“During the night a squall came on & made us ship a little lot of water which wetted some of the sailors & I heard some of them offering up their prayers as it seemed to me. Now the wind is down again & we are only making very little progress.

We are all getting awfully lazy doing little else than smoke eat & drink. Had Clara’s birthday cake for tea so might feel a great deal better after it. Beautiful evening. Bed at 11.30”

Extract from A.Whelen’s travel journal aboard the Hesperides sailing from England to Australia in 1878