Best Outward Passages 1855-56, Liverpool to Melbourne.
I have failed to point out before that the Black Ballers always sailed on the 5th of the month from Liverpool, and the White Star on the 20th; it thus becomes an easy matter to pick out the ships of the rival lines.
At such a time it is only natural to find Golden a favourite part of a ship’s name. Golden Era, Golden City, Golden Eagle, Golden Light, Golden State, Golden West, Golden Age, and Golden Gate were all down-east clippers, built for the Californian gold rush.
| Ship | Date Left | Date Arrived | Days Out. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1855 | 1856 | ||
| Ocean Chief | Dec. 7 | Jan. 25 | 80 |
| Mermaid | „ 21 | Feb. 10 | 82 |
| 1856 | |||
| Oliver Lang | Jan. 7 | April 3 | 87 |
| Champion of the Seas | March 8 | June 1 | 85 |
| James Baines | April 7 | „ 24 | 78 |
| Mindoro | „ 22 | July 13 | 82 |
| Lightning | May 6 | „ 14 | 69 |
| Red Jacket | „ 20 | Aug. 13 | 85 |
| Golden Era | June 20 | Sept. 9 | 81 |
| Morning Light | July 6 | „ 17 | 73 |
| Mermaid | „ 22 | Oct. 17 | 87 |
| Ocean Chief | Aug. 5 | „ 19 | 75 |
| White Star | „ 21 | Nov. 5 | 76 |
| Marco Polo | Sept. 5 | Dec. 2 | 89 |
The Morning Light was a monster New Brunswick built ship, registering 2377 tons. She was on her first voyage and must not be confused with the American clipper of that name, owned by Glidden & Williams, of Boston, and built by Toby & Littlefield, of Portsmouth, N.H., a ship of half her size.