Letters From China: The Canton-Boston Correspondence of Robert Bennet Forbes, 1838-1840
317
Letters From China: The Canton-Boston Correspondence of Robert Bennet Forbes, 1838-1840
317Hardcover(1 ED)
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Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780913372777 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Applewood Books |
| Publication date: | 01/01/1996 |
| Series: | Maritime Series |
| Edition description: | 1 ED |
| Pages: | 317 |
| Product dimensions: | 7.30(w) x 10.31(h) x 0.92(d) |
Read an Excerpt
Chapter One
DEPARTURE FROM BOSTON
Robert Bennet Forbes begins correspondence with Rose Greene Smith Forbes in his small cabin aboard the Perkins & Sons bark Mary Chilton in June of 1838.
After a melancholy leave-taking, he is cheerful at sea, and busy with writing, hobby work, and finally with doctoring a sick sailor.
Monday afternoon 11 June, 1838 Mary Chilton
My Dearest wifee—
This is the first page of my journal, & I will preface it by telling you that I shall write with tedious minuteness, & with supererogation, & if you read what I write to any one all I have to ask is be merciful— cut out any dull & trite sentiments—
When I ... parted with John(1), that seemed indeed the last link between life & death he, poor fellow, was speechless & seemed to reel with agony— the Breeze(2) cast off, & our men manned the windlass, & after a heavy heave for the anchor seemed reluctant to leave its mother earth we were under sail— I assisted at the windlass, & gave an impetus to the nerves of our men— the wind was light & the Breeze did not run far with us...I watched her & the receding shore, with new emotions, for I have never known what it was to feel till now— I watched the sun sink below the horizon & the eternal hills too, & thanked God for the fair wind that was wafting me away from all that I love— I took my tea & my cigar as usual, walked the deck till 9 oclock & then took up your bible & read what you wrote in my bible & prayer book, to which my heart responded— how touching, how beautiful are all your sentiments & your reflections— I shall daily read thoseprayers—
I did feel as the sun went down as if I should be pleased to think of you somewhere where you could see the sunset instead of blocked up among the stone walls of Temple place(3)— I busied myself fixing my stateroom, but Allen (the steward) had anticipated almost all my wants & had made my bunk very comfortable— Flora(4) seemed to be the only one that entered into my feeling— she followed me about the deck & when I came below she whined at the cabin stair— I provided her with a mat & a snug corner on deck, for which she was grateful— the night was fine, & the moon almost at full, the breeze fine, the crew & vessel first rate, & I turned in to think of you— Tears came to my relief— I slept for I was fatigued in body & in spirit—
my window is just in such a position that I can look the whole length of the deck & Flora can poke her nose in & kiss me— when I am not on deck she keeps near the window— I presume I slept much as you would have done under similar circumstances, rather feverish & wakeful, but I dreamed of you & our darling boy(5) well & cheerful & looked upon that as a good omen— but to my domicile— its dimensions are ...8 feet broad 6 long & six high— my berth
on one side, to which an air of comfort is given by a white dimity(6)— I have not thought of a single thing— ...forgotten, except a bottle of spirits of wine— I got up this morning at 6, drank my bottle of Congress water, shaved & dressed & breakfasted as usual— the breeze still port & fair, the beautiful little Bark dancing merrily over the waste of waters— she goes well, is stiff & strong & hardy— the mates are good men, having served with the Capt before, & the latter is a careful little man— I dont think you need have any fears of frightening one carrying sail, but he is attentive & kind, & I anticipate a pleasant passage. The cook makes good coffee— I looked for young Geo Winslow(7) this morning when the watch to which he belongs was called: he came up, but apparently sick, pale & trembling— I pitied him, & was glad to see that he went below & probably to bed— I shall visit him before I go to bed—
