 
 to get sail on the ship and weigh the anchor ; 
 which was accomplished in a short time, and 
 we passed on our way up the Java Sea be- 
 tween two small Islands called the "But- 
 ton" and "Cap," — with a strong 10 knot 
 breeze. 
 
HENRY BLANEY 45 
 
 May 31. Fine 10 knot breeze up the Java 
 Sea — At daylight discovered 2 sail ahead of 
 us, one an English ship which had been be- 
 calmed at Anjer about a week. She was filled 
 with English Troops bound for Hong Kong, 
 the same port as ourselves. At sundown, it be- 
 ing impossible to make the entrance to Gaspar 
 Strait, anchored till morning. 
 
 June 1. Sunday. At sunrise, discovered 
 land ahead, which proved to be an Island at 
 the entrance of Gaspar Straits ; got under 
 weigh, and passed through with a 12 knot 
 breeze and 4 knot current against us, in com- 
 pany with an English Opium Brig. Clipper. 
 Just before we got to the entrance of the 
 Straits, the Leadsman in the main channel 
 cried out 5 fathoms water (30 feet). This took 
 us all aback — as our vessel draws about 20 
 feet. The Capt. instantly ordered the helm 
 hard up, and the water soon deepened to 6 — 
 7 — 10 — 15 fathoms. We stood that course 
 about two miles, and then steered our course 
 again through the Straits. We soon came up to 
 the Brig, passed her about half mile off, and 
 at sun set she was hull down. At noon passed 
 
46 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 on the east side Gaspar Island, and within a 
 quarter of a mile. 
 
 June, 2. Fine day — Thermometer 99 at 
 noon — with a seven knot breeze. 
 
 June 3. Passed West Island, on the west 
 side. Near this place is where a Swedish Brig, 
 about a year since, was attacked by Malay Pi- 
 rates in three boats ; — two of them were sunk 
 by cannon shots, and a good breeze springing 
 up — she ran over and sunk the third. About 
 noon we were becalmed, and as is customary 
 with vessels bound up the China Sea, the pow- 
 der was got out ; our two cannon were shotted 
 and ready in case of emergency. This precau- 
 tion was deemed necessary, more to satisfy the 
 Insurance Companies in case of loss, than for 
 self-preservation. 
 
 June 4' Wind calm — Thermometer 90 de- 
 grees — but felt much warmer as the weather 
 was sultry. My health A. No. 1. Face getting 
 quite moon like. Hark there is the dinner bell 
 — expect to have one of the turtles which was 
 procured at Anjer served up today — one, the 
 Capt. is going to keep for dinner on the 4th. 
 July, and has invited me to come down to 
 
HENRY BLANEY 47 
 
 Whampoa — 12 miles from Canton, where the 
 vessel lays, to partake — The people told the 
 Sexton and the Sexton tolled the bell. 
 
 " Dinner ready, Jfassa Bany ; Turtle git- 
 tin* cold." 
 
 June 5. Crew busy scrubbing paint inside 
 and outside. Decks to be scrubbed and holy 
 stoned, rigging tarred down, and the hull to 
 be painted outside, to look well when we 
 arrive in port. Saw a great many snakes 
 such as I have described — floating by on 
 the top of the water — some three or four feet 
 long. 
 
 June 6. Still calm ; only made 45 miles. 
 Saw a number Cuttle fish floating by, the bone 
 of which is frequently given to Canary birds. 
 
 June 7. Vessel did not move at all last 
 night, and at 9 a.m. was going only one knot. 
 Thermometer at 10 a.m. in the shade, 98 de- 
 grees, — getting towards China weather. 
 
 June 8. Sunday. Very pleasant weather. 
 Towards noon, little breeze from the west — 
 made only twenty two miles. 
 
 June 9. Still calm. 
 
 June 10. Fine breeze sprang up varying at 
 
48 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 times from the S.W. to S.S.E ; — made 180 
 miles. 
 
 June 11. Same wind — with frequent heavy 
 squalls. Some of them the Capt. said, were the 
 heaviest he ever saw. I took a shower bath this 
 evening, which was very fine. The water was 
 very luminous, and as it was thrown over me 
 it seemed like one sheet of fire. The vessel's 
 path was one broad track of light, and to 
 heighten the interest of the phenomenon, 
 crowds of porpoises were playing about in dif- 
 ferent directions, their tracks a living flame. 
 They would shoot out, and leave a train of 
 light thirty feet ; now darting back and pursu- 
 ing each other round and round, till the path 
 appeared a tangled skein of light. 
 
 June 12. Going the same rate with a fresh 
 breeze directly aft, passed at sunrise three 
 Chinese Junks bound to Canton. We were 
 not near enough to speak them — they were 
 going about 4 knots while we were going 
 10 knots. This evening a large bird of the 
 duck species flew on board, probably attracted 
 by our binnacle light. It was called a booby. 
 We fastened a placard round its neck with the 
 
HENRY BLANEY 49 
 
 ship's name, and when and where taken, then 
 let him go. 
 
 June 13. Capt. took an observation at 12 m. 
 and found we had made 185 miles — 190 miles 
 from an Island called the " Asses Ears," and 
 230 miles from Hong Kong. Our barometer 
 had fallen from 29.65 to 29.30, the lowest since 
 we had been out, which indicated a heavy 
 storm. The skysail and royal yards were sent 
 down, and towards sundown it began to blow 
 fresh from the S.W. Double reefs were taken 
 in all the three topsails, all the other sails 
 furled and everything made snug. 
 
 June lJf. Still blowing fresh. Just before 
 daybreak had a very severe shower — at sun- 
 rise the wind increased to a hurricane ; we lay 
 to under close reefed topsails till noon, when 
 the wind moderated, and we stood in shore; 
 we made land about sundown, but as the heav- 
 ens still show signs of a blow, Capt. thought it 
 advisable to tack ship and stand off. He short- 
 ened sail so as to run about a knot an hour. 
 
 June 15. Sunday. At sunrise, still blowing 
 fresh and raining — laid to till noon, when we 
 stood in shore again, anxious to get a pilot. 
 
50 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 The Capt. would not have had any fear of 
 running in close to land if he had a pilot, but 
 thought it hazardous to risk it without one. 
 The pilots are frequently seen 20 miles from 
 land, but as it had been blowing heavy a num- 
 ber of days, were afraid to venture out. We 
 made the " Asses Ears " again, this p.m. Stood 
 in to within 20 miles of it, but at sundown no 
 pilot in sight — tacked ship and stood off 
 again. 
 
 June 16. At midnight cleared off and the 
 moon came out. Clear and bright ; stood in 
 for land and at day break it clouded up again, 
 and looked as though we were to have a repe- 
 tition of yesterday's weather. At 8 o'clk a.m. 
 made the land again, at the distance of 20 
 miles. We felt quite encouraged at the pros- 
 pect of getting a pilot, and of soon seeing Hong 
 Kong, but were doomed to continued disap- 
 pointment. At 11 a.m. a dead calm ; sent up 
 our royal and sky sail yards to get the benefit 
 of the best breeze. At 12 M. the sun just dis- 
 cernible. Capt. took a sight and found us to 
 be 10 miles from land, — but it was cloudy 
 and could not see it. 
 
HENRY BLANEY 51 
 
 June 17. Little breeze sprang up and we 
 stood in, hoping to get sight at a fisherman or 
 pilot. Our hopes began to diminish, when the 
 mate from the top gallant forecastle discovered 
 a boat putting towards us, this was quite en- 
 couraging and we stood for it, but a squall 
 sprang up and added to our innumerable mis- 
 fortunes by shutting it out from our view. Soon 
 it cleared up, and made out the boat about a 
 mile ahead, hove to for us to come up, when 
 they threw us a line, and one of the party came 
 on board, dressed in India rubber pants, thin 
 black linen frock, and a large bamboo hat 
 shaped like a parasol. He shew the Capt. his 
 book of recommendations, and waited quietly 
 for him to state his wishes. The conversation 
 was as follows — Capt., " you take ship in 
 Hong Kong" — Pilot, "very well — I take 
 you in." Capt., " How much you charge ? " 
 Pilot, " How much you pay last time?" Capt., 
 " Fifteen dollars " — Pilot, " very good — I 
 take you safe," he manifested considerable 
 shrewdness, and I was surprised to see how 
 intelligent he was. 
 
 As we neared the land we noticed several 
 
52 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 vessels coming out, bound to Shanghae — Cal- 
 ifornia and England. The Islands look splen- 
 didly with the setting sun shining upon them, 
 and had the appearance of copper. We ran in 
 to within a stone's throw of one called the 
 Camel's Island, which looked beautiful with a 
 heavy stream of water running down from the 
 top of the rock. The wind dying away but the 
 tide setting in, we kept on our course between 
 the Islands, although a number of ships had 
 run under the land, and anchored. 
 
 June 18. Just before daybreak, we noticed 
 lights ahead on shore, which our pilot informed 
 us was Hong Kong, and at daybreak we an- 
 chored within a half dozen ship's lengths from 
 the shore. It was a pleasant sight to us after 
 being knocked round on the water for 92 days. 
 Soon a boat came off, and Geo. Haskell — son 
 of Coolidge & Haskell, Boston, and brother in 
 Law of Henry Burdett, Boston, jumped on 
 board, and I was glad to see him looking so 
 finely. Instead of our bringing him the paper 
 of the latest dates, March 13th., he shew us 
 one of 8th of April, and in it I noticed addi- 
 tional trouble with the negroes of Boston, and 
 
HENRY BLANEY 53 
 
 Fletcher Webster being arrested for stopping 
 a watchman from ringing a bell, etc. 
 
 At 8 a.m. went on shore in a Sampan Boat 
 pulled by 2 women, which work is nearly all 
 done by them. Presented my letter of intro- 
 duction to the Am. Consul, F. T. Bush, Esq., 
 a Boston gentleman, but who had resided in 
 Hong Kong for the last 8 years, who soon made 
 me feel at home, and kindly invited me to stop 
 and dine with him, which I accepted. Mr. 
 Schwermann, the resident partner of Wolcott 
 Bates & Co., Canton, had been waiting there 
 for me 3 or 4 days, and had the day before 
 started for Canton and left instructions for me 
 to join him as soon as possible, as he was very 
 busy and needed assistance. By the advice of 
 Mr. Bush, stopped at his house that night, and 
 at 8 the next morning [June 19] started for 
 Canton in the steamer, as I was fearful the 
 ship would be detained by calms on the way 
 up. At 5 p.m. steamer arrived at Canton. 
 Small boats were immediately along side, eager 
 to take us ashore, and in a few moments more, 
 with my trunk, I was dodging from one line of 
 junks to another in a tanka boat similar to a 
 
54 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 Sampan, with a screened apartment in the Cen- 
 tre, and propelled by two women, now with 
 oars and now with long bamboo poles, and now 
 with hands as they seized the sides of a line of 
 anchored vessels riding in the stream, until we 
 reached the stone steps in the garden, and op- 
 posite the American Hongs — otherwise called 
 the factories. 
 
 I soon found my future home, and intro- 
 duced myself to Mr. Schwermann, whom I 
 found quite a gentleman, and soon I felt as 
 much at home as though I had resided there 
 some time. 
 
 Our house is a new four story brick build- 
 ing, about the size of your main house, with 
 the exception of ours being a story higher ; and 
 furnished as fine as any house I have seen in 
 Boston. I found my room all ready, and fur- 
 nished at the expense of the House, — all the 
 furniture being made of Camphor Wood which 
 is very fine. There are at present stopping with 
 us, 1 Spanish Gent., the Owner of a ship wh. 
 we are loading for Manila, 1 German Capt., 
 and a Mr. Rice, a Boston Gent., nephew of the 
 Burroughs, who used to reside in Hollis St. 
 
HENRY BLANEY 55 
 
 June 19 {and later). At dinner, which is at 31 
 o'clk, Mr. Schwermann took his seat at one 
 end of the table and placed me opposite him, 
 as my future seat to assist him in doing the 
 honors. The 3 Portuguese under clerks — dine 
 at an earlier hour and at another table. I 
 never saw a table better provided for or better 
 waited upon — by six Chinese servants sur- 
 passing any I have seen in the U.S. 
 
