| Title: | Beale, Joseph Sr to Beale, Margaret, 1852 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4467 |
| Collection | The Earth between them: Joseph Beale's letters home to Ireland from Victoria (1852-1853) [E.Beale] |
| File | beale/1 |
| Year | 1852 |
| Sender | Beale, Joseph Sr |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | emigrant |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Ship Sarah Sands, at sea |
| Destination | Mountmellick, Co. Laois, Ireland |
| Recipient | Beale, Margaret |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | husband-wife |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 3702 |
| Genre | diary kept during voyage, account of passage |
| Note | |
| Transcript | ½ past 3 ships time abt 5 by Mt. Mk. Sarah Sands at Sea 9 mo: 28th 1852 [28 September 1852] (lat 34 degrees 50 min at noon) To my best beloved Wife, I write thee alone in our cabin, with the dark blue sea before me, and in a delightful climate. I had to put off my warm clothing this morn and now have laid aside even my linen coat. Oh, how I do enjoy the bright sunny skies of these latitudes, they cheer the spirits and make a separation from those we love best and dearest lighter. I often think if I had thee and the children here I sh'd be too happy—it is not easy to write an interesting letter on a voyage, there is necessarily so much of sameness every day, and one day is so like to another, however I shall give thee all I can to keep us before your eyes at home—everyday trifles, of which sea life in particular is made up—so I begin a copy of my diary— 9/22nd. Sailed from Queenstown at 2 o'clock, parted visitors About ½ past two, and felt truly thankful that thou my dearest bore up so heroically amidst the parting cheers of those bound for a voyage to the antipodes. Our course SW, fair weather, but contrary winds, at 8 the wind came round a few points and we hoist canvass, the boys [our sons Joseph and Francis] and our cabin fellow passengers unwell and retired to rest, I remain'd on deck until 10 when I retired and slept soundly, perfectly free from any sickness. It more [ban once occurred to me this eveng that I sh'd write home and then the recollection that for a long period that was impracticable, told that we were indeed on a long voyage. 23rd. Arose at 6, and read my bible, found the wind again adverse, we move solely by the screws, at 8 changed our course more to the west and hoist sails again—a delightful day, tho’ many passengers continue sick. 24th. In the bay of Biscay, the water rough, caught a beautiful large yellow butterfly, of a kind not seen in Ire'd, a chaffinch and cuckoo also came on board to rest—the weather perceptibly warmer, and the evenings delightful, our fellow passengers on board very agreable. [Our son] Jos'h and [our servant] Jas Kennedy very sick since 4th day, I cannot get them to take food or drink of any kind. Francis a good sailor. My thoughts all day and in the wakeful hours of nigh; are center'd in home and the dear ones left behind, but my mind is preserved in quietude and calmness—we have had a stiff breeze since last evening, have all sail set and are making rapid progress- Viewing the dark blue waves around on every side, without a home on land as I am, I tho't the lines not inapplicable "Where'er the breeze may bear, the billows foam, Survey our empire and behold our home." for this ship is at present our only home. Our fellow passenger from Cork (Thos Hosford) his wife and sister-in-law, are all very unwell—he cannot look after them, so he sends me into the ladies' cabin the first thing in the morn'g and last at night. I felt it scarcely my place to intrude on others, and apologized, but all said I was priviledged and all thanked me for any little attention. The stewardess has been seasick and so females were badly attended to. I took all the care I could of them, being all thro' as well as if I were sitting in Monordreigh. Captn Thompson invited me to dine with him to-day in the first cabin. I shaved and dressed for the occasion, not to disgrace an Irish friend. I believe no one but myself was shaved the vessel rolled so much. I made my acquaintance with Sir Robert Stamford, who is an extensive' land-holder at the Cape and has two flour mills. We had a deal of conversation, he invited me to stop at his house at Cape Town and that he would drive me 40 miles into the country to view his farm and mills—if so it will be a great recreation after so long a voyage. 