Allen is also sick, & Mr Cushing's(8) man(9) also— the former has, however, set his table today & goes about, but he puts me in mind of a man who had been broken on the wheel (not on the wheel of fortune as I have been) & whose bones had only partly become knit again— when he gave me my glass of Congress this morning I took the tumbler, while he at the same time, feeling his poor shattered nerves relieved, dropped the plate on which the tumbler had been— the expression of woe & despair on his face as this disaster occurred, was supremely ridiculous & I could not help laughing— Flora takes great interest in all the evolutions, & watches every man that goes beyond a walk or speaks louder than a pig's whisper— speaking of this quadruped reminds me that there is one young belligerent who no doubt is looking forward to getting old enough to having his bristles made into a tooth brush for some fair lady (what a piece of presumption)— this character quarrelling with his other ten or twelve friends, was turned loose on deck & has a laudable desire to come to the quarter deck, but Flora flies at him & drives him forward & seems to have become instantly inspired with a true sense of her dignity, as she takes no notice of the men, except to bark at them & has made friends with the Captain & mates— I shall begin on Scott(10) tomorrow, or as soon as I have read all John's letters to Houqua(11) & others, left open for me to read— I almost forgot to say that the shoe(12) you sent me hangs up at the foot of my berth reminds me— it anything be wanting to remind me— of our dear boy— poor fellow, little kens the feelings of his parents— ... I shall get my lathe at work in a day or two, when a little more settled— I am perfectly well today— yesterday the sun shone with such power, that I had a little headache—
good night, & may the Almighty God above give you resignation & stren\gth to bear this calamity—
Tuesday PM
... WSW wind...pleasant weather...[but] foggy..all night— ...8 miles an hour all day, with almost all necessary sail set; the vessel performs admirably, though we have some helmsmen who do not do her justice, but steer wild—
I read myself to sleep last night with the beginning of Scott— had a good night— woke up at 5— this morning I had a little of dizzy feeling analogous to sea sickness, which has not gone entirely away— I shall take a nap this afternoon— George Winslow looks better & we are all well except the Chinamen, who are a little blue— ... there is nothing wanting to add to my comfort save you— I wish that cook had killed the fowl we had for dinner a week before, for it was about the toughest subject ever I put my masticaters— I had forgotten that my skill as a barber was brought into requisition this day, for I cut Floras hair close and combed her out smooth and clean, coming once or twice so near the skin as to bring blood— ...poor unfortunate Pig departed through one of the portholes last night, & will report us if he gets safe on shore— our start is a great thing, & everything looks well for a pleasant passage, though our little Capt is no driver & I would give an hundred dollars to have Capt Pearce and $200 to have Dumaresque(13) here, say $500, but I must not be impatient— you may rest assured we shall go safe— ...
I have had my nap and feel better— looked over the scrap book and remember the tokens well— I shall paste or tie them on the leaves for the motion else will send them wandering far and wide— I wonder at your parting from these relics— I will keep them for comfort during the voyage, and then return them to you— my headache has almost gone— I wish I could imagine you without one— ...I must now go on deck & take my walk, for exercise is the more necessary now that the mind is at rest & there is a repose in this quiet sailing, a comfort in my escape from ledger & journal— ... I shall always look back to my last month at home with dissatisfaction, for I hardly had time to commune with thee my love— perhaps it was best, my resolution might have failed had I talked over the matter over much with you— I now imagine you playing with our baby at the old house out of town & in better spirits since you got out—
Wednesday
good wind— 8 miles an hour all day— the deep blue of the ocean is splendid...— a ship passed at a distance this morning, bound towards Europe—
I never had a more pleasant start off— ...our China passenger is on the sick list and the only one— we have a crew of good, steady men, & there is nothing so very tough in going to sea under these circumstances, except perhaps the fowls— ...I have a little lingering headache which will require an emetic before the week is out— I am putting my lathe in order & find I feel better when actively employed— I hate to acknowledge it seasickness, but I suppose it must be of that family— We have in one watch all hands named Charles, & what is more singular, one is CD Cook, so if we call him Cook the cook will answer; and the other is Charles Forbes, so if he is called Forbes, I shall think they are after me— I must now go to work till sunset. & then read & write till bed—