 The sensation of awakening for the first 
 time in a strange place is usually a disagree- 
 able one with me, — there is an unfamiliar 
 newness of everything around and an absence 
 of Old Associations, and it has caused me to 
 feel, ever since I have arrived, very blue, but 
 think I shall feel differently when I become 
 acquainted with the manners and customs of 
 the place. 
 
 The mosquitoes never seem to tire of me, 
 and despise such proverbs as " Too much of a 
 good thing " or " Enough is as good as a 
 feast," — even now while I am writing I am 
 duly armed with a towel whirling round my 
 head — whack, whack, — to keep off the tor- 
 mentors. You can imagine what quantity of 
 
56 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 resolution and perseverance — whack, whack, 
 — I take to pen you these lines. 
 
 I have made several visits outside the Fac- 
 tory walls to the Chinese shops, and found a 
 great many interesting things. I visited a por- 
 trait room, and saw some very fine paintings 
 and portraits — the Chinese are considered 
 fine copyists 1 and copy a picture, or take a 
 portrait very faithfully. I heard a story of one 
 of them, — A lady was having her portrait 
 drawn ; as the work proceeded she expressed 
 her strong disapprobation at the performance. 
 " S'pose," said the painter, " you smile a little, 
 he lookee better " — 't was useless, for when 
 the pigeon — (difficult for the Chinese to pro- 
 nounce business, and they substitute the Anglo- 
 Chinese) — was done, her indignation was so 
 great and so disagreeably expressed that the 
 irritated artist exclaimed, " If handsome face 
 no got, how handsome can make ? " 
 
 The effect of seeing the better class of 
 Chinese, the Brokers, who are dressed in pure 
 
 1 Mr. Blaney later commissioned a Chinese artist to make 
 for him a portrait of Lady Blessington. This painting is 
 now in the possession of his son, Mr. Dwight Blaney, of 
 Boston. 
 
HENRY BLANEY 57 
 
 white dresses reaching to the ground, is very- 
 singular, and they might be taken for monkeys, 
 but for the different locality of their tails' ori- 
 gin. 
 
 I have not seen any of the Chinese Ladies, 
 but have passed them in their covered chairs 
 or Palanquins. They live entirely excluded 
 from foreign eyes. They have a queer habit 
 on retiring to rest, of softening their nails in 
 warm water, and then winding round their 
 wrists to prevent being injured. 
 
 The men and women are great opium smok- 
 ers, but the upper class here smoke in secret — 
 just as many an old lady at home takes a quiet 
 Cordial, and throws the blame of a consequent 
 red nose upon the effects of the Sun. 
 
 It may be interesting to you for me to note 
 the 10 commandments of the Buddhists — the 
 Chinese principal religion — the first five being 
 obligatory upon the people — the last five upon 
 the priesthood only. 
 
 1st — Do not kill animals. 
 2nd — Do not steal. 
 3rd — Do not commit adultery. 
 4th — Do not tell lies. 
 
58 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 5th — Do not drink ardent spirits. 
 6th — Do not rise before daylight. 
 7th — Do not eat anything from midday 
 
 till past midnight. 
 8th — Do not sleep on a place more than 
 
 one cubit high. 
 9th — Do not anoint your body with frag- 
 rant oil or powder. 
 10th — Do not look at a female, nor at 
 
 theatrical exhibitions. 
 The "Samuel Russell" will probably leave 
 Whampoa, 12 miles below Canton — on the 
 1st of July, and I find the time very short as 
 I am very busy, and must leave out consider- 
 able which I wish to write you, and will post- 
 pone it till some future occasion. 
 
 This, Dear Sally, I send you thinking it 
 might be interesting, or for future reference ; 
 you will no doubt find some difficulty in mak- 
 ing out some of this writing, but if you come 
 across any tough words, skip them and jump 
 at conclusions. 
 
 Tell George I want him to be sure and write 
 me every chance he can get — he must not be 
 fearful of writing too large a one, as the ex- 
 
HENRY BLANEY 59 
 
 pense by vessel is nothing, and he had better 
 take all parcels to Geo. Patten in South Mar- 
 ket St., as he has kindly offered to forward any 
 packages to me by first vessel. 
 
 I trust that you and the rest will not forget 
 to write me occasionally, and keep me posted 
 up in the current events of the day. 
 
 Capt. Bradbury, 1 I am sorry to find, does 
 not come here from California, but goes to 
 Shanghae — Therefore do not expect to see 
 him this voyage. 
 
 I shall keep up a regular correspondence with 
 Joseph and hope soon to hear from or see him. 
 I wrote you from Anjer and left it to be sent 
 by the first vessel bound home. And also to 
 Joseph Whitney — (shall write to him again) 
 and also to Geo. Patten from here. 
 
 Tell Mother I will send her the present I 
 promised in time for the warm weather next 
 summer, as if I sent it now it would not reach 
 her till Oct., and would not be of service then. 
 
 Give my regards to Molly and the rest of 
 
 1 Captain Bradbury was one of the old captains in the 
 China trade, and commanded the N. B. Palmer for one voy- 
 age. Later he was a commander in the Pacific Mail Steam- 
 ship Company for many years. 
 
60 HEXRY BLAXEY 
 
 the gals — and tell them I will send a " Cum- 
 shaw'* — present — one of these days, and also 
 to Boh Bob if he is a good boy. 
 
 My regards to David — William — Charles 
 and George, and should be pleased to receive 
 a line from them at any time. 
 
 Tell Abby I should not be surprised to see 
 her boy grown up and out this way before I 
 come back ! — 
 
 In short give my regards to all enquiring 
 friends, and apologize on account of abrupt 
 departure to those whom I failed to call upon. 
 
 By this same conveyance shall write a line 
 to Father. 
 
 From your affectionate Brother, 
 
 HJE2TRY. 
 
 As it is impossible for you to send "Spry" to 
 me at present, I hope soon to have him with 
 me as those kind of dogs are a great prize here. 
 Ask. if agreeable, to send a wag of his tail, 
 and give him an extra bone to polish at my 
 expense. 
 
 I have just opened a keg Cranberries which 
 was sent out by Mr. Wolcott in the " Samuel 
 

 HENRY BLAXEY 61 
 
 Russell" to Mr. Sehwermann — The water had 
 leaked out and they were consequently de- 
 stroyed. It was unfortunate, as they would 
 have been a great treat here. 
 
 Please excuse the horrid state in which I 
 send this, but I am much pressed for time and 
 cannot copy it. 
 
 22 days to the Line. 
 
 50 " " " Cape Good Hope. 
 
 64 " " St. Paul's. 
 
 77 " " Anjer. 
 
 92 " " Hong-Kong. 
 
JOURNAL FROM SHANGHAE TO 
 NEW YORK 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 FROM SHANGHAE TO NEW YORK 
 SHIP "MANDARIN" 
 
 CAPTAIN T. C. STODDARD 
 
 February 18, 1853 
 
 LEFT Shanghae in a Chinese fast boat in 
 company with Saml. Robertson, Esq., and 
 J. Lord, Jr., for the ship "Mandarin" which 
 had gone down to Wosung the day previous. 
 About a mile from Wosung finding Mr. Lord 
 slightly tinged with the blues, Mr. R. called 
 his boat alongside and he and myself got into 
 it leaving Mr. L. alone, stretched in an arm 
 chair with an inclination to sleep. Soon after 
 going on board Mr. R.'s boat, his boy spread 
 a clean napkin upon the bed, with cold mutton 
 chops, Beer, etc. of which we partook ; our ap- 
 petites being nicely set. At 1\ o'clk arrived 
 at Wosung, and went on board the Opium Ship 
 " Science " Capt. Roundy, whom we found on 
 
66 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 board together with C. W. Orne, and C. M. 
 Moulton, Esqes., who had just finished their 
 dinner and had been waiting for us. The wine 
 was passed round, songs sung, healths drunk, 
 etc. until 10 o'clk when after wishing all good- 
 bye, with a pleasant and speedy Voyage in re- 
 turn, started in company with S. Robertson, 
 Esq., for the Ship " Mandarin " wh. lay about 
 three miles below the shipping, where we ar- 
 rived safe. The wind blowing very fresh ac- 
 companied with Snow and Hail, Mr. R., after 
 wishing me a speedy voyage, returned to the 
 " Science " with a fair wind. I turned in soon 
 after arriving on board and arose the next 
 morning at 8 o'clk. The weather still very cold 
 with an occasional squall of snow. 
 
 At 3 p.m. at first of ebb tide made sail and 
 hove up our anchors. A strong N. Wester 
 blowing at 6 p.m. The Chinese pilot refusing 
 to take the responsibility of going out that 
 night, advised the Capt. to anchor till morning, 
 but he not being so inclined, hove to, discharged 
 the pilot, and started again to go outside ; but 
 at 8 o'clk finding it very dark, thought it best 
 to anchor. 
 
HENRY BLANEY 67 
 
 February 19. Hove up anchor at 6 a.m. and 
 at 7, passed out by Gutzlaff and between the 
 Islands, weather very cold, strong N.W. wind. 
 
 February 20. Lat. 30.31 ; Long. 122.32 ; 
 Strong N.W. wind and very cold; made this 
 24 hours, 12 knots an hour. Chinese New 
 Year. 
 
 February 21. Lat. 27.07 ; Long. 121.07. 
 Wind still blowing strong from the N.W. At 
 4 p.m. passed a bark sunk with all her masts 
 standing, 4 or 5 ft. above water, supposed to 
 have sunk recently. 
 
 February 22. Sunday. Wind changed to 
 the N.E. and blowing fresh, the Air feeling 
 much warmer. Washington's memory was not 
 forgotten. Lat. 23.55 ; Long. 118.15. 
 
 February 23. Lat. 21.30 ; Long. 115. Air 
 quite warm ; at 5 p.m. passed a ship and Bk. 
 The Bark passed within a pistol shot. At 8 
 a.m. saw a ship standing across our bows ; sup- 
 posed to be a whaler bound for Hong Kong. 
 An hour after she was hull down astern. At 
 noon we were within 65 miles of H. Kong. 
 
 February 2fy. Arose at daylight, went on 
 deck and took a salt water bath. The first I 
 
68 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 had seen of salt water for 6 months. The bath 
 was truly delicious. Dressed in thin flannels 
 and summer clothes. The thermometer had 
 risen the last five days 60 degrees — and quite 
 a contrast to what it then was at Shanghae. 
 
 February 25. Lat. 15.40 ; Long. 113.28. 
 This noon find we are about 1200 miles from 
 Shanghae, having averaged since we left about 
 200 miles. 
 
 Wind very light from the N.E. 
 
 February 26. Arose at Sunrise and took a 
 salt water bath on deck ; weather very fine 
 with light winds ; saw large schools flying fish ; 
 Capt. Stoddard complaining of a sick head- 
 ache. I am very much pleased with him ; think 
 him a very gentlemanly man, kind to his men 
 and tries to make every one comfortable around 
 him. The passengers who came out with him 
 the last voyage are very much pleased with 
 him and he also with them ; particularly with 
 Miss Lydia Nye of Fairhaven, Mass., and Mrs. 
 Gideon Nye, Jr. The names of the other pas- 
 sengers were Rev. Mr. Washburn, an Episco- 
 palian, settled in Newburyport, Mr. Geo. Mun- 
 roe, Jr., formerly a broker in Exchange St., 
 
HENRY BLANEY 69 
 
 Boston, with his wife and two children and 
 Miss Linsley of Washington, second cousin of 
 Danl. Webster. Also two servant girls, one of 
 whom died ten days after her arrival in Shang- 
 hae, of consumption ; from a cold contracted 
 on Shipboard. Mr. Washburn, Mrs. G. Nye, 
 Jr., and Mrs. Munroe are brother and sisters, 
 and children of Abiel Washburn, Esq., Dry 
 Goods Merchant of Boston. Mr. Washburn 
 was a man about 32 years of age and was a 
 jolly parson ; he had presided over a congre- 
 gation in Newburyport about seven years and 
 possessed no property but a salary from the So- 
 ciety of $800. As his sisters were coming out 
 to China and he being tired of his society, Mr. 
 Gideon Nye, Jr., who is wealthy, offered to 
 pay all his expenses out and home overland 
 through Egypt if he would join them, which 
 he concluded to do. During the passage out 
 and for want of something to employ his leisure 
 was very attentive to Miss Linsley and before 
 he arrived out proposed to her and was ac- 
 cepted. This was kept secret at Shanghae as 
 Miss L. did not wish her Aunt Mrs. P. Parker 
 at Canton to be informed of it, as Mrs. Parker 
 
70 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 imported her from the States and intended her 
 for Mr. Moore. 
 
