June

Thursday 6. June 1822!
We this forenoon crossed the Tropic of Cancer – being this day at Noon in Latd. 23.° 58' North Latitude — We are now in hopes of seeing dear old England in 3 weeks from this date!

Monday 10. June 1822.
We were this day at Noon in Latd. 30.° 42' N. and in Longd. 41.° 30' West. — We spoke and passed at 11. a.m. a Ship belonging to the Portuguese Nation bound from Pernambucco to the Western Islands.

We have now a very fine fair Wind from the South East – and going generally six Knots per Hour with very fine fair weather – and a smooth Sea – Capt. Raine thinks we shall see England in fifteen days from this date.

Thursday 13. June 1822!
We have been the greater part of yesterday and today becalmed and consequently have made very little progress – being this day at noon only in Latd. 35.° 37' North. —

A great number of Sperm Whales were this forenoon seen at about Half a Mile distance from the Ship playing themselves – and spouting beautifully.

We saw two Strange Vessels this day to Leeward of us about Ten Miles, standing apparently the same way with ourselves; but being at so great a distance we did not attempt to speak them.

This being the anniversary of my beloved wife's Birth Day her Health was drank in a Bumper after Dinner for many many returns of it. — There was a fine Turtle weighing 42 Pounds weight caught this day, which we are to feast at Dinner on Sunday next. — It was seen swimming past us in the afternoon, and we lowered a Boat to catch it. —

Two more large Sperm Whales were seen close to the Ship this Evening playing and Spouting. — A large Shark was also seen close astern this morning – and was very [word missing] caught by Mr. Hall.

This auspicious Day has therefore been very remarkable for Sights of all sorts. —

Friday 14. June!!!
This day 4 months (16 weeks ago) we sailed from Port Jackson. — It being almost a dead Calm since yesterday at Noon; and consequently we have made little or no progress for the last 24 Hours. —

There are no less than Six Sail of strange Vessels in sight this afternoon - all steering the same course with ourselves; – One of them a few miles ahead of us, appearing to be a large English East Indiaman.

Saturday 15. June 1822.
We spoke one of the Strange Sails (seen yesterday) this forenoon, and she proves to be the ship "Charles" of Jersey from Rio Grande, Homeward bound. —

At Noon today we were in Latd. 37.° 5' North, and in Longd. 38.° West. — The Wind is now perfectly fair for us, and we are going at the rate of 7 Knots per Hour. —

Sunday 16. June 1822!
We have had a very fine fair Wind for the last 24 Hours – but it is very Slack today – tho' it still continues fair. — The Indiaman – and the Ship we Spoke yesterday are still in sight – but the former has got the start of us by about 12 miles. —

This Day at Noon we are in Latd. 38.° 46' N. & Longd. 34.° 10' W. —

Monday 17. June 1822!
This day at Noon we were in Latd. 39.° 56' North – and in Longd. 31.° 24' West. — We are now therefore clear of the Western Islands – or "Azores" – being 24 miles to the northward of "Corvo" the northernmost of them; and, if we have any tolerably good luck, we shall arrive in the English Channel in 12 Days from this date. —

There are two large ships ahead of us, steering the same course. —

Tuesday 18. June 1822.
We Telegraphed with the nearest to us of the two Strange Sails in sight this forenoon, and she turns out to be the Ship "Wm. Milles" from Calcutta bound to London. — She is a Free Trader – and has no news. — At Noon today we are in Latd. 41.° 15' North and Longd. 29.° West. — The Wind is quite fair – and we are going Six Knots per Hour.

The weather is now very fine & mild but occasionally cloudy. We spoke the "Miles" in the Evening.

Wednesday 19. June 1822!
We have been quite becalmed since Day-light this morning. At Noon we were in Latd. 41.° 54' N. and in Longd. 26.° 37' W.

One of my largest and best Swans died this afternoon.

Thursday 20. June 1822.
It has continued almost a dead Calm all yesterday and last Night. — We are this day at Noon only in Latd. 41.° 56' North, and in the same Longitude as yesterday. The Calm still continued.

Friday 21. June!
We have still a continued Calm – and consequently unable to make any progress in our Voyage. — The Ship "Wm. Milles" is close to us all this day. — In the afternoon, her Commander, Capt. Samuel Beadle, came on board to visit us. — We mutually interchanged some few articles of Provisions we reciprocally required. — This Ship touched at St. Helena and sailed from Bengal in January last having a great many Passengers on board from that country.

Capt. Beadle informs us that the Marquis of Hastings is going Home immediately, and is to be succeeded by Mr. Canning.

Saturday 22. June 1822.
A light Breeze of Wind from the Westward Sprang up this morning about 2,O'Clock – and enabled us to steer our proper course.

It rained the greater part of Last Night – and continues still to do so at Noon, which prevented our getting an Observation of the Sun. —

The Wm. Milles continues still near us – the two Ships sailing very equally. —

Wednesday 26. June.
We have had very Light or Baffling Winds from Saturday last till yesterday morning when the Wind came round to North West – and blew a fine Breeze. —

We are this day in Latd. 45.° – 34' N. and in Longd. 18.° – West. — The Wind continues fair for us – and we are going Six Knots. — The Ship Wm. Milles continues still in Company. — I had the misfortune to lose one of my Cape Barren Geese this morning, it having found Dead in its Pen. — I am very [word missing] for this loss, as I had only four of these rare Birds altogether. —

Saturday 29. June.
We are this day in Latd. 47.° 48' N., and Longd. 8.° 50' West at Noon. — We are in hope of striking Soundings this Evening, in case the present Breeze continues, and seeing the Lizard Point in dear old England by Sunset tomorrow Evening. — We had a very fine strong and fair Wind all Thursday – but it yesterday slackened very much and also Headed. — We ly [sic] our right Course – and have a five Knot Breeze. — The Ship Wm. Milles is still to be seen far astern but nearly out of Sight. — At 8. P.M. Hove to and try to sound with 115 Fathoms but found no bottom.

Sunday 30. June 1822.
The Wind was rather scant for us all this Day - but we nevertheless were able to lay up our proper Course of North by East for the English Channel – which we are now approaching very fast – being at Noon this day only 135 miles from the Lizard. — We find there is a Strong Current against us all this day setting us a good deal back of our Dead Reckoning – ; so that we have now no chance of seeing Land this Day. Latd. 48.° 51' N. and Longd. 6.° 25' West. At 12,O'Clock at Night, we sounded and found bottom with 43 fathoms of Line, clearly indicating that we are now in the Chops of the English [Channel – word missing], but still too far from Land to see it, or even any of the Lights on the Coast. —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal of a Voyage to England, 1822.
[12 February 1822 - 13 July 1822]
Original held in Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A775 77-93 ff. [CY Reel 302 Frames #82-98].