Thursday, 14 June
fine wind.. until noon (then) moderate— 4 or 5 miles an hour— the weather is delightful still— I have been hard at work all day at my turning & have accomplished two small boxes, which I shall send the first opportunity...— I have been on my feet all day, & feel tired enough to prefer to go to bed at 10—
Flora has poked her nose in to say goodnight— grateful creature— I am very glad I brought her, & I shall put a lock of her hair in the box I have today finished— we live like nabobs(14)— our dinner today consisted of fowl soup, fowl, salt beef, potatoes, boiled rice, cranberry sauce & a good plumb pudding— Our cook is a real professor & there is after all more of comfort at sea than I thought before I came—
I wish I could think of you half as happy as I am, indeed I feel a degree of ease & freedom from care which I had long been a stranger to, & if you were only here I should have nothing to ask for, except wind— but now that my judgement is clear & defined, I do not regret coming alone— I am satisfied it is best as it is— time will fly rapidly & we shall soon meet again to part no more— you will write me fully by the F Stanton & I shall almost wish her to overtake us that I may get letters from you— as our cabin is small & hot, I keep on deck most of the time, & enjoy my cigar— good night
Friday 15 June, evening
Moderate wind...87 miles all day— I have been busy all day restoring my room, taking out new clothes & putting away clothes, getting my guns & pistols in shooting order— various other chores— a flying fish a foot long flew on board this morning— was cooked for supper— the milk is good enough for coffee, but does not improve tea— ...this has been decidedly my best day, no headache & but little under the left rib, where the heart is said to be...
I am getting quite reconciled to my fate & thank god half a dozen times a day that here are no carts rattling, no notes to pay, no dust, no child crying! & nothing to interrupt the rising & setting sun from our view— Capt Drew...is a very amiable young man— a very fair sailor, & does all he can to please & make me comfortable— good night
Saturday, 16 June
...116 miles...not bad for the season— ...I have been busy all day in making 3 artificial flying fish, rigged onto hooks to catch dolphin & Bonitos, & I have with the help of tea chest lead for the shiny part of the belly, pearly buttons for eyes— & a piece of blue silk for the back, made some that would deceive anybody at a distance— the covering is put on first a wooden shape— this is swathed in strips of flannel & covered as above, making an exact imitation of a fish, except the treacherous hook which fishes have not— it looks thus— this thing is put at one end of 20 fathoms of line & a fool at the other, & it is allowed to drag along in the water, skipping it occasionally out of water— the Dolphin jumps at it & is hauled in— we are not yet quite far enough along for them— ...
Mr Cushing's cook getting well & today he made a nice potato pudding, while the other docked a Pillau, which is a boiled fowl, surrounded by rice, seasoned with spice & flanked with a piece of pork & sprinkled with raisins— I shall think of you dearest in the morning according to promise(15)— I forgot to tell you that I asked Mr Greenwood(16) to pray for me publicly last Sunday— when you see Bacon(17), thank him for the last days work, for I forgot to— I am surprised when I think how little I left undone or unprovided for— what a dreadful morning that was— I hate to think of it— it then seemed too cruel, yet I am already fully persuaded you have begun to rally like a good women— oh, I wish I could see that boy, if only for] an hour— I do see him all the time & remember the smile I waited for— He will be a great comfort to you— I also think a great deal now I am away, of your Mothers and Sarahs many acts of unrequited kindness— I am surprised at my peace of mind daily— I suppose it arises out of the life of care & trouble I led the last year & a half— when we get a rainy, dull day, I must not feel so well, it would not be proper—
...Flora has found her way into my room & now lies at my feet on the rug, & faithful creature— she is quite well & enjoys all the varieties that we have— Adieu
Sunday evening, 17 June—
