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An account of a voyage on the ORIENT from Plymouth to Adelaide in 1863
An account of a voyage on the ORIENT from Plymouth to Adelaide in 1863

An account of a voyage on the ORIENT from Plymouth to Adelaide in 1863

Date1863
Object number00006831
NameLetter
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall: 253 x 204 mm
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA handwritten letter from an unidentified female passenger aboard the ORIENT on a journey from Plymouth to Port Adelaide in 1863. The vessel left England on 1st May and arrived in Adelaide 75 days later, an almost record run for the time. During the course of the journey the ship encountered gale force winds and storms with the author recounting the terror and tribulations of the experience.HistoryThis letter provides a vivid insight into life aboard a clipper ship. The unidentified author sounds like she is likely a first class passenger yet talks of the trials of daily living in cramped conditions, especially during the bouts of violent weather they experienced for much of their rapid run. The weather conditions were a point of interest for those at Adelaide once the ORIRNT arrived with various accounts of the journey in newspapers; "The ORIENT arrived with her usual celerity on Sunday night, when at about 10 o'clock the loud report of her guns announced her being at hand, though from the high wind Captain Harris was compelled to anchor far to the southward of the stations. She left Plymouth Sound on the evening of the 1st of May with a light northerly wind and fine weather, which continued till after passing Cape Finisterre, which was accomplished on the 3rd May, and on the 12th she passed St. Antonio. From the Cape Verde Islands to the Line she experienced variable winds and calms, accompanied by occasional falls of heavy rains. Crossed the equator on May 23, and in the southeast trades the wind predominated from the southward, and the vessel's course took her well over to the South American shore, from which position she headed a course to the southward of the Cape, accompanied by boisterous and heavy weather. When off the island of St. Paul’s, she suffered most from a cyclonic storm, the vortex of which passed (by Captain Harris's computation) within 20 miles of the vessel, consequently the very confused sea which rose in masses round the vessel caused her to labour very heavily, though from her admirable trim she shipped no water on deck worth speaking of. She rounded Cape Leuwin on the 5th July, and during a continuance of light variable winds sighted Kangaroo Island on the 11th, and brought up after 72 days passage without a casualty of any kind occurring to break the monotony of the voyage. It is interesting to add that on the evening of the 9th July a meeting was held by the passengers, when letters of thanks were presented to the Captain and officers, and to the Rev.J.L.Parsons, who had officiated as chaplain during the voyage, and whose gratuitous services were acknowledged in a substantial manner by the presentation to him of a purse of sovereigns. The editors of the "Orient Press" who had conducted the gazette on board also fell in for a share of adulation, and a similar meed of praise was awarded to the leader of the choir. In appearance the ship is the same as usual, though the want of familiar faces among the officers rather altered the impression on boarding." - http://passengersinhistory.sa.gov.au/node/942652 "We learn that the Orient has brought out three traction engines for the Yudanamutana Company, also 24 waggons, two travelling houses, and a quantity of material, &c. The same vessel also brings for the Company 10 men and one sub-engineer. The Orient will discharge the engines, &c., at Port Augusta, where she will take in a return cargo of wool and copper ore. Several additions to the live stock of the colony will be made by the arrival of the Orient. There are, we are informed, some splendid merino rams imported in her, one of which is stated to be worth £250; also eight fine deer, imported for Mr. Joseph Gilbert, of Pcwsey Yale, and 20 Leicester rams consigned to various parties have arrived. There are also a variety of English songbirds imported for private speculation. Mr. Charles Goode, of the firm of Goode Brothers, and one of the passengers by the Orient, purchased some larks, thrushes, and other birds when in England, with a view of letting them free in the colony, but most of them unfortunately died on the passage. Among the passengers by the Orient is a new Baptist minister, the Bey. J. Langdon Parsons, from the Baptist College, Regent's Park. We understand that he has come out with the idea of itinerating in various parts of the colony. He acted as chaplain onboard the vessel, and his ministrations were co accept able that just before the completion of the voyage the passengers presented him with a purse of money, as a mark of their esteem, and as a token of their appreciation of his labors amongst them. We believe that Mr. Parsons' arrival amongst as is entirely due to the large-hearted liberality of the Hon. Q. F.Angas." - South Australian Advertiser, 14 July 1863 page 2.SignificanceThe ORIENT, orginally built for the Australia run, successfully carried out 21 voyages between London and Adelaide from 1856-1877, generally taking around 95 days. This particular voyage outlined in this letter was notable in arriving only one day short of the record at that time.

In the late 1850s and 1860s the arrival of the ORIENT was an event in Port Adelaide, as the captain would fire guns on arrival. The vessel was the namesake for the shipping company the Orient Line, later forming P&O.