25th. Rose a little after six, calm weather, the wind from rather a more favourable point than yesterday. I enjoy uninterrupted good health, appetite good, tho' our fare in the 2nd cabin is very coarse—salt beef and pork with hard old biscuits, they may well be called biscuits for they were baked over again at I/pool being left from the Californian voyage, Coffee without milk and coarse brown sugar, courser than I have seen sold at 4d per 1b. The temperature very mild and much warmer. We are now oft the coast of Spain—all the passengers exceedingly attentive to me. I find on board several young sons of gentlemen, 1st class passengers, whom the more experienced passengers consider totally unfit for Australia. Joseph says "I think father, many who are going out 1st class will be glad to return 2nd class". After breakfast I read with comfort and a feeling of thankfulness, as not inapplicable to my present state of life, the XII chap, of Hebrews, which I unintentionally open d on. (I wrote so far on the 28th and now resume on the 30th.) Last even'g Frs pointed out a gentleman to me whom he said I should find a very nice person. I soon introduced myself to him (than which nothing is easier at sea), I found Francis had formed a correct estimate of politeness etc. etc. The gn. told me he had been an officer in the service of Eng'd and of Austria, after a pleasant half hours chat he asked something about friends [Quakers'] principles—I told him I would lend him a book wh. while affording a very correct account of many parts of our intended home, would at the same time give him an explanation of the doctrines of the society of F'nds. I gave him Jas Backhouse's Journal. When handing it to him a gentleman to whom I had lent and who had lent me a work said "I tliink Sir you are the librarian of the ship". I told the first Gn. (whose name I think is Gordon) that perhaps lie would find the work very diff't from his former avocations, that it was written by a religious person "but perhaps thy intentions are for the future to change the sword for the pruning hook".4 The second gen'n whose name I think is Crowe said "I sh'd not give much for reading any work written by an irreligious man". Lat to-day 9/25-44.40 [25 September—approaching die latitude of the north toast of Spain.] I was to-day chosen by acclamation President of the Mess, an American gent'n Vice President, who is well acquainted with seafaring life. On my appointment, I addressed them and said "in a long voyage like ours, the peace and comfort of the body deluded in a great measure on the conduct of individuals towards each other, that I hoped everyone would act with condescension and kindness towards his messmates, but that it was not impossible but differences might arise, and if so, I hoped they would be referred to the President and Vice P't of the mess", which was answered by "hear, hear" and a cheer. [Joseph interrupted his report of his speech by a long interpolation reading:] (here I must mention that while I write in my cabin by the only window in it, I think 19 inches in circumference, I write without coat, waistcoat or cravat, with a silk handkerchief under my finger to keep the paper from being wet, every lew minutes I have to dry my face and hands from perspiration while the sea rolls so much, that tho' I write quickly I had to prop myself, first on one leg, and then on another, 13 times on each while I wrote the line marked X) (so excuse bad writing). First Day 9/26. On taking my seat at the table this morng according to seafaring style, I was wished "a good morning Mr. President" by each person. We get on very agreably and all treat me with great respect, but my position gives me trouble as any grievance felt by any of the mess I have to regulate, either with the Captain or Purser—after breakfast I found by my watch it was £ past 10, which being kept by ships time, and allowing for diff[erenc]e of lat: would be about 20 min past II at Mt. Melick. I fancied you all at meeting, or in cheerfid converse with my dear sister May [Mary Pim] and all her dearly loved family, most likely we wanderers on the ocean of waters, and the Ocean of life, were not forgotten—No—I am sure we were not—at £ past 10 "the sound of the church going bell" warned all to their Sabbath duties, and it was really comforting to see the Episcopalians, R.C's, Methodists and we poor lone friends, each retiring to address Omnipotence in the manner that each believed most acceptable in His Divine sight —[the third mate] Josh Pim joined us. I read the four first chapters of Hebrews. I read with difficulty from emotion, on the wide ocean far from home the reading of what I had so often read under very diff't circumstances affected me. I tho't however, a feeling of acceptance for our small offering was vouchsafed. The weather in this latitude abreast of northern Portugal (4ld, 50m at noon) is delightful, we find warm clothing no longer wanted. While sitting on deck the even'gs to 9 or 10 o'clock are such as old Ireland never knew, such mild balmy air has a very great influence on the spirits, one enjoys life more than in the cool, gloomy, humid summer skies, of the country of my birth, if all my family were with me, lite would be an enjoyment indeed. On first day everyone appears in full dress after church hour some tracts were distributed to the R.C's which gave them great offence, they complained to me, and I said I tho't it was ill advised, and a gentleman, the second in command of the detective force in London, said, he highly disapproved of it. When favour'd to meet f can tell thee some very curious circumstances relating to this gent'n, which as he confides strictly to me, I cannot allude to at present. He is going out with every authority from Govt in London to arrest a person in Australia or the Cape of Good Hope or to follow him wherever he is and to convey him home for fraud and peculation to a large amount. Thou will be surprized when I tell thee, how we became acquainted and how we became confidential friends, so that from necessity (I may say) he had to cut open his belt which he wears with his despatches by night as well as by day round his body, to prove to me that his statement could not be doubted—it cannot—he wanted and wants my assistance, and I will give it him to the utmost of my ability. I can tell a true, a good and a curious story about the whole affair whenever opp'y offers—and the time arrives. 