 About three weeks after the arrival of the 
 party they all took passage for Macao in the 
 Bark " Antelope," Capt. Potter ; but just 
 previous to sailing the Rev. at a supper given 
 by Capt. Endicott of the Opium Ship " Snipe " 
 at Wosung happened to get " how came you 
 so " over a glass of old " Jamaica " and blew 
 the whole affair of the engagement ; this was 
 " Nuts " for the people in Shanghae and a 
 story in China never loses strength by Circu- 
 lation. Capt. Stoddard says the Rev. was a 
 talented man and a jolly companion and no 
 more use as a Christian than a " towline in a 
 ten knot breeze " ; Steward says he would 
 drink his " three fingers six times a day." One 
 can judge of the quantities of wines and liquors 
 drank coming out, by the extra bill for those 
 alone, paid at Shanghae, amounting to $400. 
 
 Mr. Geo. Munroe goes out to Nye, Parkin 
 & Co., Canton, as clerk, but Capt. S. thinks it 
 doubtful if Mr. M. stays there more than a 
 year. 
 
 February 29. Sunday. Lat. 09.07 ; Long. 
 
HENRY BLANEY 71 
 
 110. — Last night it being very warm slept 
 on the house and was very comfortable. At 4 
 a.m. a breeze sprung up from the N.E. and at 
 11 a.m. was going 9 knots. Made this day 81 
 miles, passed a quantity of floating wood and 
 weeds, and shellfish. Saw a live Crab floating 
 on a piece of wood and bound North, probably 
 to Canton to celebrate the Chinese New Year. 
 March 1. Lat. 6.18; Long. 109.06 first 
 day of Spring. Thermometer 85 degrees. At 
 1 p.m. a slight shower. After Tea this even- 
 ing Capt. Stoddard related me a circumstance 
 which happened when he was in the Ship 
 "Carrington," John Brown & Co's Ship, Lewis 
 Whf. (Mr. Brown was lost in the "Lexing- 
 ton ") Capt. Robt. Soule and Mr. Scholfield 
 partners — Capt. Stoddard was sent out by 
 them to China from England, with a credit of 
 £100,000 on Baring, Bros. & Co. London, 
 and was instructed by them to purchase Car- 
 goes of Teas for three Ships for the U.S. Soon 
 after Capt. S. left England, a ship arrived 
 from China (there being no overland mails 
 then) bringing the account of disastrous prices 
 for Tea then ruling ; in consequence of which 
 
72 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 Baring, Bros. & Co., sent out a yacht to China 
 to annul the Letter of credit but did not arrive 
 until Capt. S. had left although he stopped at 
 Manila several days. Upon Capt. S's arrival in 
 Manila was consigned to Paine, Strieker & 
 Co., and from Mr. Gordon Reed (one of the 
 partners) he learned of the state of the Tea 
 Market in China. He at once saw ruin staring 
 in the faces of the Owners by following their 
 instructions in purchasing the three cargoes. 
 He shew Mr. Reed his instructions and asked 
 his advice ? but Mr. R. saw no possible way 
 to evade them, there it was written in full 
 " to purchase three cargoes of Tea at the most 
 favorable prices " and at the same time he saw 
 that if he did follow their instructions it would 
 be at a sacrifice in the U.S. to the owners of 
 $300,000 : He did not know what to do ; he 
 was at his wit's end, and almost distracted ; 
 but at last concluded to take the responsibility 
 and send home two of the ships from Manila 
 with Sugar and Hemp and proceed with his 
 own Ship to Canton where he found the state 
 of the market much worse than the accounts 
 were at Manila. He called upon David Jardine 
 
HENRY BLANEY 73 
 
 for his advice in the matter and he told him 
 he could see no possible way to avoid his in- 
 structions, but tol$ him " it was a dead ruin if 
 he sent Teas at that time to the U.S." Finally 
 Capt. S. concluded to take still more responsi- 
 bility and send the ship home in Ballast. 
 Meanwhile Messrs. Brown & Co. were in a 
 deplorable state knowing that Capt. S. had 
 his written instructions to purchase those Teas 
 and would not dare to do differently, Mr. 
 Brown being in England at the time would 
 ask Mr. Bates of Baring, Bros. & Co. what he 
 thought Capt. S. would do? he told him he 
 could not do differently than to buy the Tea. 
 Mr. Brown was in Boston when Capt. S. ar- 
 rived and expected of course to find himself 
 ruined, but when Capt. S. told him he had not 
 purchased a lb. of tea it was a joyful time for 
 all interested, and what was still better, the 
 two cargoes of Hemp and Sugar paid a profit, 
 and one of them 120,000. 
 
 March 2. Lat. 4.16 N. Long. 108.46 very 
 little wind today and very warm. At noon had 
 a shower of rain. By the Chronometer found 
 we were only 30 miles N.E. Great Natunas 
 
74 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 but owing to a thick fog, was not visible. At 
 8 bells saw a clipper barque beating to the 
 Northward. Supposed to be the " Race Horse " 1 
 from Bombay. At Sundown passed Flat Island 
 where the " Mary Ellen," Capt. Dearborn, was 
 lost three years ago. 
 
 March 3. Lat. 2.52 Long. 108.10 Wind 
 nearly calm. Since noon we had been on the 
 lookout for Gt. Natunas, although we were by 
 observation only 30 miles from it, and 2 p.m. 
 steered directly for it and the mate (Mr. Han- 
 son) was directed to get one of the anchors 
 over the bow and " light up " 50 fathoms chain. 
 At 5 o'clk could just discern the mountain 
 upon the Island, which before was not visible 
 owing to the fog. At Sundown the Island bore 
 directly W. 
 
 March 4- At daylight could just discern the 
 mountain astern of us and Low Island on the 
 Starboard bow, so called from it being much 
 lower than the other Islands around it, although 
 it was a high land extending about two degrees 
 
 1 " Bark Racehorse, — 512 tons, owned by Goddard & 
 Co., Boston, built by Sam'l Hall at East Boston " (see also 
 Notes). 
 
HENRY BLANEY 75 
 
 North and South sloping evenly to the water 
 on both sides. At 4 p.m. came up with Tam- 
 belan Islands. A rock about 15 miles North of 
 the island rises two hundred ft. from the water, 
 of the size of a ship, separated in two nearly to 
 the water's edge, by a large gap from which the 
 rock takes its name. At noon passed the Tambe- 
 lan Island and about Sundown Green Island 
 bore West. Our course was South. The Borneo 
 Coast was distinctly visible nearly all day. 
 
 March 5. At 4 a.m. St. Barbe bore N.W. 
 distance 20 miles — run this day 103 miles. 
 At 5 a.m. passed Belvedere Shoal where about 
 5 years since the Eng. Ship "Staffordshire" 
 struck. She was from Shanghae with a cargo 
 of Silk and Tea valued at a million and a half 
 dollars. Soon after she struck the Ship " Gen. 
 Harrison" from Boston for Manila hove in 
 sight and took off all the Officers and Crew. 
 The Capt. of the "Staffordshire" told the 
 Capt. of the " G.H " what a valuable cargo he 
 had on board and as he had abandoned her, 
 advised him to anchor within a | of a mile and 
 fill his ship which was in ballast, with at least 
 the bales of raw Silk as there was at least 
 
76 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 $800,000 worth, and his salvage would be | of 
 ^ of the whole Value ; his Owners receiving the 
 other | ; but he refused, as he said he should 
 lose his character if he should stop for any of 
 the cargo and should happen to get on shore 
 before he arrived at Manila. He was blamed 
 very much by the merchants of Manila for not 
 filling his ship with her Cargo, as it would have 
 netted his owners at least $400,000. As soon 
 as it was made known at Manila, a vessel 
 started for the Wreck but found she had en- 
 tirely broken up. At sunrise the faint outlines 
 of Gaspar Island could be seen and as we were 
 running with a free wind 6 knots, by daylight 
 were within 15 miles of it on our starboard 
 bow. This is the Island where Capt. Gordon 
 landed from the "Memnon" 1 on Pulo Leat. 
 About 15 miles S.W. of the Island is a Shoal 
 on which Capt. Gordon ran the "Paul Jones" 2 
 
 1 " The Memnon, 1068 tons, owned by Warren Delano, 
 was built by Smith & Dimon in 1848." She was " the only 
 clipper ship to make the voyage to San Francisco prior to 
 1850, . . . under Captain George Gordon." 
 
 2 " The Paul Jones, of 620 tons, built by Waterman & 
 Elwell at Medford in 1842, was owned by John H. Forbes 
 and Russell & Co. of China. ... In 1848 this ship made 
 the run from Java Head to New York in 76 days." 
 
HENRY BLANEY 77 
 
 four years ago, but succeeded in getting her off 
 after throwing overboard | of her cargo. Be- 
 tween Gaspar Island and the Hammocks at 
 equal distance lies a rock about twice the length 
 of a ship and upon each end a tree, which can 
 be seen long before the rock is in view and 
 which, as Capt. Stoddard says, have stood as 
 long as the rock has been known. About a 
 mile off the Southern end of Gaspar Island is 
 a large rock connecting with the main land by 
 a reef of rocks. Close in by this rock by the 
 aid of a glass I could distinctly see a number of 
 Malay Proas or boats which were probably filled 
 with Malay Pirates waiting for some unfortu- 
 nate Ship which was becalmed. It may have 
 been fortunate for us we were going 8 knots. 
 A few miles to the leeward of us is a shoal 
 where Capt. Dumaresq ran the " Akbar" 1 as 
 he was beating down in company with an Eng- 
 lish Ship, and succeeded in getting off with the 
 loss of his keel. At 8 a.m. was abreast of the 
 
 1 " . . . the Akbar, a ship of 650 tons, built by Samuel 
 Hall in East Boston in 1839, for John M. Forbes, and others, 
 . . . Later, she was commanded by Captain Philip Dumaresq, 
 who made a number of rapid passages in her to and from 
 China." 
 
78 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 Hammocks on the Island of Banca (where the 
 celebrated Tin is produced) in Gaspar Straits, 
 and an hour after entered Macclesfield Straits. 
 March 6. At 10 a.m. was abreast of Pulo 
 Leat and could distinctly see the spot where 
 Capt. Gordon ran " Memnon " ashore four 
 months since. He was beating down through 
 the Straits and was warned by his mate Mr. 
 Fisher that he was standing too near in shore, 
 and Capt. G.'s reply was, " he knew his busi- 
 ness " — ten minutes after she struck. Capt. 
 G. found it was impossible to get her off, and 
 he with his wife and crew took to the boats — 
 (the Malay pirates swarming up one side while 
 they were going over the other,) — and started 
 for Gaspar Island which lay 25 miles north. 
 The next day Mr. Fisher (mate) with one of 
 the boats and a pair of sails with part of the 
 crew started for Singapore bearing N.W. dis- 
 tance 300 miles. The first days run was 156 
 miles and two days after arrived at Singapore 
 where he reported the loss of the " Memnon." 
 A vessel was sent for Capt. Gordon but he had 
 put off 8 days after Mr. Fisher in the other 
 boat for a ship which was coming down through 
 
HENRY BLANEY 79 
 
 the straits bound for Singapore where he and 
 his wife and crew arrived without any further 
 accident. By the following mail Capt. G and 
 wife started overland to Boston where they 
 belonged. This Island Pulo Leat has been the 
 cause of a great many shipwrecks. It stands 
 directly in the Centre of the passage through 
 which a 5 knot current is constantly running, 
 changing its direction once in six months with 
 the Monsoon. The passage is about two miles 
 wide and bounded on the opposite side by shoals. 
 Two Frigates were also lost upon this Island a 
 few years since, (one English and one French) 
 named the " Alceste" and "Amelia." At noon 
 we were fairly in the Java Sea and at sundown 
 the Islands in and around Gaspar Straits were 
 out of sight astern. This p.m. saw a large snake 
 swimming on top of the water, which are nu- 
 merous in this sea. 
 