...157 miles...the wind dead aft— ...we have not had our studding sails(18) in since we left home & only one shower in the night for a short time— I told our Capt that we should certainly see a vessel today— at 12 oclock I went on deck when he asked me where my vessel was— Oh, said I, we shall see her pretty soon, & at that moment casting my eye along the horizon, there she is, said I, & true enough, there she was: at 1/2 past 1 she crossed our bow within a half mile, with all her gay kites aloft looking beautifully— I could read her place of nativity (Dublin) on her stern & thought I could make out her name Demayara, but was not sure— as there was no object in speaking her, we did not change our course— we had a excellent dinner as follows: a fowl soup, the same animal roasted brown after— an apple pie— our chickens begin to hold up their heads, & when daylight comes there is as much crowing as would be convenient in a barn yard— we propose to have fresh eggs soon— this Sunday, which always follows Saturday at sea, & last evening I drank a glass of sherry to the tune of Wives and Sweethearts, whereas I always used to put the sweethearts first— I asked the Capt which way he toasted, he said he had always had a sweetheart till this time, & now he had so many in view, that there was no particular one in the ascendant: so he seconded my toast— the mate has wife & children, but left them as a matter of course & being a teetotaler did not drink— they are all exceedingly clever people & attentive to all my wants, for which ...the Lord make me thankful— this morning I thought of you at the proper hour, according to promise, which may be said of most any other hour...The sun set gloriously today, & I thought of the last sun which Rose upon us together (you see I cant write your name without a capital) & the last sunset within sight of Boston...you are at the panes & saw the sunset tonight & thought of me & probably imagined me tossing about & cursing my hard fate— this is not so, all my thoughts are as peaceful as the ocean & yet they may be made as turbulent—
...keep up a light heart & when the weather is warm, wear a thin pair of breeches— but this writing by candle light wont do my eyes any good & so I will read a little & invoke a blessing on you & our darling Bob!!! & go to bed—
Monday afternoon
120 miles...fine weather & winds... I have been hard at work all day turning, & feel quite tired— all the better— I have made the most elegant box you ever did see & the top of a second— our little Bark slips along cheerily ... as I wrote considerable yesterday, I will now say adieu for the day & go at Scott—
Tuesday PM 19 June
...187 miles...— we are highly favored— I have been hard at work writing all the forenoon & as I feel the effects of it in my head, I shall not write you much today— fricassee fowl & beans & cranberry tart for dinner; indeed we live too well & I must cut down my diet— our Capt plays well on the flute, which is something...god bless you dearest till tomorrow, & ever after sure!
Wednesday 20 June
10 days out— 211 miles...pleasant weather continues to such a marvelous degree that we are as happy as birds...I have been engaged since 10 AM in cleaning my guns & pistols & trying them at a bottle hung under one of the booms, which latter I hit 3 times before the bottle—
I am better today, having acquired a headache yesterday from writing too much— I am too tired to be sentimental tonight, & I suppose you will find fault with my uninteresting details, instead of a constant cry of how I love thee & what is the baby about— Flora was made very happy today by a dose of castor oil— love to Aunt Smith(19) & Sally & kiss the baby; does the curl(20) yet?
Thursday 21 June
...186 miles...— took in our Fore Top mast studding sail for the first time since leaving the land, which is very remarkable— I am quite brisk today, busy reading, writing & making cartridges for my guns, ready for a brush with anybody that may feloniously dare to cross our path— Your miniature is quite good, now I am away from the original— I wish I had one of our boy— oh how I should like to have him here...there comes the Steward with "Supper lelly(21) sir"—
Friday 22 June 5 PM
12 days out, Lat. 30 24 N Long 35 W— 172 miles...a sail in sight steering to NE for Europe; our breeze has dwindled down to a very soft zephyr(22) & we are now going 3 or 4 miles an hour— dreamed last night that I sailed from New York & that I was there two days & never heard a word about you, & how I reproached you for not writing— this is the only dream I have had which I think betokens a clear conscience to say the least— ...when I reflect that it costs us both such a pang to part for a few weeks, I can hardly believe that any circumstances would warrant this long separation— yet it is so & we must make the best of it— I have been at work all day with my pen & this must be my excuse for not writing more now— goodnight & may the Angels of good preserve & protect you & the boy—
Saturday 23 June