27th. Lat at noon 37.50—a gentleman handed me the following: "Loaming in symetry and strength, old ocean's depths to ride How .steadily and gracefully she houndeth o'er the tide By skill designed for enterprise our commerce to increase To hear our merchandize abroad in liberty and peace Thro' all the dreadful perils of the fathomless profound [Cod] speed her in her voyages outward and homeward hound. Long may her skillful Captain in this and distant lands In safety steer the gallant ship, the bonny Sarah Sands. She'll cross the broad Atlantic tho' right ahead the wind Her bare poles bending to the gale, her canvas all confined 'Gainst wind and tide her dauntless screw her progress will propel And steer lier through the trackless deep—man's energy 10 tell. But when the wind blows kindly, with all her sails unfurled. Then like a beautious hind she'll breast the waters of the world. One bumper and a hearty cheer, the theme our warmth demands. May lie who rules the winds and waves, protect the Sarah Sands." To amuse some of the passengers I read it to them, some said it was very good—the H.C's who are mostly from Cork shouted out when finished, in true Cork accent, A-men A-men, laying the accent on the last sylable. Having made my observations on nearly everyone on board except the hardwork'd, thoughtless sailors, I rambled down one even'g to find out what they are made of, and whether I could gain their confidence, roughspun seamen. So, I began by asking why every sail but one was made tight all round and this the main sail, at times blew up to the yard arm. They all laughed at my question and said I suppose you are a better sailor Sir, than we are? I laughed too, and s'd no indeed, I knew nothing at all about it, I only asked you for inform'n. So we talked tu no use, at last the boatswain said, don't you see Sir it's doing its duty like a L'pool carthorse, pulling away. At the moment the wind curl'd it up in a roll to the yard arm, which gave me the opp'y of saying— 'Like a Liverpool carthorse!! it's more like a Rio-de-Janeiro cowskin, rolled up to nothing'. They laughed over and over again at this, said it was the best thing they heard for many a day. I saw I had said enough and retired saying, I hope I have not offended any of you. "Oh, bless you, no Sir, we hadn't a hearty laugh since we left L'pool before". About half an hour afterwards one of them came to me and sd. he was sent by the men to apologise to me, they were afraid I was offended, that they did not know who I was, but since I had left, they had learn'd from the passengers, that there wasn't a more respectable person "afloat", and he explained to my clear understanding, why that sail in particular was differently arranged from all the rest. (It is now so rough that I have to prop my head ag't the roof of my cabin to keep on my feet, sometimes bowing to the waves, outside my 6 inch (round) window and sometimes in the position of an astronomer, while every now and then I have to make obeisance on my right hand and on my left. Were 1 crossing from Dublin to L'pool on the 80 of the 9 mo: in the usual cold damp weather of that latitude, it is probable I sh'd be dishearten'd, but here the climate makes an extraordinary difference, one is always cheerful, tho' the heart is ever the same to those left behind. Well my darling, I think thou can hardly understand this, but when thou art in the same lat's and with the same weather, thou wilt (if not sick at sea) understand it well, and feel the effects of climate in a manner thou never before felt. 28th. Lat 34.50. The weather very warm. We have today awnings thrown over the deck. Our fare in the 2nd cabin very coarse and poor, all the passengers lamenting that they did not each bring some seastore [presumably a private supply of food]. I had to give up the salt beef and pork, the first class have every luxury and even the beef and pork is picked for them, and we have only the coarse pieces with "Hobson's choice"— Under no circumstance will it ever do, for my precious family to come out save as first class passengers. I do believe the younger children particularly never could live thro" a voyage treated as we are—except soup and boulli one day and pea soup without meat in it another, we have nothing comfortable save our beds, we cannot see the food on our plates the cabin is so extremely dark, yet my party are preserved in health and our fellow passengers very kind to us. Jos'h more than once said, "we must do everything in our power to get my mother and the family out as 1st class, it would never do for them to come out any other way". 