 March 7. Sunday. At 4 a.m. passed two 
 ships supposed to belong to the Dutch Com- 
 pany, at anchor. They are instructed by this 
 Company if the wind is ahead always to an- 
 chor and not attempt to pass through the 
 Straits of Sunda. At daybreak two rocks 
 
80 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 called the Brothers which lay at the entrance of 
 the Straits of Sunda, " hove in sight," and also 
 the coast of Sumatra which lay about 14 miles 
 westward. "We could distinctly see the trees 
 upon the Coast, and long before daylight a fine 
 perfume came off the land which was delicious. 
 We sailed all this forenoon with a fine 8 knot 
 breeze, and by noon expected to see boats 
 filled with fruit coming from off the shore. 
 This was our only chance of getting any stock 
 here as the Underwriters do not allow ships to 
 anchor at Anjer during the N. West Monsoon 
 (between Sept. and April) and also at the 
 Cape of Good Hope from Apl. to Sept. as 
 during those periods strong winds blow di- 
 rectly on shore and ships would be in great 
 danger of dragging their Anchors. If a ship 
 was lost the Underwriters would be liable, but 
 at the same time the Captain would be cen- 
 sured. At 8 bells two boats were seen putting 
 off for us and at two bells we sat down to 
 dinner expecting the bananas and oranges fresh 
 from Java, by the time we were ready for our 
 dessert. At 2 p.m. we were within five miles 
 of Anjer and 40 of Batavia ; and were boarded 
 
HENRY BLANEY 81 
 
 by two boats from Anjer manned by five or six 
 Malays in each and filled with all kinds of 
 tropical fruits and birds ; such as Mangosteens, 
 Mangoes, Oranges, Limes, Bananas, Plantains, 
 Cocoa Nuts, Yams, Sweet Potatoes, Parrots, 
 Paroquets, Minors, Sparrows, Peacocks, etc., I 
 purchased a Minor, 6 Paroquets, and 20 Java 
 Sparrows for two dollars, but found a day or 
 two after the Minor required too much atten- 
 tion and gave him to one of the Crew. The 
 Captain purchased a few piculs of Yams, Sweet 
 Potatoes, and added a few dozen of Java fowl 
 to our present Shanghae lot. They were full 
 size but very small and a dozen would hardly 
 make sufficient breakfast for three persons. 
 After remaining along side a couple of hours 
 the ship going all the time six knots the Ma- 
 lays cast off a moment before a rain squall 
 struck and were shut out from our view. As 
 soon as the squall passed over, it left us be- 
 calmed and entirely at the mercy of the current, 
 which was setting us down through the Straits 
 of Sunda, and towards a large rock on the edge 
 of the Channel, the east side of which connects 
 with the Island called " Thawt the Way " by a 
 
82 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 reef covered in some places by only 17 feet of 
 water ; our ship drawing 15 ft. 8. Towards this 
 rock and reef a four knot current was setting 
 us, and for an hour there was considerable 
 anxiety on board of the Ship for our safety. 
 By the chart we knew there was no anchorage 
 short of Seventy fathoms except close in to this 
 reef, and we were fearful the current would set 
 us where there was less water than we drew. 
 Within the last ten years several ships had 
 touched upon this reef and two of them belong- 
 ing to a Boston house, John Brown & Co. — 
 and drawing less water than our ship ; one of 
 them taking a piece of the reef weighing 133 
 lbs. home with her. But we fortunately passed 
 over without touching. At 7 o'clk p.m. we were 
 exactly opposite Anjer and were again boarded 
 by three Malay boats filled with live stock, etc., 
 part of which the Capt. purchased. When the 
 boats came along side the leader jumped on 
 board with his book in which the name of every 
 vessel that passes is placed together with any 
 information which might be of benefit to ves- 
 sels following. I noticed the "Flying Cloud" 
 had passed a few days before us, 6 days from 
 

 

HENRY BLANEY 83 
 
 Hong Kong which is the shortest passage by 6 
 days on record. This same vessel sailed from New 
 York to San Francisco in 89 days, the quickest 
 trip ever made from port to port. 1 I noticed the 
 " Lantao " Capt. Bradbury passed 30 Octo. 27 
 days from Shanghae, and with his memoran- 
 dum of 5 piculs Sweet Potatoes, 5 piculs yams 
 and 2 dozen fowls — The" Oriental " 27 days, 
 "Tartar " 12 days, " Adelaide " 17 days, and 
 our own ship "Mandarin" 17 days, all from 
 Shanghae. 
 
 March 8. Becalmed all day wdthin sight of 
 Anjer off Cockatoa Island, a beautiful pyra- 
 midal shaped hill, the summit of which is fre- 
 quently obscured by clouds half way to its base. 
 
 March 9. At daylight Cockatoa still in sight 
 and bearing North. Lat. 6.10; Long. 105.20. 
 Strong currents setting into the Straits. At 8 
 p.m. Cockatoa bearing N.E. by N. distance 10 
 miles. 
 
 March 10. Lat. 6.43 ; Long. 104.30. At 
 4 p.m. Cockatoa bearing east by north. Princes 
 
 1 The record of the Flying Cloud, quoted above, was made 
 in 1851, and in 1854 she duplicated her earlier performance. 
 The Andrew Jackson, in 1860, was the only other clipper 
 ship to equal this record. 
 
84 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 Island S.S. East. At noon by observation 45 
 miles from Java. Light winds. . . . 
 
 March 11. Lat. 7.30; Long. 102.21. Fine 
 breeze from the South East, with studding sails 
 all set. 
 
 March lJf. Sunday. Lat. 11 ; Long. 92.25 
 — frequent rain squalls — made 216 nils. On 
 Sunday the men are left entirely to their own 
 inclinations; the greater portion of them are 
 sitting round forward, and upon the forecastle, 
 dressed in white and blue pantaloons, clean 
 shirts, etc., some are reading, others are spin- 
 ning long yarns, or playing with monkeys and 
 birds. Occasionally Jacko would cause a laugh 
 among the Crew, by some of his pranks, but 
 the merriment could scarcely be heard aft, and 
 all were aware that the Captain respected the 
 Sabbath, and though indulgent, would not al- 
 low any unnecessary noise or bustle. One Sun- 
 day afternoon Jacko was amusing the boys at 
 the expense of the black Cook, by lying in wait 
 for him over his galley, and whenever he made 
 his appearance dropping some article upon his 
 head and escaping to the rigging beyond his 
 reach and rage. This afternoon I speak of, the 
 
HENRY BLANEY 85 
 
 wind was blowing very fresh and Jacko was 
 upon the top of the galley with a large board 
 ready to launch upon his victim, the poor Cook, 
 between whom there had been existing a mortal 
 enmity. But the Cook was equally upon the 
 watch and armed with a dipper of hot water, 
 had his eye upon Jacko when he little thought 
 it. Suddenly the Cook jumped out of the lee 
 side of the galley and threw the hot water at 
 Jacko with a most malicious spirit and deter- 
 mination, but Jacko was too quick for him. Up 
 flew the board as a shield and back flew the 
 hot water into the Cook's face which made him 
 curse and swear like a " Davy Crockett " at 
 being foiled by a monkey. But Jacko was not 
 to be bluffed off. He seemed determined to get 
 a lick at the Cook's head before he left his post. 
 By this time all hands had congregated around 
 the galley to witness the sport, and encouraged 
 the Combatants with roars of laughter. The 
 Captain and niyself were upon the quarter deck 
 where we could distinctly see the whole perform- 
 ance. The Cook now armed himself with an- 
 other dipper full of scalding hot water, and, as 
 " Titus Andronicus " says in the play, " Yenge- 
 
86 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 ance is in his heart and Death in his hand," 
 mounted a cask on the weather side and aimed 
 the whole contents at Jacko's body, but missed 
 him again, for the monkey saw him in time and 
 dodged, and the poor Carpenter who was stand- 
 ing on the other side of the galley with his 
 neck stretched out at full length and on tiptoe, 
 and enjoying the fun, received the whole con- 
 tents in his bosom. This was too much for the 
 Cook and he darted up on to the galley armed 
 with a huge cudgel, and with one blow stretched 
 Jacko flat and apparently lifeless ; but he soon 
 recovered himself and ever after gave the Cook 
 and Galley a wide berth. 
 
 March 18. Lat. 16.32 ; Long. 78.08 At 10 
 a.m. the wind died away to a calm. At 3 p.m. 
 signs of a squall from the South East, sails 
 reduced to reefed topsails and mainsail, At 1 
 past 3 the squall struck accompanied with rain. 
 The stanchion supporting the wheel awning was 
 carried away, and came down upon the head of 
 the man at the wheel. This was a very severe 
 squall and the rain came down with great vio- 
 lence and lasted till 6 p.m. when the Sun set 
 clear. Thermometer fell from 84 degrees to 76 
 
HENRY BLANEY 87 
 
 degrees. At 6i shook the reefs out of the top- 
 sails and set the spanker. Ship going 11 knots. 
 Capt. Stoddard much troubled with the ery- 
 sipelas which has broken out today all over his 
 head and body. This p.m. is so bad as to scarcely 
 see. He is a religious man and reads his chap- 
 ter in the Bible every morning and evening. 
 Is an agreeable companion and I am very much 
 pleased with him. 
 
 March 19. Light winds all the forenoon. 
 A squall came on just before 12 o'clock. No 
 observation. At li o'clk a very severe rain 
 squall struck us and it seemed as though 100,000 
 cisterns had burst above. At one time there 
 was six inches of water upon the decks, and 
 when the ship lurched to leeward it sounded 
 like a cataract. Some of the men rubbed them- 
 selves over with soap and in a few moments 
 were perfectly white with foam. 
 
 March 20. Lat. 18.35 ; Long. 73.56. Light 
 winds aU day. Made only 93 miles. At 2 p.m. 
 had a heavy rain squall from the N.N.E. This 
 P.M. one of the men harpooned a " Bonito " 
 under the bows — and the next morning: had 
 him served up fried for breakfast. It was truly 
 
88 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 delicious. When taken, it much resembled a 
 large Mackerel and was about the size of a full 
 grown Haddock. Today the steward gave us a 
 Clam Chowder for dinner. It was very nice but 
 did not taste as good as I have tasted at home. 
 
 March 21. Sunday. Lat. 19.43 ; Long. 
 71.55 — made 126 miles. Light winds and fine 
 weather. Had a heavy rain squall last night. 
 " Jacko's fat all in the fire today." While his 
 friend the Cook was boiling doughnuts, Jacko 
 would dive into the galley while his back was 
 turned, and run off with some, which the Cook 
 noticed and laid a trap for him. He took off 
 the kettle from the fire with the fat simmering 
 hot, placed it outside where Jacko could see it, 
 leaving a solitary doughnut swimming upon the 
 surface. No sooner had he turned his back 
 when Jacko pounced upon it. Fire and Furies ! 
 did n't he scream ? while the Cook roared with 
 laughter till his opened mouth looked like a 
 thrown back Chaise top. Poor Jacko did not 
 get over that scald for several days and I 
 really believe the cook freely forgave him for 
 all the tricks he had cut upon him. 
 
 March 22. Lat. 20.36 ; Long. 70 degrees. 
 
HENRY BLANEY 89 
 
 Made 120 miles — been going along this 
 morning only five knots and very little prospect 
 of getting home in 90 days. This noon find we 
 are three thousand miles from the Cape Good 
 Hope. At 4 p.m. saw a large English ship ten 
 miles off our larboard beam and standing for 
 us. She had no studding sails or royals set, and 
 evidently had encountered bad weather off the 
 Cape. She was probably bound for Calcutta, or 
 some of the other ports in India. As soon as 
 she came up within 5 or 6 miles of us she ran 
 up her English Ensign, and we answered her 
 with the Stars and Stripes. She then hauled 
 down her ensign and hoisted up her numbers, 
 but as we had none of Marryat's Signals 
 could not find out her name or inform her of 
 ours. I took a memorandum of her signals to 
 report at St. Helena. We hoisted our name 
 which was sewed in large blue letters on a 
 white ground but think it doubtful if they 
 could read it. Two hours later, a squall shut 
 her from our sight. 
 
 March 23. Lat. 21.34 ; South. — Long. 
 67.42 East. Last night experienced a severe 
 rain squall, but this morning the sun rose 
 
90 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 bright and unclouded. Last night saw the 
 moon, which was two days old, go down about 
 seven o'clock. The sun crossed the Equator 
 on the 20th inst. and the two occurrences of the 
 Sun and Moon happening so close together the 
 Captain thought betokened unusually strong 
 winds at the Cape. Made today 131 miles. 
 
