These are just a few excerpts from the diary of Rev. Jackson Muspratt-Williams who left England on the Ship Caesar in 1829 for India with his wife.
The diary covers Nov 1829 to late in 1830 and is beautifully handwritten with a few illustrations.
Friday 11th Dec 1829
In sight of Porto Santo at ½ past 11 o’clock. Until this day I have been paralyzed both in body and mind by continued sea sickness, as to be totally incapacitated for keeping what I had hoped to have done; a regular journal from the day I quitted my dear native land. I shall however endeavor to call over my mind the more prominent occurrences of each day past and continue by divine permission, to do so every subsequent day.
On Friday morning (Nov 27th) between I and 2 o’clock we weighed anchor, notwithstanding the dense fog which prevailed, in defiance of the prejudice of doing so on a Friday we made our way out by St. Helens. In the afternoon the pilot left us off St. Catherines and conveyed letters to some of my beloved family
While cots were being slung , a tremendous crash carried conviction to our minds & made our blood curdle with the persuasion that we were rapidly descending to the bottom. It lasted about three seconds, appearing as though the ship was breaking to pieces in all directions. Fully expecting to see the water in , I requested Anne and the servant to follow me on deck, but the latter had fainted. On reaching the Cuddy I found that a ship of 300 tons burden had run foul of us. This was about half past eight – she carried away the poop starboard bulwark, with hen coop and boat and gear. Smashed the mizzen chains and stove in the gallery window of our cabin & she carried away her own bowsprit. The captain then thought it expedient to exhibit a light fro the foremast. That is after the steed was stolen he shut the stable door. May we be not unmindful of this merciful escape !
Dec17th ( during a storm while anchored in Funchal- Madiera)
At 4 o’clock no hyperpole of language or painting could give a just idea of the terror which surrounded us on every side. The lightening , literally without the slightest exaggeration ran down the masts and about the deck, like fireworks denominated serpents. The thunder rolled in incessant peals as tho’ the very bowels of the earth were breaking up. The sea ran into mountains & seemed impatient of our surviving the awful explosion with which we were threatened should the lightening ignite our 150 barrels of gunpowder we had on board. The rain came down upon us in torrents, like the bursting of a water spout but altho’ this last , while it continued, serv’d to augment the awful scene, yet it was the very means & under God the only means that saved us for by its continuance & force it at once subdued the rising surges of the sea and lulled the wind into an ordinary gale.
Feb 24th ( at Capetown)
I think it could never have been intended that people should sleep at the Cape, for I found the attempt ridiculous – no sooner were my eyes closed than they were again opened, by such a universal irritation on my skin as to make one leap out of bed rather quicker that I should otherwise have been disposed to do. The cause was manifest, when by the light of the candle, I descried a whole army of bugs , scampering in all directions. A most destructive warfare ensued - But , notwithstanding the slaughter which took place , I could but see the danger of sleeping within the precincts of so pertinacious an enemy.
April 23rd (Friday)
We could see distinctly the town of Madras on a flat shore without a single rise in view, at a distance of about ten miles. All was now hurry & confusion in packing up in order to be ready for landing by the first opportunity. At ¼ before 11 we cast anchor in Madras Road having completed the voyage from Dear England in exactly 21 weeks.
Praised be God for all his unspeakable mercies.
His drawing of crossing a river.
May 29th 1830
My dear wife was delivered this morning of a fine little girl – she was first taken ill at ½ past 4. I desire to dedicate this babe to God. May I be enabled by his spirit to do so ! Dr. Atkinson attended her – I spoke to him about myself – he tells me it is absolutely necessary that I should abstain from the performance of public Divine service for one month & he wrote a certificate to that effect. He has ordered 8 leeches for my throat, forbidden my taking wine and prescribed a medicine for me. He hopes by these means to cure this troublesome complaint and thereby prevent its communication to the lungs, which it will do if not arrested in time. The leech man came in the evening and applied 8 leeches, which took from me about 9 oz’s of blood.
His house near Madras