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910902

Title
Series 03: John Septimus Roe letters, to New Holland: the voyage of the Dick 17 February 1817 – 5 June 1817
Call number
SAFE/MLMSS 7964/vol. 3 (Safe 1/466)
Level of description
series
Date

1817
Type of material
Textual Records
Reference code
910902
Issue Copy
Digitised
Scope and Content
A series of 11 letters, some with aging and insignificant damage, mostly to his father, the last dated Rio de Janeiro, and including one letter received from Reverend Roe.

ITEM 135: 17 February 1817. To Father, on board Dick. Quick note, written as they prepare to sail. Talks about rushing around Deptford trying to get his orders properly arranged to be allowed on board. Paid Captain Harrison sixty pounds for his passage to New South Wales. Good mess (three or four glasses of wine at dinner). On meeting Philip Parker King: has paid eighty pounds each for him and his wife; “He has only been married about 3 weeks to a very fine West country girl about 18 years of age.” Roe admits to some nostalgia as he prepares to leave England for such a lengthy voyage.

ITEM 136: 21 February 1817. To Father, on board Dick at the Downs. Still in the Downs. Got caught in terrible storm trying for Portsmouth. Went ashore in Deal with Captain and Bedwell. Talks about refusing the offer of sailing with unnamed “a e i o u” because he charged too highly. “Lieut. King I find a very good worthy young man, about 4 or 5 and 20, and Bedwell likewise.” Notes that Bedwell doesn’t draw, and the “heaviest part of that work will fall to my lot.” Asks for birth certificate to prove he is 19 and can pass his final examination for lieutenant: “I shall in all probability complete my 6 years in New Holland…”

ITEM 137: 24 February 1817. To Father, on board Dick. Still in the Downs, caught by bad weather a second time. More notes on his promotion and correspondence with the Admiralty. Has discussed the matter with King. Has been very sea-sick which he accords to the relative smallness of the Dick (437 tons) when compared to the Horatio (1099 tons).

ITEM 138: 1 March 1817. To John, the Rectory at Newbury. Letter from Roe’s father, addressed to Roe in Portsmouth Harbour, but crossed out and newly addressed “New South Wales”. One of only two letters received from Roe’s father extant in the collection (see no. 128). Concerned about Roe in the wild weather and has been following his progress in the papers. Can organise baptismal papers because he baptised all of his own children. Has been ill; sympathises with Roe’s seasickness. Has forwarded parts of Roe letters to friends. “P.S. the Kitten has danced over this letter and left the marks of her talons on the back of your certificate.”

ITEM 139: 10 March 1817. To Father, on board Dick. Still in the Downs, caught by bad weather for the third time. Discusses their plans at some length. Laments his three weeks stuck at anchor. Lists the damage sustained by other vessels. “I have read Lieut. King’s orders from the Admiralty.” Excited that they openly comment on possible promotion. “The principal parts of the coast on which we shall be employed will be from Port Jackson northward to the Gulf of Carpentaria, and from Cape Van Diemen to the northwest Cape, taking particular notice of those islands, rivers, harbours &c &c which the French either did not see or were at too great a distance to obtain their accurate positions.” Comments on King’s plan to stretch across to Timor. May call at Java as King has letters of recommendation from Raffles. They have to take possession of all, and then return for “careful survey.”

ITEM 140: 18 March 1817. To Father, on board Dick at Cork. Has arrived at Cork, comments on the post. The Matilda that sails with them has just arrived with troops and baggage. “We are not to take a single convict… which I can assure you I am not at all sorry for.” Makes fun of their Irish pilot (“made as many Bulls and Blunders in half an hour as 20 Englishmen would make in a Month…”).

ITEM 141: 23 March 1817. To Father, on board Dick at Cork. 150 troops of the 48th Regiment have embarked. He and Bedwell have finally got their small shared cabin, which they white-washed the day before. Room measures eight by six feet, and he fears that in bad weather their cots will bang against the bulkhead. He and Bedwell have been buying glass “for our mess in the schooner” (with a list of their purchases). Has met an old friend from the Rippon. Major “Cemeteire” is the CO of the soldiers.

ITEM 142: 27 March 1817. To Father, on board Dick at Cork. Short letter – he is rushing to leave. Begs his father to write to him care of “His Majesty’s Surveying Vessel at Port Jackson N S Wales”. Fears that he will have to draw upon him when he arrives at Sydney as he continues to hear stories about how expensive items are.

ITEM 143: 21 April 1817. To Father, on board Dick about 300 miles from the Cape Verde islands. They did not call at Madeira. Obliged to rescue a poor Irish sloop that was drifting dangerously. Watching for sharks, porpoises, Portuguese man-of-war. Very interesting account of his daily activities on board, noting that he spends his afternoon reading “voyages and expeditions to the South Seas and Pacific Ocean, of which we have a great many on board, belonging to the Captain, Lieut. King and Mr Bedwell.” After talking with King is now more anxious than ever about the cost of things in New South Wales. Conjectures about the name of their surveying vessel and whether “Governor McQuarrie” will have any thoughts. Roe believes that “Sydney” will be the name of the ship. Cross the Equator. Sober account of the death of one of the soldier’s wives. Very unimpressed with the soldiers (“the laziest set of Tinkers”). Hopes to be allowed to complete a survey in Rio de Janeiro. Discusses a ship they met with at sea, the Boulder, who wasted their time by calling them alongside only to check whether they were the Eagle (from whom the vessel had parted) and then to ask for rum because they were 49 days out of Liverpool and had run out. Captain Harrison wishes them to the devil and complains that it will take him three hours to set sail again. Describes the crossing of the line and King Neptune hiccuping because of the couple of tots of grog he had imbibed. Has organised with King to have his letters held at King’s mother’s house at no. 16 Paddington Green. Complains of his eyesight and applying “Dr Mother’s Hungary Water” four or five times a day. Arrives at Rio.

ITEM 144: 7 May 1817. To William, and not stamped, so probably included with the previous. Chatty, cheeky: talks about dogs, sailing, laments William’s lack of luck with the ladies. List of the 48th Regiment officers on board (included because William is a soldier). Young assistant surgeon Hamilton is smitten with the 18 year old daughter of Quartermaster Stubbs. Roe gives a lengthy and appreciative account of another 18 year old girl who is also on board, joking that if his brother doesn’t marry her, he will.

ITEM 145: Mis-filed: now 75A, Letter of introduction from James Sykes, for the bearer Roe.

ITEM 146: 5 June 1817. To Father, on board Dick at Rio de Janeiro. Comments at length on what he has been up to, including dining on board the Hyaena and watching the local “King”. Very unhappy about the superstitions of the locals. Very dismissive of the local dignitaries. Comments on the large slave population (“a most shameful circumstance”). There has been an altercation between Captain Harrison and one of the officers. Laments the high prices, the mosquitoes, and the rats. Roe decides to start numbering his letters to know if any have miscarried. Letter crossed and partly difficult to read.
Language
English
Access Conditions

Access via appointment
Copying Conditions
Out of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
Description source

Hordern House : John Septimus Roe, Calendar of documents, 2009
General note

Digital order no:Album ID : 981204
Creator/Author/Artist
Roe, James
Name
Dick (ship)
Great Britain. Royal Navy
Open Rosetta viewer
IE243329