 March 2Jf Fine breeze and pleasant weather, 
 with studding sails out on both sides. 
 
 Lat. 22.58 South — Long. 65.26 — 33 days 
 out — made this day 158 miles. 
 
 March 29. Lat. 25.32. Long. 55.07 made 
 159 miles. Studding sails set on both sides. 
 
 April 3. Lat. 28.16 — Long. 43.12 — made 
 184 miles. 
 
 At daylight saw an English ship astern, 
 probably from Calcutta, and another ship off 
 the lee bow. Both standing the same course 
 with us. We had been sailing close-hauled, the 
 ship astern had been sailing with the wind free. 
 As soon as she came within four miles of us, 
 she hauled close on the wind. The ship to the 
 Leeward of us at daylight had her top gallant 
 sails and royals furled, but at 7 o'clk had all 
 sails set. At 8 a.m. altered our course from 
 
HENRY BLANEY 91 
 
 S.W. by West, to West | South. At 9 
 o'clk the wind moderated to 6 knots. Had been 
 going 9 knots all night. We are now about 
 100 miles south of Cape St. Mary, on Mada- 
 gascar. 
 
 April 4' Sunday. At 8 a.m. nearly a calm. 
 One ship was about three miles astern of us, 
 the other on the lee bow about 5 miles, both 
 apparently English Ships from Calcutta. I 
 was in hopes we should be close to them at 
 daylight, so as to board them and get a few 
 papers, as they would most likely have a later 
 mail than ourselves, and also attend service 
 which English ships are obliged to have at 
 sea, by Law, when a certain number of men 
 are onboard. At 8| o'clk we set our ensign in 
 answer to the ship on the lee bow. Soon after 
 she altered her course with the evident wish to 
 speak us. At 1 p.m. we are becalmed and 4 
 miles distant from one of the ships and 6 from 
 the other. 
 
 They are both large Ships and resemble those 
 belonging to Green & Co., of London, who are 
 the largest ship owners in the world. Brockle- 
 bank of Liverpool is owner of more ships than 
 
92 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 Green & Co. but not so many Tons. At 6 p.m. 
 a strong north west breeze sprang up. At 9 
 p.m. the ship astern was out of sight and the 
 other abeam. We are going 9 knots although 
 sharp on the wind. 
 
 April 5. At daylight wind blowing a gale 
 from the South West with a very heavy sea 
 from the same direction. Both of the ships out 
 of sight astern. At 10 a.m. the wind still blow- 
 ing a gale. An effort was made to set the jib, 
 but hardly had they completed, when it was 
 blown to atoms, and several men were ordered 
 to go out on the jib boom to take in the rem- 
 nants, in doing which one of the men, named 
 Aleck, fell overboard. Several men with the 
 Captain and mate were upon the jib boom and 
 forecastle at the time, and saw him fall. In- 
 stantly the Cry was raised of " Man-overboard !" 
 The thrill and terror of those words at Sea, 
 and in a Gale of wind can better be imagined 
 than described. I had an attack of sea sick- 
 ness that morning and was lying on the tran- 
 som in the after cabin when the cry was raised. 
 I rushed upon deck and found every one in the 
 greatest excitement and everything in confu- 
 
HENRY BLANEY 93 
 
 sion. Capt. Stoddard was yelling his orders 
 " to hard down the helm " and swinging his 
 arms wildly to enforce his commands, but never 
 does Jack work more willingly than when one 
 of his ship mates is in danger. Although we 
 were going 9 knots, owing to the head sea, she 
 refused to come about. He then tried to wear, 
 but she refused to do either. At the first cry, 
 Mr. Hanson, the mate, rushed aft, and cut 
 adrift the life preserver which had fortunately 
 been lashed over the rail astern in case of 
 emergency. Although the man was some ways 
 astern, and burdened with his thick boots, he 
 swam about the length of the ship to the life 
 preserver, and fortunately succeeded in reach- 
 ing it. The Captain, finding it impossible to 
 put the ship about, or wear, ordered the top- 
 sails to be backed, as the man could be seen 
 from the top of the quarter rail, about a mile 
 astern. Meanwhile some of the men were get- 
 ting out one of the Life Boats from the top of 
 the house. After some difficulty in getting it 
 over the side and down into the water, there 
 being great danger of staving it to pieces by 
 the heavy sea running, two men with the 2nd 
 
94 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 mate got into it and pushed off. The man was 
 then about a \ mile * off, nearly astern, and I 
 could with difficulty keep track of him. Now 
 he would be upon the top of a high wave, and 
 then for several moments lost to view in the 
 hollow of the sea. After rowing about ten min- 
 utes and expecting every moment to see the 
 boat fill, they succeeded in reaching the man 
 and getting him on board the boat, and brought 
 him safely on board the ship. It was a very 
 narrow escape for the poor fellow, and had it 
 been in the night time, it would have been im- 
 possible to save him. Upon attempting to walk 
 after we had got him on deck, he found his leg 
 pained him, and it was with difficulty he could 
 use it. When he fell he went down head first 
 and caught his leg upon one of the bowsprit 
 stays. Although his leg was scraped and bruised 
 very badly, it was not considered dangerous. 
 Just before the boat reached him a large Al- 
 batross, which had been hovering over his head, 
 lit upon the water within a few feet of him, 
 
 1 There seems to be a discrepancy in the matter of the 
 distance between the ship and the man overboard ; — the 
 text of the manuscript is followed as written. 
 
HENRY BLANEY 95 
 
 and when the boat came up he started with a 
 scream at being deprived of an anticipated 
 meal. The day before this occurrence, Aleck 
 and Frank had an angry tussle together and 
 had not spoken to each other since ; but when 
 Aleck fell overboard Frank was the first to 
 jump into the boat to save him, and came aft 
 for several days afterwards to get medicine and 
 salve for him. Lat. 29.05 ; Long 39.48. 
 
 The Gale continued all day, and the sea ran 
 very high. I have heard of the sea running 
 mountains high, and have had a curiosity to 
 see it in its most angry state. No where in the 
 world does the Sea run so high as at the Cape 
 of Good Hope, and never have I seen it more 
 than 12 or 15 feet high as near as I could 
 judge. Capt. Stoddard says the height of the 
 highest wave on record, measured from the 
 shore, is 15 feet from the level of the water ; 
 not measuring the hollow. 
 
 April 6. Lat. 29.54 ; Long. 37.32 — made 
 160 miles. Strong gales with a head sea. At 
 sundown wind moderated, and set all the stud- 
 ding sails. 46 days out. 
 
 April 7. Lat. 31.28; Long. 33.46 — made 
 
96 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 225 miles. Strong N.W. wind. This day was 
 a disagreeable one. The ship pitched and 
 plunged bows under, and it was with difficulty 
 I could keep my feet. At our meals we were 
 obliged to hold on with one hand and eat with 
 the other. Now and then a dish of something 
 would fetch away, and bring up in the lap or 
 bosom of one of us. At midnight the wind sud- 
 denly changed to the West and blew as it had 
 from the N. West. 
 
 April 8. Today we make but very little 
 progress as we are jammed hard on the wind. 
 Soon after breakfast we saw a large ship on 
 our lee bow, standing on the opposite tack. 
 She like ourselves was bound round the Cape. 
 At noon we tacked to the North, and at 4 p.m. 
 was abreast of her about three miles to the lee- 
 ward. She was an Eng. Ship of about 1200 
 tons and heavily loaded. Lat. 33.08 ; Long. 
 30.32. 
 
 April 9. At noon this day we saw the coast 
 of Africa, and by Chronometer, found we were 
 50 miles from Buffalo River, in Lat. 32.42 ; 
 Long. 29.32. Today Joe the Cowboy found 
 twenty hens' eggs in the coop, which were all 
 
HENRY BLANEY 97 
 
 laid today. Very few farmers in New England 
 can boast of a better lot of Fowls than we have 
 on board. The principal part were bought in 
 Shanghae, the rest in Java. We are now out 
 49 days. While we were at dinner today, the 
 2nd mate, Mr. Delano, hooked a shark and 
 with the assistance of some of the men hauled 
 him on board. He measured ten feet, which is 
 much longer than they average. He was cut up 
 and divided among the men. One claiming the 
 back bone, another the jaw bone, and Mr. Han- 
 son the fins, which, when made into a soup by 
 the Chinese, is considered one of the best Man- 
 darin dishes. On the voyage out, Mr. Hanson 
 collected about 30 fins, and exchanged them at 
 Shanghae for a chest of Tea and several pieces 
 of Silk. At 3 p.m. the wind shifted to the 
 South, but soon after died away calm, with a 
 current from the South West setting us to- 
 wards the African coast which we could see 
 very plainly on our lee, distant about 30 miles. 
 This part of the Coast is unsettled by foreign- 
 ers, and is inhabited by savage Hottentots, 
 from whom we should receive but very little 
 mercy should they get us in their power. Today 
 
98 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 I saw a " Thrasher," the chief enemy of the 
 whale. He jumped nearly his length perpendic- 
 ular out of the water. I should think he was 
 about 20 feet long. 
 
 April 10. We have been becalmed nearly 
 all day, with the exception of a run of 20 miles 
 last night in the middle watch. The current 
 close in shore, sets to the westward nearly all 
 the year round. The last 24 hours we have 
 made 127 miles, which shows a current in our 
 favor of 107 miles. At the time of writing this, 
 we are just in sight of the land, and steering 
 S.S.W. with a light breeze from the South, 
 and a heavy swell from the westward. By the 
 chart, we are about 110 miles to the Eastward 
 of Port Elizabeth, and 500 Miles from Cape 
 Good Hope. This a.m., while I was aloft on 
 the main topsail yard, saw a vessel directly 
 ahead and apparently coming toward us. An 
 hour afterwards she was abeam, and proved to 
 be an English Brig, from the Cape Good Hope 
 and bound to some of the ports on the African 
 Coast. She was about as poor a specimen of 
 an English vessel as I ever saw and looked as 
 though she had been keeping company with 
 
HENRY BLANEY 99 
 
 the " Flying Dutchman." Her sails were in 
 miserable repair and in her main top gallant 
 sail was a hole large enough to put a hogshead 
 through. Even her ensign, which she hoisted 
 as we passed, was rent the whole length. It is 
 somewhere in this vicinity that the fable of the 
 " Flying Dutchman " originated. The magical 
 appearance that an iceberg (which are seen 
 here in Nov. and Dec.) sometimes exhibits by 
 the radiance of the sun, when viewed at a con- 
 siderable distance, possibly might have been 
 experienced by some of the early navigators 
 when passing the Cape Good Hope and there- 
 by have arisen the Fable. At noon the wind 
 came out from the South West and jammed us 
 close on the wind. Lat. 33.59 ; Long 27.41. 
 April 11. Sunday. Very squally weather all 
 day with the wind ahead. Here there is a vari- 
 ation from the true north, of 26 degrees west, 
 in the compass, which is accounted for by the 
 attraction of the earth. At New York there is 
 a variation of ^ point ; at Boston of li points. 
 In the China Sea there is none. Here near the 
 Cape of 21 points nearly, or 26 degrees (11| 
 degrees to a point). To find the true north 
 
100 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 from the magnetic north, when the variation is 
 west, count to the left, when east to the right. 
 Near an island in the Gulf of Finland the 
 compass flies round and round, and in another 
 part of the Gulf stands perfectly still. At the 
 Island it is accounted for by the minerals and 
 metals of which it is composed. This day we 
 are in Lat. 35.03. Long. 25.04. 
 
 April 12. Lat. 35.34 ; Long. 23.14. Last 
 night we had squally weather with a heavy 
 head sea. Shipped a heavy sea forward and 
 aft at the same time, and floated everything 
 about the decks, which was not lashed down. 
 The noise was very heavy and sudden, and 
 awoke me from a sound sleep. At the same 
 time the heel of the Jib boom was carried 
 away. The Steward awoke the Captain, and 
 very innocently told him the heel of the "Fly- 
 ing Jib " was carried away. This last 24 hours 
 we made 94 miles, which distance was nearly 
 all gained by the force of the current. We 
 are about 260 miles from the Cape Good Hope. 
 
