The Diary

The diary describes a voyage on the “Derwent”. It was written by a midshipman, a Mr F. B. Copland, aged 19. His hometown was Chelmsford in Essex UK. Unfortunately his Christian names are not mentioned, but no doubt, with a little further research, this will come to light eventually.

The diary is written in a hard back pocket notebook with lined pages, of similar size to a modern paperback novel.

 A scan of two of the pages.

There is also a 13-verse poem at the back of the book entitled “Recitation on the Common Sailor”.

There is no year mentioned anywhere in the diary but with a bit of research it appears to cover the period 1884/5.

• Derwent was built in 1884.

• Queen Victoria’s birthday is celebrated. (Sunday May 24^th ) The year must therefore fall between 1884 and 1901.

• Good Friday is in the diary as April 3^rd. Easter only occurs twice between these dates, in 1885 and 1896.

• Feb. 29^th is not recorded and as 1896 was a leap year one must assume that the year is 1885

• Sailing ship Hawkesbury is in Sydney. She was with Devitt & Moore between 1868 and 1888.

It is assumed therefore that when she set sail from Glasgow on Dec 30^th the year was 1884 and she was on her maiden voyage.

One page has been torn out/removed and  covers Jan 13^th. Some light is shed on this period in the article describing the ship at:

http://www.ship-modelers-assn.org/fam9802.htm

The period October 20^th to December 5^th is not covered at all. This is part of the return journey covering the South Atlantic to the Bay of Biscay.

Mr Copland visits friends/relatives in Uralla a town in New South Wales, where he stays with a Dr Woods. On my research I contacted the Uralla Visitors Information Centre  and thanks to Barry & Morna Sinclair they have supplied a scan of a picture of Dr Woods.

http://www.nnsw.com.au/uralla/index.html

Text in script format is the text as written in the diary; any other typeface is my addition for comment or clarification.

The Diary is split into 8 stages of the Journey

Glasgow to Spain                                  Dec  24^th                 to          Jan 16^th

Spain to the Equator                           Jan 17^th                   to          Feb 14^th

Equator to Good Hope                        Feb 15^th                  to           March 15th

Good Hope to Sydney                          March 16^th              to          April 17^th

Visit to Uralla NSW                             April 18^th                 to          June 19^th

Alongside at Sydney                            June 20^th                 to          Aug 29^th

Sydney to Cape Horn                          August 30^th              to         October 4^th

Cape Horn to London                         October 5^th              to          Dec 16^th