Our fine breeze has at length deserted us & we have made but small progress today...we shall have this sort of variable, baffling, sultry weather several days,& then the regular trade wind will come—
Finished reading Braddock's Times...a romance partly found on facts, wherein Washington figures a good deal— I dont suppose you would read it, but I found it interesting, though not very well strung together—
About 10 this morning a cry of Dophins(23) made me jump on deck, & our little Capt was just hauling in a fine one, & in the course of the day he caught 3 more, one of which was 4 feet long, & 14 inches deep, including his back fin—
They are splendid looking fish, both living & dying, & during the latter process, to which all men as well as fish are liable, they change their spots like the Leopard— I tried, but the luck seemed to be against me, for I did not get a bite— we supped on Dolphin & it was good— I have entirely given up wine & almost given up smoking, & feel better for it, & if I can only bring myself to a strict diet, I shall get over my dyspeptic feelings entirely(24)— I have a little pain in the side, but the pain in the chest & stomach is almost entirely gone— my last month at home it was bad, though I did not say much about it...I have done considerable writing today, & last evening I wrote the date of our marriage & the births of our children(25) in the Bible, & read your last letter, which brought out the salt water in no stinted measure— thinking is bad for me, especially the back thoughts & so I try to think only of the future— tomorrow will make a fortnight since we parted in the body but not in the spirit, for you are always with me in that— good night—
Sunday evening
Lat. 28, Long 33,48
...little progress today, it has been almost calm with a decently hot sun...— I presume you are comfortably fixed in Mount Vernon St.(26) by this time, & enjoying the pleasure of your smokey kitchen; perhaps you are still at your Mother's, but I hope before this that place is disposed of & the Boston [Temple Place] House too— I never wish to go back there, unless I make much more than I now anticipate— When I get a competency again, I shall think little of style or location, but devote my means to the Boy if he is spared to us— I read the chapter since this morning, & some occasional prayer in the same book, & have had rather a satisfactory day— I took a long nap this PM, just to pass away an hour or two of this tedious calm— we have now a light breeze in the right direction, & I hope it will turn out to be the true trade wind— we can form no correct estimate of our passage, until we are fairly within the limits of the trade...— am reading a very good history of China...it is well I find I have two books on hand at once, one to go to sleep by & one to keep me awake...—
Good night
Monday June 25
...at daylight as Sch.[schooner] in sight on our starboard beam (or right hand) standing along the same way pretty much,— a rakish looking craft, & as we are in the way of Slavers & other dishonest people, we naturally felt it worth while to make preparations for action, loaded all the small arms & our two six pounders— during the whole forenoon his motions excited suspicion, & we wished him safe in Africa, yet were not so much alarmed as to prevent the Captain & myself from trying to catch fish off the bowsprit, in which we were not successful— about 10 AM a fine easterly wind sprang up, which we took to be the true trade wind, the stranger gradually gaining into our wake (or path) astern, & when directly astern about 3 or 4 miles, we made up our minds if he bore away directly after us he must be a pirate or a slaver, which is little better— but to our great relief, he kept his luff, that is, stood in more close to the wind, & at noon was 4 or 5 miles on our weather quarter (or left hand a little behind)— he showed himself to be a fast sailor at any rate, & as he is not entirely out of sight now (2 oclock) I will not feel too secure, only make up my mind if he comes aboard it must be at a cost of several lives, for I am armed to the teeth— we ate our dinner with much better gout than if he had given direct chase to us—
Thursday 26 June
...214 miles...the greatest day yet...— our little Capt carries the canvass better than I expected, & his mates, honest souls, are too lazy to take it in, so we get along quite fast— The "Long, low, black pirate," probably the one that captured the Susquehannah, was lost sight of about 3 PM yesterday, & has not since been seen...— I should like much to know exactly what you are about now— let me see, it is half past 12 with us, & about 10 oclock with you— you have just finished dressing the baby, & are busy making him cut monkey shines— here is where I have the advantage of you, I always know what oclock is it with you, whereas you are in doubt about me...— I am quite well today, & have no doubt I shall be always when she goes 9— 1/2 miles an hour as she does now— adieu dearest & to dinner— love to Bob—
