Moored in Trincomalee Harbour. Wind N by E force 2 to 3 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.04 inches rising to 30.09 at noon before dropping to 30.03 at 1600 and finishing at 30.03 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 90F. 0400. Raised steam in all boilers. 0600. Received 118 lbs of beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 225 lbs of bread. 0800. Bent fore and aft sails. 0900. Prepared for sea. 1000. Divisions and prayers. 1100. Divers cleaning ship’s bottom. Noon. Sick joined from Sick Quarters. Noon. Wind north force 2. Draught 14 feet 6 inches forward. 16 feet 2 inches aft. 1400. Unmoored and weighed stream anchor. Shortened to 1 ½ shackles port. 1545. Weighed. Proceeded as requisite out of harbour. 1610. Worked up to ¾ horsepower. 1630. Shaped N24E. Patent log put over side. 1645. Proceed at ¾ horsepower. Connected hand wheel. 1715. Proceeded at full speed. Over Harpoon log.

Walker’s Harpoon Ship Log

This mechanical log tells the distance the ship sails through the water by recording the number of times the five-finned section of the mechanism turns. The indicator shows nautical miles sailed, in hundreds, tens, and ones. The log was towed astern of the ship and hauled in for readings. Though not perfect, the harpoon log was significantly more accurate than the traditional chip log and sand glass. This instrument was patented September 18, 1866. Thomas Walker & Son was a British firm that patented their first log in 1861. They continued to develop and patent logs into the 1930s.

1830. Quarters. 2112. Finished full speed trial – 13.4 knots. Proceeded at ¾ horsepower. 2300. Exercised close watertight doors. Exercised sea bots crews. Coal expended 22 tons 6 cwt. Number on sick list. 8.

At sea. Trincomalee to Calcutta. Course N24E at 10.6 knots. Wind north force 2 to 3 with broken cloud and moderate sea. Barometer 30.03 inches rising to 30.05 at 0800 before falling to 30.03 at noon and finishing at 30.05 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F. 0200. Exercised sea boats crews. Exercised close watertight doors. 0500. Heavy rain squall from NE. 0800. Exercised Fire Quarters. 1000. Cleaning ship. Noon. Wind NNE force 3 to 4 with broken cloud and passing rain. Noon. Position 11.24N 83.5E. 10.9 knots. 1300. Ordinary Seamen and Boys at Seamanship. 1400. Employed as requisite. 1700. Quarters. Eased to 85 revolutions – 7.9 knots. 2200. Passed steamer heading south. Exercised close watertight doors. Exercised ships boats crews. Coal expended 32 tons 16 cwt. Number on sick list 8.

At sea. Trincomalee to Calcutta. Course N24E at 8.2 knots. Wind NNE force 4 with broken cloud and moderate sea. Barometer 30.05 inches rising to 30.18 at noon before falling to 30.15 at 1600 and finishing at 30.17 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon. 87F. 0200. Exercised sea boats crews. Exercised close watertight doors.  0400. Put clock on 21 minutes. 0900. Mustered by Open List. Performed Divine Service. Noon. Position 14.25N 84.38E. Wind NNE force 3 to 4. 1700. Quarters. Sunset by standard compass S62W. Coal expended 22 tons 3 cwt. Number on sick list 8.

At sea. Trincomalee to Calcutta. Course N24E at 9.2 knots. Wind NE force 2 to 3 with broken cloud and slight sea. Barometer 30.19 inches rising to 30.30 at 0800 and to 30.37 at noon before falling to 30.18 at 1600 and finishing at 30.23 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 83F. 0400. Put clock on 6 minutes. 0900. Divisions and prayers. 1000. Unbent sails. Employed as requisite. Noon. Position 17.43 ½ N 86.25E.  9.4 knots. 1300. Passed ship LADAKH heading NNW.  1400. Boys and Ordinary Seamen at seamanship. Remainder employed as requisite. 1700. Quarters. Exercised Fire Quarters. 2100. Exercised close watertight doors. Exercised sea boats crews. Coal expended 22 tons 4 cwt. Number on sick list 8.

At sea. Trincomalee to Calcutta. Course N24E at 9 knots. Wind N by E force 2 with broken cloud and a smooth sea. Barometer 30.18 inches rising to 30.19 at 0800 before falling to 30.14 ay 200 and finishing at 30.16 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 81F.  0200. Put clock on 5 minutes. 0300. Exercised sea boats crews. Exercised close watertight doors. 0900. Divisions and prayers. 1000. Ordinary Seamen and Boys at seamanship. Marines at 6 inch breech loader drill. Employed as requisite. Noon. Position 20.49N. 88.3E. Wind north force 2 to 3. 1215. Sighted East Channel Light. Vessel N83E. Connected steam wheel. 1345. Eased. 1410. Stopped. Pilot came onboard. 1415. Proceed at 10. 8 revolutions as required by pilot. 1725. Speed as required for anchoring. 1730. Came to Sanjor Road in pebble bottom in 9 fathoms and veered to 3 shackles.  Banked fires in number 2, 3 and 4 boilers.  Coal expended 19 tons 2 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

At Anchor at Calcutta. – Longsand Light Vessel S10W. Sanjor Light Vessel N88E. Wind north force with broken cloud. Barometer 30.11 inches rising to 30.16 at 0800 before falling to 30.09 inches at 2000 where it remained until midnight. Temperature at noon 78F. 0400. Raised steam in number 2, 3, 4 boilers. 0630. Weighed and proceeded as requisite in charge of pilot up Hugli River at 100 revolutions.

