Journal kept onboard the HMS AGINCOURT and HMS BARRACOUTA

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Journal kept onboard the HMS AGINCOURT and HMS BARRACOUTA

Author Henry Simpson

Date1873 - 1876

Object number00030945

NameJournal

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 237 x 200 x 20 mm, 0.6 kg

ClassificationsBooks and journals

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionManuscript journal of Lieutenant Henry Simpson RN, kept on board HMS AGINCOURT and HMS BARRACOUTA. The first part of the journal is an abstract log kept aboard HMS AGINCOURT 18 October 1873 - 25 February 1874 on a cruise from Spithead to Lisbon, Madeira, Lisbon, Vigo, Conception bay, Arosa bay, Vigo, Lisbon, Madeira, and back to Lisbon. The journal includes two pages of watercolour flags and pendants a page of packets signals, a page of private signals and two pages of Gibralter garrison signals along with a description of ocean steamer funnel markings. The second part of journal is an abstract logbook aboard HMS BARRACOUTA, 30 June 1874 - 1 March 1876 from England to Portsmouth, Madeira, Sydney, Hobart town, Sydney, the Fiji islands, Samoa.HistoryThe first part of the journal is an untitled abstract log kept aboard HMS AGINCOURT between 18 October 1873 - 25 February 1874 on a cruise from Spithead to Lisbon, Madeira, Lisbon, Vigo, Conception Bay, Arosa Bay, Vigo, Lisbon, Madeira and back to Lisbon. This part of the journal is illustrated with a number of pages of watercolours including two pages of flags and pendants with their significance; a page of packet signals, a page of private signals and two pages of Gibraltar Garrison signals along with a description of ocean steamer funnel markings. The second part of the journal is an untitled abstract log kept on board HMS BARRACOUTTA between 30 June 1874 - 1 March 1876 on a voyage from England to Portsmouth, Madeira, Sydney, Hobart Town, Sydney, and The Fiji Islands including Viti Levu, Namuka, Nasova and Ovalau and ending in Apia, Samoa. On this second voyage HMS BARRACOUTA carried Sir Arthur Charles Hamilton Gordon - former British Governor of and Commander in Chief of Mauritius - to Levuka on the island of Ovalau to take up his position as the first British Governor of Fiji. Favoured by a natural harbour Levuka, at the base of a steep bluff on south east coast of the Island of Ovalau, came to the notice of European traders and beachcombers in the early 1820s. A number of Europeans and Americans took up permanent residence in the 1830s, constructing houses, building small vessels and trading with the Fijian people and passing European vessels. As time passed Levuka continued to grow attracting cotton growers, coconut planters and missionaries with ships from many nations crowding the harbour. Following an attempt to establish a local government in 1871 local discontent culminated in riots which led to the burning down of the American Commercial Agents home. The resulting dispute over compensation for the fire and looting led to the self-proclaimed King of Fiji, Cakobau ceding the Islands of Fiji to the British in 1874. Following the foundation of the colony of Fiji, Levuka became the principal European town in the islands and the first capital of Fiji. The manuscript describes in vivid detail Lieutenant Simpson's role on board ships but of special interest is the section detailing his command of the BARRACOUTA'S cutter on a voyage from Kadavu (Fiji) with the Fijian King Cakobau from 26 September - 6 October 1875 noting piloting information, list of crew members, interactions with the Fijian pilot and a lengthy discussion with a Scots beachcomber regarding cannibalism in the islands. SignificanceLieutenant Simpson's journal is strongly associated with the HMS AGINCOURT, one of the first of the new generation British iron clads, and HMS BARRACOOTA not only the last wooden, paddle-driven British warship on the Australian Station but the vessel that brought British Colonial rule to Fiji in the form of Sir Gordon makes this journal of particular Australian significance.