 April 13. Lat. 35.11 ; Long. 22.08 — 72 
 miles. Last night we were on Agulhas Banks, 
 and during a calm the mate caught three fish ; 
 
HENRY BLANEY 101 
 
 Two Groupers and one Lance. One of the 
 groupers weighed 120 A lbs. When fried for 
 breakfast, and made into a chowder for dinner, 
 they are delicious, and resemble the Haddock 
 caught on our Coast. These fish swim on the 
 bottom to avoid the sharks which are very- 
 numerous on these banks, and the depth of 
 the water where these fish were caught is 60 
 fathoms. This a.m. the wind came out from 
 the East, but with a heavy swell from the 
 South west, and could make but little progress. 
 By tomorrow night we are in hopes to be round 
 the Cape. At sundown the wind is strong from 
 the east, and sending us through the water 
 10 knots an hour, and we can distinctly see 
 Cape Agulhas bearing North, distant 45 
 miles. 
 
 April llf. Last night the wind came out 
 from the N. West and directly ahead. At noon 
 today, by observation we are in Lat. 35.55 ; 
 Long. 18.48 and directly south the Cape Good 
 Hope, distant 85 miles. The wind still blowing 
 fresh from the course we want to head. At 
 sundown the wind blowing a gale, and our ship 
 with the least possible sail on her. At 8 p.m. 
 
102 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 the wind hauled to the West. Altered our 
 course to the Northward. 
 
 April 15. Wind blowing fresh with a heavy 
 head sea. At noon found we were 100 miles 
 south west of the Cape, and at 8 p.m. we are 
 about 80 miles directly west of the Cape with 
 all larboard studding sails set, and a fresh 
 breeze from the South west. This a.m. saw the 
 back of a whale, and soon after saw him spout 
 a column of water high as our mast head. We 
 have thus far sailed 8,000 miles, and are 
 about 7,000 to New York. It is estimated that 
 it is about 15,000 from New York to Canton; 
 2000 from Canton to Java Head — 6000 
 thence to the Cape and 7000 thence to New 
 York. Lat. 35.06; Long. 16.45. 
 
 April 16. Lat. 33.22 — Long. 13.29 — We 
 have had a strong breeze from the S. East all 
 day, but do not expect to get the Trade winds 
 from this same quarter for a day or two. We 
 are rolling along finely, direct for St. Helena 
 with the wind directly aft. Aleck came on 
 deck today for the first time since the accident, 
 and is still quite lame. One of my paroquets 
 died last night from the effects of the cold, and 
 
HENRY BLANEY 103 
 
 have only one left which I am in hopes will 
 live to get into N. Yk. They resemble a Par- 
 rot, are about as large as a Sparrow, and of 
 brilliant plumage. Thermometer today 40 
 degrees. 
 
 April 17. Lat. 31.36 ; Long. 10.12 — 1 de- 
 voted nearly all this morning writing up my 
 Journal, as the sea is calmer than we have had 
 it for several days. The Captain is keeping 
 further to the south than usual, with the hope 
 of finding stronger breezes. The usual track 
 for vessels bound across the Equator, is about 
 150 miles to the North, and steer directly for 
 St. Helena, but as he does not intend to stop 
 he has adopted the above course. 
 
 April 18. Sunday. Is cloudy all day and 
 cannot get the Sun. Took a Lunar in the after- 
 noon and found our position to be Lat. 29.45 ; 
 Long. 7 — Fine trades, and all sails drawing to 
 the best advantage, made 174 miles. 
 
 April 19. Lat. 28.01 ; Long. 5.5 — Smooth 
 sea. At 9 a.m. a ship hove in sight to wind- 
 ward, steering N.N.W. This day the afternoon 
 watches commence on deck. Made 157 miles. 
 
 April 20. Lat. 27.01 — Long. 3.33 — Made 
 
104 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 only 68 miles. Gentle breeze and fine weather. 
 Studding sails set on both sides. 60 days out. 
 
 April 24. Lat. 23.04 — Long. 2.16. Made 
 only 32 miles. This day's run is, I think, the 
 shortest since we left China. Light airs from 
 the N.N.E. with clear fine weather. This fore- 
 noon while looking over the bow saw several 
 " Albacores " playing upon the top of the water. 
 One of the men succeeded in catching one with 
 a hook and line. He weighed about 60 lbs. The 
 next day, he was fried, and made into a chow- 
 der. 
 
 April 25. Sunday. Lat. 22.53 — Long. 1.42 
 — Made only 30 miles. Thermometer 65 de- 
 grees. After 6 days calm weather, during which 
 time we have made only 360 miles, we are fa- 
 vored with the regular S. East Trade winds, 
 and soon after the commencement of this sea 
 day, sailed at the rate of 6 knots, which we 
 averaged the day through. We are now about 
 600 miles from St. Helena and expect by Thurs- 
 day a.m. to be up with it. 
 
 April 26. In the morning we had gentle 
 breezes from the S.E. and at 2 p.m. the wind 
 hauled to E.S.E. and freshened again to 6 
 
HENRY BLANEY 105 
 
 knots. Lat. 21.39; Long. 00.01 East. Made 
 120 miles. Thermometer 68 degrees. 
 
 April 27. Lat. 19.50— Long. 02.04 W. 
 Made 168 miles. We have a fresh breeze from 
 the S. East all day, which is very encouraging. 
 At 10 a.m. saw a bark on our lee bow, and at 
 ^ past twelve made her out to be an American 
 Whaler. Soon after she passed across our bows 
 about 5 ships lengths ahead and as we came 
 up abeam she was about two ships lengths off. 
 Capt. Stoddard hailed her with, " Where you 
 from? " " Where you bound? " " What 's your 
 longitude? " " How much Oil have you? " Her 
 Captain answered, " From New York " — 
 "Cruising for Sperm Whales." "1.30" — 
 " 230 bbls." We could distinctly read her name. 
 " Nimrod — Sag Harbor " as we passed. By 
 the time we had asked those questions and re- 
 ceived the answers, she was out of speaking 
 distance, and steering East, and we kept on 
 our N.W. course. 
 
 April 28. Lat. 17.12 — Long. 4.20 — Made 
 190 miles. Clear pleasant weather, and all sails 
 set to the best advantage. 
 
 April 29. I arose at 5 o'clk., and as soon as 
 
106 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 it was daylight, with the hope of finding the 
 ship close to St. Helena, but was disappointed. 
 A heavy dark cloud obstructed my view beyond 
 8 or 10 miles, but an hour after, it passed to 
 the westward and I could plainly distinguish 
 the faint outline of a dark mass directly ahead, 
 and apparently 20 or 30 miles off. It is very 
 difficult for one unaccustomed to detecting ob- 
 jects at sea, to distinguish land from the dark 
 clouds arising above the edge of the horizon, 
 or to make up one's mind with any degree of 
 certainty as to the nature of any dark object 
 which is just discernible to the naked eye, or 
 even with a good Spy-Glass ; but knowing we 
 were heading directly for the Island and from 
 the observation of yesterday, and the distance 
 we had run by dead reckoning, the ship was 
 about 40 miles from the Island, I concluded 
 that the dark object ahead could be nothing 
 but St. Helena. At 8 o'clk the Island could be 
 plainly distinguished, and was apparently about 
 20 miles off. We were then going about five 
 knots, and Capt. Stoddard remarked that if 
 we should have a strong breeze so as to come 
 up with St. Helena by 12 o'clk, he would drop 
 
HENRY BLANEY 107 
 
 anchor for a couple of hours. Almost as if by 
 magic a 10 knot breeze sprang up from the 
 South East, and lessened the distance so as to 
 make the Trees at Longwood distinctly visible. 
 It presented a mass of rocks without the least 
 sign of vegetation, with the exception of the 
 few trees seen at Longwood, the residence and 
 tomb of the late Emperor Napoleon. As we 
 passed the east end of the Island about two 
 miles off, I could with the aid of a glass, dis- 
 tinguish from among the trees the Emperor's 
 house, which is the only one on this end of the 
 Island, and am told that it is used for a farm 
 house, and the room which he used for his par- 
 lor and in which he died is now turned into a 
 carriage house. This building is now resorted 
 to by all persons who visit the Island, from 
 curiosity to see and touch the place where the 
 greatest soldier of the age resided the last six 
 years of his natural life, or anything which was 
 formerly in his possession. His tomb is about 
 two miles from the house, and is a spot much 
 resorted to by strangers, as the place where all 
 that remained of the great man who was the 
 terror of the European powers, and which took 
 
108 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 three of the greatest powers of the Earth to 
 crush, reposed for the period of nineteen years, 
 until the change of rulers in France, prompted 
 them to ask of England the liberty of trans- 
 ferring the remains to his native soil on the 
 banks of the Seine, " in the heart of his dear 
 France, and in the midst of the people whom 
 he so dearly loved." Several of the willows 
 were transferred to France with the body, and 
 I had previously made up my mind, if possi- 
 ble, to visit the spot and gather a shoot of the 
 willow as a memento of my visit. As our stay 
 was very short I was deprived of this pleasure, 
 but fortunately the American Consul's lady, 
 whom I called upon, kindly gave me a twig 
 which she had gathered a few days previous on 
 one of her visits to the Tomb, and had preserved 
 in a large bottle. 
 
 On rounding the North East point of the 
 Island, the anchorage, which is the only one 
 around the Island, came in view, and twenty 
 minutes after let go our anchor. We were im- 
 mediately boarded by the Port Physician, Har- 
 bor Master, News Collector, and the American 
 Consul, Mr. John Carroll. From the latter I 
 
HENRY BLANEY 109 
 
 learned that the American ship " Adelaide," 
 Capt. Cobb, who had left Shanghae 14 days 
 before us, bound for New York, had not ar- 
 rived, neither the American Bk. " Oriental," 
 Capt. Dale bound for Boston, who left a week 
 before us. We procured files of English pa- 
 pers to the 20th January, and American to the 
 1st. Nov., and from them we learned of the 
 new troubles in France, and the great fire in 
 Washington, etc. 
 
 There were only six vessels in port — One 
 English Man of War, Two Eng. Merchantmen, 
 one American Whaler, (Bark "Mary Gard- 
 ner " Capt. D. Smith, Sag Harbor) and two 
 French Merchantmen. 
 
 The appearance of this immense mass of 
 rock, looking up from the ship, was truly 
 grand ; and with the several Forts both upon 
 the top and sides of the rocks, defended by 
 cannon and about 450 men, presented truly a 
 warlike appearance. 
 
 Soon after the anchor was dropped, Mr. Car- 
 roll invited the Captain and myself to go on 
 shore. We landed at the foot of Jamestown, or 
 as it is sometimes called, Napoleon's Valley, at 
 
110 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 the same stairs where Napoleon landed after 
 being made a prisoner by the English in the 
 year 1815. 
 
 This town is situated at the entrance of the 
 valley, and is almost obscured by the over- 
 hanging rocks enclosing it. A row of trees be- 
 hind the ramparts, and another behind the 
 Governor's house, give it a pleasant appear- 
 ance. The houses are neatly built on each side 
 of the principal street, which lies in a direct 
 line up the valley. I am told there is a run of 
 water proceeding from a small spring, and 
 from a waterfall which falls over a precipice 
 about 200 feet perpendicular into an ancient 
 volcanic Crater, but I did not have time to 
 visit it. About two miles from Longwood, (Na- 
 poleon's residence) is a fine spring of water, 
 from which all the water for his use was 
 brought. Napoleon was very fond of visiting 
 this spot, and in his will expressed the wish to 
 be buried there, which was complied with. On 
 the right side of the valley, a zig zag road is 
 cut for ascending Ladder Hill, which is about 
 800 feet high, and also a flight of steps lead- 
 ing directly to the summit. On the top of this 
 
HENRY BLANEY 111 
 
 hill is mounted a heavy battery of guns, which 
 commands the valley and anchorage. At the 
 other side of this valley is Sugar Loaf Hill, 
 with a signal post at the top, and at its base 
 are three other batteries at a little distance 
 from each other, called Butter Milk, and Banks 
 Upper and Lower Batteries. A little to the 
 South West of these, Rupert battery appears 
 at the bottom of the Valley of this name, 
 formed by a strong stone wall mounted with 
 heavy cannon. Close to the landing is a Fort, 
 called Munden Fort, on a point of rocks, 
 manned by a number of guns, which also com- 
 mands James Valley. Around this point and 
 close to the sea, is a long line of Batteries 
 commanding the landing and the shipping at 
 anchor. On the summit of the hills are signal 
 posts all over the Island, which communicate 
 by telegraph with each other and with the 
 castle. When Bonaparte was a prisoner here, 
 a gun was fired whenever a ship was seen ap- 
 proaching, and this was repeated by other 
 posts to the Castle. This was called an alarm. 
 If more ships appeared a gun was fired for 
 each, till five in number, when a signal was 
 
112 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 made for a fleet, but if more than two sail ap- 
 peared to be steering for the Island, a general 
 alarm was beaten, and every person immedi- 
 ately took the station assigned him, and re- 
 mained under arms till the Governor was in- 
 formed what ships they were. There were 
 always four men of war cruising off the Island, 
 so that an attempt to rescue Napoleon would 
 have been perfectly insane. There is a story 
 current of a Yankee Smuggler, who offered to 
 get Napoleon off the Island by means of a 
 submarine conveyance, provided he would find 
 means to lower himself down to the edge of 
 the water, but as every path was guarded by a 
 sentinel and he having grown very corpulent, 
 the project was given up. 
 
