May 16th.—In the forenoon, fine calm weather, we came to an anchor in sight of Brighton, to wait the change of tide: saw His Majesty’s ship Hope at anchor in the Roads. In the afternoon, got under weigh: observed His Majesty’s brig Tigress standing down Channel. Towards nightfall, we weathered the promontory of Beachy Head, and passed in view of Hastings, where the famous battle was fought between King Harold and William the Conqueror.
May 17th.—At two in the morning, anchored in sight of Dungeness Light-house. At seven A.M. weighed, with a foul wind, and beat towards the South Foreland. Came in sight of the coast of France: observed a large pillar, or monument, on the hills above Boulogne, said to have been erected by Buonaparte. In the afternoon, anchored off the town of Folkestone. Towards evening, weighed again; and, after night-fall, anchored in Dover Roads.
May 18th.—In the morning we had a fine view of Dover Castle, the majestic South Foreland, &c. Got under weigh, and stood across the Channel;—observed many vessels passing between France and England. Saw the spires of Calais. Beat up at the back of the Goodwin Sands;—observed a three-decked ship in the Downs, hoisting the flag of his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, under a general salute of cannon from all the shipping. Towards evening, anchored in sight of Margate; but after night-fall, got under weigh again.
May 19th.—In the morning, anchored again, near a shoal called the Galloper. In the forenoon, weighed. Towards evening, passed Orford-Ness Light-houses, and anchored in Hoseley Bay. An officer was immediately sent on shore, to bring on board the final orders. The boat was nearly overturned in landing, in consequence of the heavy surf on all parts of this coast: however, the officer returned about midnight, and delivered the orders to the Captain. Nothing could exceed the consternation and astonishment of every person on board, to find we were directed to proceed, almost immediately, for Hudson’s Bay!—Had we been ordered to the North Pole, there could not have been more long faces among us. Down fell, at once, all the aërial castles which we had been so long building; and nothing remained, but the dismal prospect of a tedious voyage, amidst icy seas, and shores covered with eternal snows.
May 20th.—A boat was this day despatched to Harwich, from which place we were about ten miles distant, to get on board what few naval stores were wanted to complete us for the voyage. Harwich is a small town, with narrow streets, not paved: there are some pleasant walks in the environs. The harbour is a good one, with sufficient depth of water for a frigate. The place is well fortified towards the sea, and has a small naval arsenal. A guard-ship is generally stationed at this port, during war.
May 21st.—In the morning, His Majesty’s ship Unicorn passed us, under an immense press of sail, with a Royal standard flying at her mast-head, which we saluted with twenty-one guns.
May 22d.—Towards the evening of this day, our Captain received orders to proceed to the Nore, in order to procure pilots to conduct the ship safe to the Orkneys. We had also another motive in visiting the Nore at this time, which I may, perhaps, be excused relating, although it have no immediate connexion with the voyage that we were about to undertake. Previous to our sailing from Spithead, a shipwright belonging to the dock-yard had been accidentally killed, by our having fired a signal-gun without taking out the shot. Unfortunately, the poor man’s wife, at the moment of his death, was pregnant of her tenth child. A subscription was instantly opened for her, on board our ship, and £.60 was the next day paid into her hands. I have since been informed, that the different ships at Spithead followed our example, as did also the workmen of the Dock-yard; and a handsome sum was collected in the whole. No blame could be attributed to any person; but, to prevent the possibility of such an imputation, it was thought necessary that the gunner should be tried by a court-martial; and it was to assemble this court, that we were now ordered to proceed to the Nore[4].
May 23d.—In the morning, we weighed, with a strong breeze in our favour; and at noon anchored at the Great Nore;—observed a Russian Vice-admiral, with a squadron belonging to that nation, at anchor there also. We remained at this place, waiting the arrival of the Hudson’s-Bay traders, until the 30th; when the two ships arrived; accompanied by a brig belonging to the Moravian Missionary Society, bound for the coast of Labrador, whither she was to proceed under our protection, or at least as far as our courses lay together. It is a rule with the Hudson’s-Bay Company, to make their ships always break ground on the 29th of May; although, sometimes, they do not leave the river Thames before June. The same day on which the Hudson’s-Bay ships arrived at the Nore, we were joined by a new Captain (Stopford); our former one (Campbell) not wishing, for many reasons, to go the voyage. His loss was most sincerely regretted by all of us: however, our new Commander proved himself, during the whole time we sailed together, to be one of the most exemplary captains in His Majesty’s navy. We continued getting our stores on board until—
June 4th.—Early this day, we weighed anchor. Being the birth-day of our venerable King, all the English and Russian ships of war were dressed with flags, and made a very gay appearance.
June 5th.—We anchored twice this day, to wait the change of tide: at first, off the Gunfleet Sand; and towards evening we brought up, off Harwich.