Lot 5


LOG OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY SHIP "FORT WILLIAM" BOUND FOR MADRAS AND CANTON
Bound volume, approx. 258pp. legal folio, an original handwritten log book documenting the 1816 voyage of the British East India Company ship FORT WILLIAM, bound from London to Madras (modern Chennai) in India and Canton (modern Guangzhou) in China. The volume, kept by Captain John Innes, is in a modern binding of taupe fabric and brown leather boards, with the title "Log of the Fort William" embossed in gold on the spine. The log is executed in a blank journal printed for the East India Company by Smith & Merry, Stationers of London, and features printed pages with boxes in which the log keeper can enter the course of the ship, the condition of the winds, and any other remarks for each day of the voyage. The first entry is made on December 16, 1816, and after about two and a half months of fitting out and loading cargo in London, the Fort William puts to sea on March 1, 1816. Almost immediately, there is trouble: on March 5, the ship encounters heavy weather, and the crew is ordered to strike the topgallant mast to avoid damage. Five men refuse to obey this order, and are confined in irons. The following day, Captain Innes writes: "In consequence of the alarming state of insubordination in which the ship's company now are & the absolute necessity to enforce prompt obedience in the execution of the ship's duty in getting the top gallant mast struck & the ship otherwise prepared to ride out the bad weather of which there was every appearance, I have judged it proper to punish the prisoners without calling a Court of Enquiry which the manifest symptoms of mutiny in the remaining crew rendered absolutely necessary as a proof example." The prisoners are punished with flogging and confinement in irons. After this early setback, the remainder of the voyage is uneventful, and the ship arrives at Madras on July 3. There, the ship receives a cargo of cotton and other "private trade", and embarks 29 "natives, servants & passengers". On August 1, the Fort William sets sail for China, making calls at Penang and Malacca. She arrives at Whampoa on the Canton River on October 30th, and remains there for several months, taking on a cargo of tea bound for England. During her stay, more trouble strikes the ship. On December 7, Captain Innes writes: "At 9 A.M. while discharging the Chops with the H[onorable] Co[mpany]'s teas was ill surprised with a violent explosion of Gunpowder apparently from the Gun Room immense quantity of smoke at the same time coming up the after Hatchway from aft & the alarm of fire being made immediately hoisted the Ensign Union Downwards & mustered all the Buckets with water to the Gun Room. The smoke clearing away in about a quarter of an hour every appearance of fire was completely suppressed unstowed & got every thing from the Gun Room & after ... investigation found every particle of the fire extinguished restowed the Gun Room & secured the Bulkheads & on inquiry into the above accident the Gunner informed me he was looking for some blocks in the Gun Room with a Bare light & stooping with the light between Two chests he set fire to some powder which immediately exploded dreadfully wounding him in the face and also the Quarter Master Pengrove who was with him at the same time. The explosion was occasioned by some loose powder which on being set fire acted as a train to some Musquetry Cartridges which had been left out of the arm chest & which the Gunner positively asserts he was ignorant of." The Fort William completes her stay at Canton without further incident, and sets out for the return voyage to England by way of St. Helena on January 27, 1817. The log concludes on June 22, as the ship arrives in Portland Harbor. The final three pages of the volume contain a list of the crew of the ship during this voyage, as well as their positions and any notes. Ten are listed as having died or fallen overboard and drowned. The final page bears a later pencil inscription, else very good.
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