 Arriving at Mr. Carroll's house, we were 
 introduced to his family, consisting of his lady, 
 his son John and lady, and two younger sons ; 
 together with Mrs. Babcock wife of the Cap- 
 tain of one of the whalers cruising off the Island. 
 Our visit, though short, was very pleasant, and 
 was quite a relief after being cooped up on 
 board ship for 70 days. 
 
 This Island is about 9 miles long and 3 miles 
 
HENRY BLANEY 113 
 
 wide. The highest point of land is in the centre 
 of the Island, about 2200 feet high and is 
 called Diana's Peak. Near this is a conical 
 shaped hill a little over 2000 ft. high. The 
 difference of Temperature on these hills and 
 the valleys is said to be about 10 degrees, and 
 on the former the air is always cool and pleas- 
 ant, blowing from the South East all the year 
 round. The whole island is said to have been 
 formed by a volcanic eruption, and to look 
 down from some of the hills, it has the appear- 
 ance of being thrown up by a convulsion of 
 nature, and the burnt appearance of the rocks 
 seems to prove this origin. 
 
 I am told that heavy dark clouds frequently 
 burst over the valley and deluge it completely. 
 Several years back, a heavy cloud broke over 
 Rupert Mountain, deluged it with a torrent of 
 water, and carried a great part of the breast 
 work and some of the guns into the sea. 
 
 Mr. Carroll estimated the number of inhab- 
 itants to be about 7000, — 5000 of whom are 
 natives of the Island and descendants of slaves 
 from the coasts of Africa. Nearly the whole of 
 this class are held as slaves, and subsist almost 
 
114 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 entirely upon Rice. A few days before we ar- 
 rived, the lady of the Captain of a Spanish 
 vessel wished to purchase a girl for a servant, 
 and as soon as it became known, several were 
 advertised for sale at reasonable prices; and 
 this in one of her English Majesty's Colonies ; 
 who makes such a great cry at home about the 
 wickedness of Slavery in our Country. 
 
 As the Consul was very anxious to have his 
 family see the cabin of our ship, which is fitted 
 up in very neat style, Capt. Stoddard invited 
 them off on board, and sent word to the steward 
 to provide a dinner for twelve. Soon after, we 
 went on board in company with Capt. Smith 
 of the Whaler and Mr. Carroll's father in law, 
 an old Captain of the English Infantry who was 
 a lieuftenant when Napoleon landed. They were 
 all very much pleased with the ship, and more 
 particularly with the dinner which was served 
 up in the steward's best style. The preserved 
 Corn which was brought from the States and 
 put up in tins, took the eye of Mrs. Babcock 
 and Capt. Smith, both of whom were natives 
 of Sag Harbor. As they sat down to dinner 
 they both exclaimed " Well! if here aint some 
 
HENRY BLANEY 115 
 
 ' Sackertash ' ! Who 'd a thought of seeing 
 1 Sackertash ' in St. Helena ? " By the time we 
 had finished our dinner, the water and other 
 stores were on board ; the mate gave the word 
 to heave the anchor short, and preparations 
 were made for the party to return on shore. 
 As soon as they took leave and descended into 
 their boat, our anchor was weighed, sails hoisted, 
 and we bid adieu to St. Helena, in company 
 with the English Man of War for the African 
 Coast, two French ships for France, and our 
 own good ship for " the land of the free and 
 the home of the brave." 
 
 The two French ships steered the same track 
 with ourselves, and we soon passed ahead of 
 them ; by 7 o'clock p.m. they were both hull 
 down astern. 
 
 April 30. Lat. 15.10 ; Long. 7.05 — Made 
 90 miles. At breakfast this morning the steward 
 broiled a few of the mackerel which had been 
 procured at St. Helena with other stores. Mr. 
 Hanson (the mate) and myself ate heartily of 
 them, and soon after we were attacked with 
 vertigo and a violent rush of blood to the head, 
 which Capt. Stoddard said was caused by the 
 
116 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 mackerel poisoned by the influence of the moon. 
 A light dose of medicine and a good nights 
 rest removed all the effects of our impru- 
 dence. 
 
 May 1. Lat. 14.15; Long 9.32— Made 
 150 miles. Fine pleasant weather, wind di- 
 rectly aft, and studding sails out on both sides. 
 Steering north west 1 north — variation of 1£ 
 points. 
 
 May 2. Sunday. Lat. 13.11 ; Long. 12.02 
 — Made 162 miles. Weather and wind about 
 the same as yesterday and we are steering the 
 same course, which we do not vary from, till 
 we arrive in the Latitude of N.Yk., unless the 
 wind heads off. 
 
 May 3. Lat. 12.08; Long. 14.05— Made 
 130 miles. Today a very laughable occurrence 
 took place, though the death of a poor monkey 
 was the result of it, through the ignorance of 
 Joe the Cow boy. He had a very vicious mon- 
 key, and in order to instill into his noddle a 
 comprehension of the sin of not strictly follow- 
 ing one of the commandments — " Thou shalt 
 not steal " — would fasten him to a line and 
 tow him in the water over the bows, until, as 
 
HENRY BLANEY 117 
 
 the Cook says, "he almost distinguished the 
 vital spark." Today Joe was unusually severe, 
 and towed him till life was nearly extinct. 
 Seeing he was unable to move, Joe's conscience 
 smote him. The Steward advised him, as the 
 fire in the galley had gone out, to build a new 
 one and endeavor to resuscitate him. He went 
 to work, built a strong fire, and hoping to warm 
 him through speedily, put him on the top of the 
 stove and covered him over with a piece of can- 
 vas, and as he thought he had finished his part 
 of the charitable performance, left nature to do 
 the rest. She did do it, and as Mrs. Atherton 
 used to say, "faith, she did it brown." Joe, 
 thinking it possible poor Jacko would be dried 
 through or might want to be turned over, took 
 off the cloth. Whew ! what a smell of burnt 
 rags. He was dry with a vengeance. One side 
 was burnt to a crisp and the other as brown as 
 a nut; while his tail, which was originally a long 
 one, and straight, was kinked up and almost 
 twisted into knots by the heat. 
 
 May Jf. Lat. 10.32 — Long. 16.42 — Made 
 180 miles. This day I was in hopes we should 
 make over 200 miles. The ship had averaged 
 
118 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 over 9 knots up to daylight this morning, when 
 it slacked off to 5 knots. 
 
 May 5. Lat. 8.53 — Long. 19.42 — 207 
 miles. First part of the Trades — Studding 
 sails set on both sides. Rain showers in the 
 night — Wind S.E. course N.W. | North. 
 
 May 6. Lat. 07.08 South — Long. 22.45 
 West. Made 215 miles. Strong trades ; pleas- 
 ant weather with an occasional shower. Course 
 N.W. 1 North. Wind South East. 
 
 May 10. Lat. 2.06 —Long. 29.44 — Made 
 37 miles. Weather today the same as usual in 
 these latitudes, pleasant in the morning and 
 raining in the afternoon. This p.m. a bark hove 
 in sight, steering N. by West. Talking with 
 Capt. Stoddard today of Ships and the Cost 
 of running them, he said the " Mandarin " cost 
 about $70,000, and the cost of running her, ex- 
 clusive of port charges, was $50. per day. 
 
 May 12. Lat. 0.38 South — Long. 30.4 
 West. Made 30 miles. Light baffling winds. 
 In company with one ship and two brigs steer- 
 ing Northward. P.M. wind south, course N. 
 by W. 
 
 May 13. Lat. 0.08 North — Long. 30.12 — 
 
HENRY BLANEY 119 
 
 distance 40 miles. Wind from all points of 
 the Compass, and frequent squalls. A French 
 Man of "War in sight steering N.W. probably- 
 bound to some of the Islands in the West Indies. 
 Crossed the Equator about 10 o'clk this morn- 
 ing. Today the sun arose at 6 o'clk and set at 6. 
 
 May U. Lat. 1.17 — Long. 31.17 — Made 
 94 miles. Gentle breezes from the N. East in 
 the morning, and squally with much rain in the 
 afternoon. 
 
 May 15. Lat. 2.18 — Long. 31.37 — Made 
 65 miles. Light airs from the South. At 2 p.m. 
 strong breeze from the North East, with heavy 
 rain showers. Course North by "West, wind 
 South by S. West. 85 days out. 
 
 May 16. Sunday. Lat. 3.25 —Long. 32.17 
 — Made 80 miles. This day came in with light 
 airs and passing clouds. At 3 p.m. the weather 
 very hot, and a light swell from the N. East. 
 At midnight moderate breezes from the East- 
 ward. 
 
 May 17. Lat. 5.04 — Long. 35.35 — Dis- 
 tance 220 miles. All Starboard studding; sails 
 set. At noon strong Trades with squalls of 
 rain. 
 
120 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 May 18. Lat. 7.14. Long. 39.40 — Made 
 280 miles. Trades very fresh from North East 
 by North. At 2 p.m. split the main royal. 
 
 May 19. Lat. 9.50 — Long. 43.24 — Made 
 280 miles. Strong Trades from the N.E. mak- 
 ing N.W. course. This Evening saw the north 
 star just above the horizon. 
 
 May 20. Lat. 12.17 — Long. 47.10 — 
 Made 262 miles. Trades began to moderate so 
 that the starboard studding sails could be set. 
 Wind N.E. Course N.W. 
 
 May 21. Lat. 14.44 — Long. 50.45 — Made 
 258 miles. Wind N.E. Course N.W. Trades 
 still moderating. 
 
 May 22. Lat. 16.52 N. Long 53.56 W. 
 distance 220 miles. Today we are directly 
 under the sun, and at 12 Meridian, can stand 
 in its rays without its casting a shadow. The 
 sun revolves from East to West between the 
 parallels of Latitude of 23^ degrees North and 
 South. From the 17th. to the 23rd. June, the 
 sun has reached its northern limit, 23 1 de- 
 grees, and on the 24th June begins to return 
 south ; during that period the days at Boston 
 are 15 hours and 17 minutes long. On the 20th 
 
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HENRY BLANEY 121 
 
 December the sun reached its southern limit, 
 23 1 degrees and remains till the 23rd when 
 it progresses North. The length of the days 
 then, at Boston, is 9 hours and 4 minutes. 
 
 The last three or four days I have noticed 
 immense fields of floating yellow weed. When 
 the weather was calm and the water smooth, 
 it was seen in great quantities, and when a 
 breeze sprang up, would detach and float by in 
 clusters. Capt. Stoddard says it is found in the 
 water far from any land or rocks, and is seen 
 only between the Longitudes 50 degrees and 
 70 degrees West and Latitudes 10 deg. and 
 40 deg. North. It is also seen in the Pacific 
 Ocean near the Bashee 1 Islands. 
 
 May 23. Sunday. Lat. 19.24— Long. 56.37 
 — distance 220 miles. Course N.W. by N. 
 Wind N.E. by E. Fine trades — Pleasant 
 weather, smooth sea. 
 
 Today saw the first species of a whale. Two 
 fin backs. I was sitting aft on the quarter deck 
 when one arose close along side, with a noise 
 
 1 The Bashee Islands are in Lat. 20° 4ff N.; Long. 122° 
 £. ; about halfway between the Islands of Luzon and For- 
 
122 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 like the first snort of a Steam Engine. They 
 spouted no water, but played around the ship 
 about two hours. 
 
