Journal of voyage from England to Sydney, New South Wales, September 1838 - January 1839, September 1838-January 1839

Containers:

Box (Shared), Folder (MS 6300)

Component identifier:

Item

Content Summary:

Journal written by George Wise, aged 24, who was a cabin passenger on the voyage of the emigrant ship "Alfred" to Sydney in 1838-1839.

The journal opens on 17 September 1838 when the "Alfred" sailed from Plymouth and finishes with the entry for 16 January 1839, one day after the termination of the voyage in Sydney.

Journal entries record how Wise occupied his time at sea by "journalizing", writing letters, mapping, reading aloud to other passengers, rereading old letters, wandering on deck, and by playing backgammon and other games. Wise was an avid reader on the voyage, and his journal offers a record of the reading material taken by a migrant. The journal also details navigational data and weather conditions, and events that occurred on board including many deaths from fever and other illnesses, and a small riot.

Access and use