Thursday 18th April 1878

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Diary kept during my voyage to Australia and back, a journey I undertook for the benefit of my health, and as a cure (light and inexpensive) for headaches. I left England on Thursday 18th April 1878 and got back to London 28th June 1879.


Started for Melbourne. The ship “Mermerus” a full rigged ship was to have started nearly a month ago, but for some cause or other its sailing was delayed until today.

I left 59 Chepstow Place (my Mother’s house) about quarter to 10 - having to be at the South West India docks a little before 12 o’clock. Had some trouble in getting a Hansom, it being the day before Good Friday (and cabs scarce and a 7 miles drive, it was only by offering 2/- over the fare that I got one) - drove all the way to the Docks having previously sent off my heavy luggage - only two passengers besides myself were on board when I arrived. We left the moorings about 11.30 and went and lay on the landing stage just outside the docks until about 1 o’clock when the rest of the passengers came on board, fourteen in all.

The ship was towed down the river by two tugs to some two miles below Sheerness, where the tugs left us and we let down anchor to take in gunpowder etc. Lay there till 5.30 in the morning. Had to make my own bed, the Steward being too busy to attend to us, shared a cabin with two others - the Doctor of the ship and another man, it being no. 1 stern cabin. Only one wash hand stand between us and a very small allowance of water (about a quart or a little more to each person which I am told, is to be our daily allowance of water). Foggy morning but cleared up in the afternoon. I took a blue pill at night. I have the upper bunk above the Dr, and the other man who is a Colonist returning after a 12 months tour, has a bunk near the portholes.

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