29th. Lat 31 degrees 50 miles [sic] Long 19 degrees SO minutes Thou canst find out this spot on the map. [They were west of Madeira.] I have had a long conversation today with Sir R. Stamford, he is decidedly of opinion, that my family should all come out first class in a sailing vessel, there is very little time saved by a steamer, there is so much time lost, taking in coals at St. Vincent's (from whence I hope to send this letter) and at the Cape of Gd. Hope. There is no reasonable expectation of the S'h Sands making the voyage under 90 days. I would agree with a house of first rate character like Gibbs, Bright & Co. of Liverpool, and sail in one of their best vessels A.I, with good room between decks. If so, the shabby tricks that are played on the second class passengers by the charterers of this vessel will be avoided. Captn Thompson is a very excellent man, but he has nothing to do with any save those at his own table. The fact is, those Melbourne Mining Co. folk, are losers by this trip, and they make us suffer by privation, to keep all they possibly can for themselves, every passenger on board (except 1st class) is greatly dissatisfied. 30th. Lat 29.37. The sea very rough, with wind ag't us. I sat for hours on the bow, and greatly enjoyed the rolling of the sea, it is a most pleasurable sensation. Thou wouldst be delighted to sit as I have, if unaftected by sea sickness— "Oh, who can tell, save he whose heart hath tried And. danced in triumph o'er the waters wide The exulting sense, the pulse's mad'ning play That fhrills the wanderer o'er the pathless way, Thrills Lu the rising bosom's inmost core." Numbers of flying fish around us, they rise in flocks at times, like a flock of larks at home, but their flight of from 15 to 200 yards, is like that of the swallow, very quick, their sides like burnished silver. I had no idea they were so beautiful an object, contrasted with the dark blue waters of the Atlantic— "When I have seen thy snow white wing From the blue wave at evening spring And show thy scales of silver white So gaily to the eye of light As if thy frame were formed to rise And live amidst the glorious skies." 10/1 [1 October] Lat 27.30. Wind contrary, tho' light, as we get into the warm climates, many of the passengers complain of the heat, but I feel like being in a hot bath, most agreable and cheering, alone in my cabin I read the Chap of Genesis. I never before understood the extraordinary beauties therein contained—how wonderful the Sacred Scriptures for doctrine, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Spoke the Barbara of Bristol, 13 days from thence and bound to the coast of Guinea. Saw the first turtles, floating by us, the sea as smooth as a mirror, not a breath of wind. 10/2 Lat. 25.0. 3rd. Lat 22.37, within the tropic of Cancer. The weather very warm, many complain, but it agrees well with me, I laid aside my flannel waistcoat, in fact, without any clothes one would be suff'y warm, the air is about as warm as the blood. I often think if I were to return home and arrive in 11th mo. "in the dark dismal days of Nov'r" it would almost end my days— while I write, the perspiration pours down my face, tho' I have only a light calico shirt and a trousers on. 4th. Lat I9.18 Long 24.0. We are desirous for to-morrow when we hope to land at St. Vincent's, one of the Cape de Verd isles lat 17.54. It is probable we may rem'n there for 2 or 3 days. I intend posting this there, if practicable. There are a good many Irish on board from Ulster, Leinster and Munster, and "the Kingdom of Kerry" (and except two or three aristocratic tools in the 1st cabin, where are also several excellent gentlemen) all act as friends to each other, no matter what the respective creed may be, is it not strange that however parties contend at home in Ire'd, so soon as they meet "foreigners" like Scotch or Eng'h, the Irish become united—so it is in fact 10.5. At ½ past 4 a.m. I arose and until the present time 9 o clock have been amused with the bold scenery of St. Anthony's and of St. Vincent's, where we have been fav'd to arrive in safety, and now my ever precious love, I conclude, by saying my tho'ts are continually with thee, anxiously desiring to know thou contends with all thy difficulties, in the Mill, etc., etc. Joseph is a remarkably steady lad, Frs. more volatile, but both greatly respected on board. Kiss each of my loved children for me, remember me aff'y to all interested about me. Be assured that nil that lies in our power will be done for thee and if favoured to meet you all in Australia, it will be indeed the happiest day of my life, and will be a recompense for all the trials hitherto administer'd to me. Write often to my address —P. Office, Melbourne—and I will write at least weekly to thee. Farewell my dearest, and believe me to be thy ever attached and loving husband J.Beale |