Wednesday 27 June
...223 miles & took in our top gallant sails last night for the first time— our little bark behaves very well, & all goes on smoothly; adieu—
Thursday 1 oclock PM
...221 miles...— not a squall since we left home— we are now up with the Lat. of the Cape de Verde Islands, & are at 5 this afternoon 18 days out, which is very quick— we are very grateful for our good wind & weather—
Friday June 29
Lat. noon 15? N Long 28? W 204 miles, fine, pleasant trade wind & good weather— look on the chart & see where we are— I have been busy all day turning & putting my tools in order & repacking my butter, which is in a good state yet, & shall expect to eat it when we get the weather a little colder— I am clearer in the head today than any day yet— we live better than fighting cocks, for I believe they are kept short— we may expect decent winds two days more, & then comes a spell of calm again, until we get the S E trade wind— supper lelly Sir— Aye, Aye— we eat all the time—
Friday Evening
I have been reading over some of your old letters written to me from Nahant(27) &c when away at Naushon(28), & when I think of the tender affection breathed in every line, & the longing desire to get me back from a long absence of a week or two, I feel that I have done wrong to leave you & a momentary remorse cries in my soul...— This reading old letters, & thinking over old times, gone for a long time will not do, I must banish these intruders & seal them up to lie awhile snug— I have also sealed up John's letter to you & his to me wherein he speaks of his motives, &c— depend on it dearest he has acted for the best, & without his aid or interference I should not have opened my eyes to the true state of our case till involved in desperate & irretrievable ruin...— We ought in reality to feel as if we had escaped alive out of a great pestilence, or from an earthquake that engulfed every one else— think how many high, rich & gay have had their heads laid low & their bread cut off forever, while my head is erect & my prospects better than they ever were before at leaving my home,— think of these things & be consoled— good night dearest—
Saturday last day of June
141 miles... Our fine trade wind almost deserted us last evening, when it became baffling with light rain squalls, but soon cleared away again ...latter part of the night & all day fine pleasant weather & smooth sea—
Saturday at sea is a great day for cleaning up the arms & the ship generally when the weather is good— Captain Drew had loaded the muskets the day the suspicious schooner was in sight, & he tried to draw the charges, but could not, when he concluded to fire them off, so he took one & holding it up over his head, he fired & it burst, wounding his hand considerably, partly tearing the little finger off near the hand, & making a gap in the hand between the thumb & forefinger— I was near him & went directly to his assistance, bathed the hand in warm water & washed it clean & found it not so bad as we at first feared— he suffered a good deal, & almost fainted— I was surgeon, & directly sewed up the wound, & put on some Friar's balsam & gave him a dose of salts— he has been about ever since, with his arm in a sling, but suffers considerable pain, as independent of the wound the jar to the nerves & tendons was terrible— I suppose some of the small ligaments are cut away— lucky he did not put the gun to his shoulder in the regular way, as in that case he might have lost his hand— I suppose in trying to draw the ball he had started it & not rammed it home again— I shall take the observations for him & assist all I can....— I have consulted the Encyclopedia, under heads Medicine & Surgery, & think if he has no symptoms of lockedjaw, he will do well enough—
Part of His Story
By Alfred Corn
Mid-List Press Copyright © 1997 Alfred Corn. All rights reserved.
TAILER
Table of Contents
| Foreword | 6 |
| The China Trade That Awaited Robert Bennet Forbes | 8 |
| Family History Before RBF's 1838 Trip to China | 11 |
| Perkins & Co. and the Opium Trade | 14 |
| Departure from Boston | 18 |
| Landing | 54 |
| Commissioner Lin Demands All Opium | 106 |
| A Visit to Macao | 154 |
| Back in Canton | 208 |
| Gales and Squalls | 242 |
| Aftermath | 266 |
| Acknowledgments | 274 |
| Bibliography | 276 |
| Appendix I: Maps | 278 |
| Appendix II: Articles from The Chinese Repository, 1840 | 280 |
| Index | 312 |