BOUND FOR THE CRIMEA
[Two manuscript journals composed by Thomas Munn Hall, second-mate aboard first (i) the transport ship Mary Anne during the summer of 1856 by the first for the voyage from London to Balaklava, June 1856, and later (ii) the Elizabeth for a voyage from London to St Paul de Loanda (October 1856-July 1857)..
8vo.
Two volumes. Manuscript on paper. 109; 119pp. Contemporary half- morocco and morocco-backed marbled paper boards respectively. Cocked and a little soiled, remaining tight, some rear leaves removed from earlier volume.
The first, and more interesting of this pair of manuscript journals narrates a voyage from London to Balaklava in the transport ship Mary-Ann of Bristol, commanded by Captain Lambert.
Having departed the English coast on June 9th, 1856, the Mary-Ann passes Cape St Vincent on June 16th, bound for the Crimea. By the next day she sails abreast of the strait, passing the Rock of Gibraltar by the third day. Another transport ship, the Onward, is pulled alongside by the Chief Mate, returning from the Crimea with troops and horses onboard [bound for] for England. The message is relayed to the captain that ‘all the troops were waiting in Constantinople for ships to convey them home'.
So begins the journal of Second Mate Thomas Nunn Hall, recently married, on his voyage to Balaklava. Hall mentions the other ships he encounters on voyage - the Lady Eglington is signalled, and he notes he remembers her from a tour of the Dardanelles the previous year. Also mentioned are the ships sailing in company with the Mary-Ann, The Herefordshire ('lazy, 1800 tons') being most named.
It becomes more apparent that our narrator - a most unwilling and witless seaman - has sailed this voyage before. Though it remains unclear if Hall served actively in the war, he later reminisces about 'standing on the deck of the [ship] 'Chalmers'...from the Crimea to the Holy Land, instead of being on the poop deck of the 'Mary-Ann'.'
By the 6th of July they pass the island of Malta, three days later sight the Greek mainland, though it takes a further four days for Mytilene to come into view. Finally, they come to anchor at the Dardanelles, and by July 20th reach the Sea of Marmara to take on several guests, including a Mrs Hunter “a fine handsome woman of about 26 years of age” whom Hall determines to make speak to him. Fortunately, she seems none too perturbed.
The troops previously thought to be collected are nowhere to be found, and the Mary-Ann is to take on stores for England instead. Steam tug Helen Fancet tows the ship up the Golden Horn though a mishap takes place damaging the ship. They later anchor up among the ships of war. During an evening walk in Pera, he witnesses some society event, with the French military band playing to 'hundreds of people' including 'many beautiful and elegantly dressed English and French ladies'. Given the relative paucity of interesting narrative presented in his frequently introspective, often 'vexed' and occasionally calamitous account, we should perhaps consider it a blessing that the journal ends before the voyage was completed.
£ 500.00
Antiquates Ref: 29397
Having departed the English coast on June 9th, 1856, the Mary-Ann passes Cape St Vincent on June 16th, bound for the Crimea. By the next day she sails abreast of the strait, passing the Rock of Gibraltar by the third day. Another transport ship, the Onward, is pulled alongside by the Chief Mate, returning from the Crimea with troops and horses onboard [bound for] for England. The message is relayed to the captain that ‘all the troops were waiting in Constantinople for ships to convey them home'.
So begins the journal of Second Mate Thomas Nunn Hall, recently married, on his voyage to Balaklava. Hall mentions the other ships he encounters on voyage - the Lady Eglington is signalled, and he notes he remembers her from a tour of the Dardanelles the previous year. Also mentioned are the ships sailing in company with the Mary-Ann, The Herefordshire ('lazy, 1800 tons') being most named.
It becomes more apparent that our narrator - a most unwilling and witless seaman - has sailed this voyage before. Though it remains unclear if Hall served actively in the war, he later reminisces about 'standing on the deck of the [ship] 'Chalmers'...from the Crimea to the Holy Land, instead of being on the poop deck of the 'Mary-Ann'.'
By the 6th of July they pass the island of Malta, three days later sight the Greek mainland, though it takes a further four days for Mytilene to come into view. Finally, they come to anchor at the Dardanelles, and by July 20th reach the Sea of Marmara to take on several guests, including a Mrs Hunter “a fine handsome woman of about 26 years of age” whom Hall determines to make speak to him. Fortunately, she seems none too perturbed.
The troops previously thought to be collected are nowhere to be found, and the Mary-Ann is to take on stores for England instead. Steam tug Helen Fancet tows the ship up the Golden Horn though a mishap takes place damaging the ship. They later anchor up among the ships of war. During an evening walk in Pera, he witnesses some society event, with the French military band playing to 'hundreds of people' including 'many beautiful and elegantly dressed English and French ladies'. Given the relative paucity of interesting narrative presented in his frequently introspective, often 'vexed' and occasionally calamitous account, we should perhaps consider it a blessing that the journal ends before the voyage was completed.