Hugli River, Hugli also spelled Hooghly, river in West Bengal state, northeastern India. An arm of the Ganges (Ganga) River, it provides access to Kolkata (Calcutta) from the Bay of Bengal. It is formed by the junction of the Bhagirathi and Jalangi rivers at Nabadwip.

900. Divisions and prayers. Exercised General Quarters. 0940. Speed as requisite. Off diamond harbour.

The Diamond Harbour was named so by the British or rather renamed as Diamond Harbour by them as earlier the spot known as Hajipur. The harbour is a turning point for the distributary of the Holy Ganges. The river Hooghly turns towards the south into the Bay of Bengal. Owing to this the river area gets deeper and wider.

1310. Speed as requisite for in garden reach.. 1320. Stopped. Embarked assistant harbour Master. Proceeded as for turning in charge of assistant harbour master. 1350. Made fast to swinging buoy abreast of Kidderpore docks. Pilot and harbour Master left ship.

Ordinary Seamen at seamanship. Remainder as requisite. Banked fires in boilers 2,3, and four. Special leave to port watch. 1700. Quarters. 2100. HMS Melpomene alongside shore.  Wind calm. Coal expended 15 tons 2 cwt. Number on sick list 7.

At swinging buoy opposite Kidderpore Dock Calcutta. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.07 inches rising to 30.19 at noon before finishing at 30.09 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 95F. Distilling. 0400. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 230 lbs of bread. Employed as requisite. 0800. Hauled all boats ashore. 1215. Slipped. Proceeded into Government docks in charge of Assistant Harbour Master. 1430. Ship secured in Government Dock. Let fires die out in all boilers.  1700. Quarters. General leave to starboard watch and starboard watch of Boys.  Discharged two Stokers to hospital. 2100. Ship shored up in dry dock. 2200. Landed patrol. Coal expended 5 tons 16 cwt. Number on sick list 8.

In Government Dry Dock Calcutta. Wind north force 1.

British Library. This photograph, taken in1888 by an unknown photographer, shows work in progress on the 330 ft long Government graving dock, situated on the north-east corner of the half-tidal basin of the Calcutta Docks. A graving dock, otherwise known as a dry dock, is enclosed by gates and pumped dry to allow repairs to be carried out on a ship’s hull.

Barometer 30.07 inches rising to 30.13 at noon and finishing at 30.11 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon. 79F. 0400. Received 122 lbs of beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus 225 lbs of bread. Employed cleaning ship. 100. Oiled wire hawser. Dockyard men employed on defects. 1600. General leave to port watch. 1700. Quarters. Exercised starboard watch at Fire Quarters. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 5.

In Government Dry Dock Calcutta. Wind calm becoming north force 1 at midday before becoming calm again. . Broken cloud. Barometer 30.08 inches rising to 30.14 at noon and finishing at 30.09 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 82F. 0400. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 226 lbs of bread. Party employed racking down. Hoisted Senior Officer Pendant. Employed as requisite. Lowered bower and sheet anchors into dock. 1400. Refitting as requisite. Special leave to starboard watch. 1700. Quarters. Exercised watch a Fire Quarters. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 5.

In Government Dry Dock Calcutta. Wind calm becoming north force 1 at noon followed by calm. Broken cloud. Barometer 30.12 inches rising to 30.16 at noon and finishing at 30.10 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 82F. 0400. Received 128 lbs of bread. 0600. Sent church parties ashore. 0800. Sent parade party to HMS Melpomene. 1000. Divisions and prayers. Noon. Special leave to port watch and starboard watch Boys. 1400. Parade party returned. 1700. Quarters. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list. 5.

In Government Dry Dock Calcutta. Wind calm becoming northerly force 2 at noon before becoming calm again. Broken cloud. Barometer 30.07 inches rising to 30.12 at noon and finishing at 30.09 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 79F. 0600. Received 122 lbs of beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus 206 lbs of bread. 0800. Surveyed cables. Refitting and as requisite. PM. Dockyard men making good defects. 1700. Quarters. Exercised port watch at Fire Stations. Special leave to starboard watch.  Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

In Government Dry Dock Calcutta. Wind calm until noon when become north force1 to 2 returning to calm at midnight. Broken cloud. Barometer 30.06 inches increasing to 30.13 at noon and finishing at 30.08 at midnight. Temperature at noon 70F.  060. Received 122 lbs of beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus 204 lbs of bread.  0800. Prayers. Read Warrant number 56. Employed as requisite. 1700. Quarters. Exercised port watch at Fire Stations. General leave to starboard watch. 2000. Landed patrol. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