 May 24. Lat. 22.03 Long. 59.02— dis- 
 tance 208 miles. Course N.W. by N. Wind 
 N.E. by E. Fine trades, clear pleasant weather. 
 Crew painting ship inside. 
 
 May 25. Lat. 23.35— Long. 60.56— dis- 
 tance 150 miles. First part of the day fine 
 breeze from the East, and pleasant weather. 
 Painting ship outside. 
 
 May 26. Lat. 24.33 — Long. 61.46 — dis- 
 tance 76 miles. Light airs and clear pleasant 
 weather. Larboard studding sails set. Course 
 N.W. 1 North. Wind East. 
 
 May 27. Lat. 25.30 — Long. 62.16 — dis- 
 tance 94 miles — Light breezes from the South 
 East. Clear pleasant weather and smooth sea. 
 
 May 28. Lat. 26.51— Long. 64.19 — dis- 
 tance 130 miles. Light breezes — smooth sea. 
 Studding sails out on both sides. Occasional 
 showers. Saw a Schooner bound south and 
 west. 
 
 May 29. Lat. 28.25 —Long. 65.36 — dis- 
 tance 115 miles. Gentle breezes from South 
 
HENRY BLANEY 123 
 
 East — Clear fine weather, smooth sea — 
 Course N.W. by N. 
 
 May 30. Sunday. Lat. 29.20 — Long. 
 66.40 — distance 75 miles. Light airs, fine 
 weather, studding sails out both sides. At day- 
 light saw a fore and aft schooner and a herm. 
 brig. We are 100 days out from Shanghae. 
 Think we shall arrive next Friday p.m. Wind 
 South, Course N.W. 
 
 May 31. Lat. 30.47 — Long. 68.07 — dis- 
 tance 118 miles. This morning at daylight the 
 wind came out from the South West and at 
 noon had increased to 10 knots with the pros- 
 pect of improving. This a.m. passed a herm. 
 brig, bound probably for Cuba or some of the 
 Leeward Islands. This day we are in latitude 
 of New Orleans. 
 
 June 1. Lat. 32.38 —Long. 69.54 — Course 
 North West. At 3 a.m. squally with much 
 rain. Took in the royals. At 6 a.m. calm with 
 a strong swell from the North West. We made 
 this day 144 miles. 
 
 June 2. Lat. 34.47 — Long. 71.26 — fresh 
 breezes from the South West. At 4 a.m. wind 
 shifted to North East — our course N.W. by 
 
124 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 N. At 10 a.m. we are directly in the Longi- 
 tude of Boston State House (which lays in 
 Lat. 42.21.5 Long. 71.04.2). Therefore our 
 Chronometer time and old Hollis St. Church 
 should compare. At 2 P.M. crossed the Eastern 
 edge of the Gulf Stream, which we noticed by 
 the Tide rips. This stream, where we cross, 
 sets to the Eastward 2^ or 3 knots per hour. 
 Our course is not altered to allow for this cur- 
 rent, as there is a counter current on the east 
 and west edges, and gives a straight course. 
 In immersing a Thermometer in the water, I 
 noticed a difference in the temperature of 5 
 degrees ; outside the edge of the stream 71 de- 
 grees — Inside 76 degrees. Middle of the 
 stream 80 degrees. The Southern vessels bound 
 North in thick weather guide themselves solely 
 by the temperature of the water. The distance 
 run today was 160 miles. Distance from New 
 York 370 miles. Are still sanguine of being 
 in N. Yk. Friday p.m. 
 
 June 3. Lat. 37.15— Long. 72.38 — dis- 
 tance 174 miles. Course N.W. by W. Wind 
 very fresh from the W. S.W. At daylight still 
 in the Gulf Stream — temperature 80 degrees. 
 
HENRY BLANEY 125 
 
 Saw a Schooner on our larboard bow steering 
 the same course as ourselves. At 9 a.m. tem- 
 perature of the water 73 degrees, showing we 
 are approaching the western edge. Passed 2 
 ships, and one Bark on our lee, all probably 
 Cotton vessels from N. Yk. bound to some of 
 the Southern ports. At 1 p.m. 2 other ships 
 bound the same as the others. At 2 p.m. 
 Temperature water 62 degrees — color dark 
 blue — In the Gulf Stream — black, p.m. all 
 hands busy getting the Anchors over the 
 bows. 
 
 At 8 p.m. wind came out from the north, just 
 the course we wished to steer, i an hour after, 
 a severe squall struck the ship, but the royals 
 and top gallant sails were fortunately taken 
 in in time. At 9 p.m. was boarded by a New 
 York Pilot who reported us to be 160 miles 
 south of Sandy Hook and 15 miles east of 
 Cape May. Sounded at midnight and found 
 37 fathoms water. Tacked ship and stood off 
 to the N.E. The pilot brought on board a file 
 of newspapers the latest of which was 31st 
 May. Every article was read with the greatest 
 interest, even the advertisements. The last we 
 
126 HENRY BLANEY 
 
 had seen were obtained at St. Helena, and 
 dated Jan. 
 
 June 4' At sunrise wind still ahead and 
 blowing a gale. Took in all the light sails and 
 reefed the topsails. At noon reckoned our- 
 selves to be 90 miles South Sandy Hook and 
 10 miles off Little Egg Harbor in New Jersey. 
 Could plainly see the land — very low sand 
 hills. Standing off and on all day without gain- 
 ing a mile on our course — 6 or 8 small vessels 
 in sight — part of them Pilot boats. At sun- 
 down wind died away, and a prospect of the 
 wind coming out from the westward. In that 
 case shall probably be in New York by Satur- 
 day P.M. 
 
 June 5. At daylight wind came out from 
 the North and directly ahead. The morning 
 was spent in beating off and on the coast. At 
 noon a calm. At 5 p.m. wind came out light 
 from the Southward ; put her before the wind 
 and set larboard studding sails. At 8 p.m. 5 
 steamships passed us from New York — 2 for 
 Chagres — 1 for Charleston — 1 for Savannah 
 and 1 for Norfolk. 
 
 June 6. Sunday. At daylight made Sandy 
 
HENRY BLANEY 127 
 
 Hook and at 8 a.m. a steamer took us in tow 
 and carried us along side the wharf in New 
 York City — after a very pleasant passage of 
 105 days. 
 
 From Shanghae to Anjer (Java) 17 days 
 
 Anjer " Cape Good Hope 38 
 
 Cape Good Hope to St. Helena 15 
 
 St. Helena to the Equator 14 
 
 Equator to New York 21 
 
 Shanghae to New York 105 
 
 Henry Blaney. 
 
 THE END 
 
NOTES 
 
 "In 1847, A. A. Low & Bro. brought out 
 the Samuel Russell, of 940 tons, built by 
 Brown & Bell and commanded by Captain 
 N. B. Palmer, formerly of the Houqua. Her 
 first voyage from New York to Hong-Kong 
 was made by the eastern passages in 114 
 days. On a voyage from Canton in 1851 she 
 sailed 6780 miles in 30 days, an average of 
 226 miles per day, her greatest twenty-four 
 hours' run being 328 miles. This ship was 
 named for the eminent New York merchant, 
 founder of the house of Russell & Company 
 of China, with whom the brothers Low began 
 their career as merchants and shipowners. She 
 was a beautiful vessel, heavily sparred, with 
 plenty of light canvas for moderate weather, 
 and every inch a clipper." 
 
 (The voyage from Canton in 1851, referred 
 to above, was presumably the return voyage 
 next after Mr. Blaney's outward passage.) 
 
130 NOTES 
 
 " The only clipper ship to make the voyage 
 to San Francisco prior to 1850 was the Mem- 
 non, under Captain George Gordon, which 
 arrived there July 28, 1849, after a record 
 passage of one hundred and twenty days from 
 New York. The first contest of clippers round 
 Cape Horn took place in 1850, between the 
 Houqua, Sea Witch, Samuel Russell, and Mem- 
 non, old rivals on China voyages, and the new 
 clippers Celestial, Mandarin, and Race Horse. 
 All of these vessels had their friends, and 
 large sums of money were wagered on the re- 
 sult, the four older ships, especially the Sea 
 Witch, having established high reputations for 
 speed. The Samuel Russell was commanded by 
 Captain Charles Low, previously of the Hou- 
 qua, while the Houqua was now commanded 
 by Captain McKenzie ; Captain Gordon was 
 again in the Memnon; and Captain George 
 Fraser, who had sailed with Captain Water- 
 man as chief mate, commanded the Sea Witch. 
 
 " The Samuel Russell arrived at San Fran- 
 cisco May 6, 1850, after a passage of 109 
 days from New York, thus knocking 11 days 
 off the record, and her friends and backers 
 
NOTES 131 
 
 felt confident that this passage could not be 
 surpassed, at all events not by any of the 
 clippers of that year. This opinion was in a 
 measure confirmed when the Houqua arrived 
 on July 23, 120 days from New York, but on 
 the following day the Sea Witch came romp- 
 ing up the bay, 97 days from Sandy Hook, 
 reducing the record by another 12 days. This 
 passage astonished every one, even her warm- 
 est admirers, and well it might, for it has 
 never been equalled by a ship of her tonnage 
 and not often excelled even by larger vessels. 
 This performance of the Sea Witch was the 
 more remarkable, as she had rounded Cape 
 Horn during the Antarctic midwinter. 
 
 " The remainder of the fleet arrived in the 
 following order : Memnon, September 27, 123 
 days ; Celestial, November 1, 104 days ; Race 
 Horse, from Boston, November 24, 109 days ; 
 and the Mandarin, November 29, 126 days 
 from New York. These were all fine passages, 
 especially when we consider that none of the 
 vessels was over 1100 tons register. The rec- 
 ords show that from June 26 to July 28, 1850, 
 seventeen vessels from New York and sixteen 
 
132 NOTES 
 
 from Boston arrived at San Francisco, whose 
 average passages were 159 days, so that even 
 the Mandarin's passage of 126 days was very 
 fast by comparison. We must remember also 
 that none of these vessels had the advantage of 
 using Maury's Wind and Current Charts, as 
 at that time sufficient material had not been 
 collected to perfect them." 
 
 The Samuel Russell made the following re- 
 cords : — 
 
 Cape St. Roque to 50 degrees S., 16 days, — 
 best time for period 1850 to 1860. 
 
 New York to San Francisco, — 109 days in 
 1850, arriving in May; — 106 days in 1854, 
 arriving in January. 
 
 " The Samuel Russell was wrecked in the 
 Gaspar Straits in 1870, under command of 
 Captain Frederick Lucas." 
 
 Captain Limeburner was the first com- 
 mander of Donald McKay's Great Republic, 
 launched in 1853, " the largest extreme clipper 
 
NOTES 133 
 
 ship ever built," " and by far the largest mer- 
 chant ship constructed up to that time." He was 
 in command for several years, during which 
 period she made the voyage from New York to 
 San Francisco in ninety-two days, within three 
 days of the best record. 
 
 " The first California clippers, thirteen in 
 number, were launched during the year 1850, 
 the Celestial, 860 tons, built by William H. 
 Webb and owned by Bucklin & Crane, of New 
 York, being the first to leave the ways. She 
 was soon followed by the Mandarin, 776 tons, 
 built by Smith & Dimon for Goodhue & Co., 
 of New York, and the Surprise, 1361 tons, 
 owned by A. A. Low & Brother ; Gamecock, 
 1392 tons, owned by Daniel C. Bacon, Boston, 
 and the barque Race Horse, 512 tons, owned 
 by Goddard & Co., Boston, all built by Samuel 
 Hall at East Boston." 
 
 " The Mandarin, ... a fine-looking ship, 
 was intended by her builders to be an improved 
 Sea Witch, and although she made some ex- 
 cellent passages, she never came up to the 
 
134 NOTES 
 
 older vessel in point of speed ; the Sea Witch 
 was her builders' masterpiece, and they, like 
 many others, found her a difficult ship to im- 
 prove upon." 
 
 The Mandarin made the following records : — 
 
 Cape St. Koque to 50 degrees S., 20 days. 
 
 Canton to New York, 89 days. 
 
 New York to Melbourne, 71 days. 
 
 In 1853, after the homeward voyage in the 
 Mandarin, Captain Stoddard commanded the 
 Kathay, of 1460 tons, built by Jacob A. Wes- 
 tervelt; this command continued for several 
 years. 
 
PRINTED BY H. O. HOUGHTON * CO. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 
 
 U.S.A.