Guide to the Journals of Alexander Weynton

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MS 7130

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Alexander Weynton
Title
Journals of Alexander Weynton
Date Range
1841-1860
Collection Number
MS 7130
Extent
0.15 metres (3 volumes + 2 folders)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
NLA

Introduction

Scope and Contents

The journals in MS 7130 describe 15 sea voyages, nine of which were from England to Australia, or Australia to England. Volume 1. Retrospective journal 1841-1854 covering voyages on the Isabella Blythe, Castle Lachlan, Helen Stewart, Stag and the Windsor (237 pp. & index). Weynton commenced writing this journal in 1851 and it is based on his original journals including volume 2 for the period 1852-1854. Volume 1 contains 71 watercolour sketches and eight issues of a manuscript ship newspaper 'Windsor review', dated August-September 1852. It also includes a list of passengers on the Windsor.Volume 2. Original journal covering voyages in the Windsor, Balance, Northumberland and Orwell 1852-1858 (220 pp.). Included is the log of the Windsor, July 1852-May 1855, and 13 watercolour sketches. Volume 3. Abstract of an illustrated journal of two voyages to Australia in the ship Orwell in 1859-1860 (46 pp.). This volume is a log with single line entries per day. It contains seven watercolour sketches, and lists of crews and passengers on each voyage (3 v.). The collection includes a typed transcript of the first volume by Marion Amies (1 folder).

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2261119) for the access conditions.

Conditions Governing Use

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.

Preferred Citation

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Alexander Weynton, National Library of Australia, MS 7130, [item number]'.

Item Descriptions

Retrospective journal covering voyages in Isabella Blythe, Castle Lachlan, Helen Stewart, Stag and Windsor, 1841-1854 (Item Volume 1)

237pp. + index. Weynton commenced writing this volume in 1851 and it is based on his original journals (including Volume II below for the period 1852-1854). In the years 1841-1854 Weynton visited Australia five times. The Australian sections are as follows.

pp. 77-94 Stag London-Melbourne-London October 1847-August 1848

pp. 82-87 Stay in Melbourne January-April 1848

pp. 95-126 Stag London-Melbourne-Sydney-London October 1848-October 1849

pp.102-12 Stay in Melbourne February-April 1849

pp.116-19 Stay in Sydney May-July 1849

pp.152-98 Windsor London-Sydney-London February 1851-March 1852

pp.171-73 Stay in Sydney May-June 1851

pp.199-223 Windsor London-Melbourne-Sydney-London July 1852-May 1853

p.207 Stay in Melbourne October 1852

pp.207-10 Stay in Sydney October 1852-January 1853

pp.224-37 Windsor London-Sydney July 1853-February 1854

pp.233-36 Stay in Sydney November 1853- January 1854

The volume contains 71 watercolour sketches by Weynton, ranging from 6 full-page sketches of ships to coastal profiles and small paintings of people and fish. There are coastal profiles of Torres Strait Islands and sketches of Port Phillip Heads and Sydney Heads.

There are also eight issues of a manuscript ship's newspaper, Windsor Review, August-September 1852. The illustrations appear to have been done by Weynton.

At the end of the volume, in addition to an index, are lists of the crew and cabin passengers on the voyages of the Windsor.

Retrospective journal of Alexander Weynton, 1841-1854 [manuscript].

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Original journal and log covering voyages in Windsor, Balance, Northumberland and Orwell, 1852-1858 (Item Volume 2)

220pp. The entries for the voyages of the Windsor and Balance are much more detailed than in Volume I and, as is to be expected, the quality of the writing is far more variable. There are only logs (that is, single line entries giving position, course, distance, barometer, thermometer, winds, remarks) for the voyages of the Northumberland and Orwell, but on the Northumberland voyage there is a journal for the period that the ship was at Melbourne.

In the years 1852-1858 Weynton visited Australia four times. The Australian sections are as follows.

pp. 1-138 Windsor London-Melbourne-Sydney-London-Sydney-London July 1852-April 1854

pp.186-200 Northumberland London-Melbourne-London June 1857-February 1858

pp.191-95 Stay at Melbourne August-October 1857

pp.201-7 Orwell London-Melbourne-London May-December 1858

The other voyages are of some interest. The Windsor carried coolies from Calcutta to Trinidad in 1854-1855. The Balance was in the French Transport Service and sailed between Marseilles and Constantinople carrying cargoes and troops in 1856.

The volume contains 13 watercolour sketches and many pen sketches, mostly of ships and people.

At the end are several pages of poetry from the Windsor Review and the log of the Windsor, July 1852-May 1855.

Original journal and log covering voyages in Windsor, Balance, Northumberland and Orwell

Entitled 'Abstract of illustrated journal of two voyages to Australia in the ship Orwell, 1859-1860 (Item Volume 3)

46pp. Actually not a journal but a log, with single line entries per day, giving position, course, distance, barometer, thermometer, winds, weather, remarks.

1st Voyage Plymouth-Melbourne-Gravesend April-November 1859

2nd Voyage Plymouth-Melbourne-Gravesend February-October 1860

The title page is highly decorated and there are 7 watercolour sketches. At the end of the volume are lists of the crews and passengers on each voyage.

Retrospective journal of Alexander Weynton, 1841-1854 [manuscript]


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