In Government Dry Dock Calcutta. Wind NW force 1 with broken cloud becoming calm at 2200. Barometer 30.04 inches rising to 30.09 at 0800 before finishing at 30.07 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 71F.  0400. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 200 lbs of bread.  0800. Replaced anchors. Prayers. Read Warrants number 57 and 58. Employed as requisite. 1400. General leave to port watch and starboard watch Boys. 1700. Quarters. Exercised starboard watch at Fire Stations. 2000. Landed patrol. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

In Government Dry Dock Calcutta. Wind calm becoming northerly at noon force 2 and returning to calm at 2000. Broken cloud.  Barometer 30.06 inches rising to 30.11 at noon and finishing at 20.10 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 73F. 0400. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 222 lbs of bread. 060. Landed Small Arms Company, Marines and field guns. Employed as requisite. 1400. Special leave to starboard watch. 1700. Quarters. 2200. Raised steam in number 3 and 4 boilers. Coal expended10 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

In Government Dry Dock Calcutta. Wind north force 1 becoming NW force 2 at 1600 followed by calm at 2000. Broken cloud. Barometer 30.07 inches rising to 30.14 at noon and finishing at 30.12 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 74F. 0200. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 213 lbs of bread. 0400. Preparing for undocking. 0645. Floated ship. Draught 12 feet 6 inches forward. 16 feet aft. 0750. Undocked ship. Hauled out of Kidderpore docks. 0920. Proceeded under steam as required up Garden Reach in charge of Assistant Harbour Master.1130. Stopped. Made fast to buoys ahead and astern of ship with woven cables. One on each forward and two on each aft alongside –au—(?) Cannot read handwriting. Let fires die out in number 3 boiler. Distilling with number 4 boiler. Cleaning ship. Special leave to port watch. 1700. Quarters. Position Fort Williams Time Ball Tower S10W magnetic. Coal expended 8 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

Fort William is a fort in Calcutta, built during the early years of the Bengal Presidency of British India. It sits on the eastern banks of the River Hooghly, the major distributary of the River Ganges. One of Kolkata’s most enduring Raj-era edifices, it extends over an area of 70.9 hectares

Moored head and stern to buoys alongside river bank in Garden Reach at Calcutta. Wind calm becoming northerly force 1 at 0800. Returning to calm at midnight. Broken cloud. Barometer 30.09 inches rising to 30.13 at 0800 and finishing at 30.10 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 71F.  Distilling. 0400. Received 225 lbs of bread. 0800. Landed Roman Catholics. 0920. Landed Wesleyans. 0930. Divisions. Sent Church party to Garrison church. Let fires die out in number 4 boiler. Noon. Church parties return. Special leave to starboard watch and starboard watch boys. 1700. Quarters. Landed field guns and breech gun. Coal expended 2 tons 3 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

Moored head and stern to buoys alongside river bank in Garden Reach at Calcutta. Wind calm becoming northerly force 1 at 0800. Returning to calm at 2000. Broken cloud. Barometer 30.09 inches rising to 30.15 at noon and finishing at 30.10 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 77F.  0400. Received120 lbs of bread and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 229 lbs of bread. 0600. Landed filed gun’s crews, Small Arms Company and Marines. 0700. Coal lighters came alongside. 0800. Commenced coaling. Landing parties returned.  Austrian Cruiser Panther arrived.

The Panther-class was a group of two torpedo cruisers, Panther and Leopard, built for the Austro-Hungarian Navy in the 1880s.

1510. Finished coaling. Received 100 tons. Discharged Lt W.H. P. (?) (Name unreadable) to MELPOMENE for passage to Flagship.

Special leave to port watch. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

Moored head and stern to buoys alongside river bank in Garden Reach at Calcutta. Wind calm becoming northerly force 1 at 0800. Returning to calm at 2000. Broken cloud. Barometer 30.09 inches rising to 30.15 at noon and finishing at 30.10 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 77F.  0400. Received120 lbs of bread and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 229 lbs of bread. 0600. Landed filed gun’s crews, Small Arms Company and Marines. 0700. Coal lighters came alongside. 0800. Commenced coaling. Landing parties returned.  Austrian Cruiser Panther arrived.

The Panther-class was a group of two torpedo cruisers, Panther and Leopard, built for the Austro-Hungarian Navy in the 1880s.

Finished coaling. Received 100 tons. Discharged Lt W.H. P. (?) (Name unreadable) to MELPOMENE for passage to Flagship.

Special leave to port watch. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

Moored head and stern to buoys alongside river bank in Garden Reach at Calcutta. Wind Calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.09 inches rising to 30.14 at noon before finishing at 30.13 at midnight. Temperature at noon 74F. 0400. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 ls of vegetables plus 229 lbs of bread.  Draught 13 feet forward 16 feet aft. 1000. Cleaning ship.  Launched boats from slip. 1315. HMS Melpomene proceeded.  Employed rigging. Special leave to starboard watch. 1700. Quarters. Coal expended 5 cwt. Number on sick list 7.