At Chatham. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.29 inches falling to 30.27 at 0800 and to 30.25 at noon before finishing at 30.22 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 41F. Received 180 lbs of beef and 75 lbs of vegetables plus 210 lbs of bread. 0900. Commissioned. 0930. Both watches provisioning and drawing stores. 1315. Both watches employed as requisite. 1600. Wind SE force 1 with broken cloud. 1630. Read stations and exercised General Quarters and Fire Quarters.  Special leave to starboard Watch. Coal expended 8 cwt. Number on sick list – Nil.

At Chatham. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.23 inches rising to 30.24 at 0800 and to 30.27 at noon before falling to 30.22 at 1600 and then rising to 30.25inches at 2000 where it finished at midnight. Temperature at noon 48F. Received 110 lbs of beef and 50 lbs of vegetables. 0600. Employed cleaning ship. 0900. Bending sails. Noon. Wind calm with broken cloud. 1300. Employed as in forenoon. 1600. Wind east force 1 with broken cloud. 1740. Gave special leave to watch. 1745. Evening quarters.  Coal expended 8 cwt. Number on sick list – Nil.

At Chatham. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.36 inches rising to 30.40 at 0800 and to 30.45 at noon and then falling to 30.40 at 2000 before finishing at 30.43 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 52F. Received 180 lbs of beef and 100 lbs of vegetables. 0600. Employed cleaning ship. 0800. Cleaning ship and as requisite. 1130. Paid monthly money. Noon. Wind east force 1 with broken cloud. 1300. Read and exercised Collision stations. Cleaning ship. 1600. Wind ENE force 1 with broken cloud. Special leave to port watch. 1700. Evening Quarters. 200. Wind calm with broken cloud. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list Nil.

(Sunday). At Chatham.  Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.47 inches falling to 30.35 at 0800 and then rising to 30.48 at noon before falling to 30.25 at 1600 and to 30.20 inches at 2000 where it finished at midnight. Temperature at noon 41F. 0900. Landed Church party. 0915. Divisions. 0930. Prayers. Noon. Wind W by S force 2 with broken cloud. 1250. Church parties returned. 1300. Special leave to port watch and starboard watch and Boys. 1600. Wind east force 1 with broken cloud. 1715. Evening Quarters.  1800. Boys returned. 2000. Wind calm with broken cloud. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list Nil.

At Chatham Wind WNW force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.17 inches falling to 30.15 at 0800 and to 30.08 at noon and then to 30.02 at 16000 before rising to 30.04 at 2000 and then finishing at 29.97 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 40F. Received 118 lbs of beef and 50 lbs of vegetables. 0200. Lit fires for trials. 0600. Lit up all fires. 0800. Wind NW force 1 with fog.  0900. Divisions. 0910. Prayers. 0950. General Quarters. 1050. Shifted ship from trial. 1130. Steam trials. Noon. Wind NW force 1 with broken cloud. 1300. Finished steam trial.1345. Secured alongside.1445. Provisioning ship. 1600. Wind calm with overcast sky and fog.  1830. Finished provisioning. Special leave to watch. Coal expended 6 tons 6 cwt. Number on sick list Nil.

At Chatham. Wind WNW force 1 with overcast sky and rain. Barometer 29.98 inches falling to 29.97 at 0800 and to 29.80 at noon and to 29.65 at 1600 and to 29.62 at 2000 before finishing at 29.34 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 45F. 0600. Stowing Provision Room. 0800. Wind calm with overcast sky and rain. Received 138 lbs of beef and 70 lbs of vegetables. Noon. Wind west force 1 with overcast sky and rain. 1300. Employed as requisite. 1600. Wind west force 2 to 4 with overcast sky, squalls and rain. 1645. Evening Quarters. Read Warrant number 3. Special leave to port watch. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list Nil.

At Chatham. Wind W by S force 1 with overcast sky and rain. Barometer 29.30 inches rising to 29.32 at 0800 and to 29.40 at noon and to 29.45 at 1600 and to 29.55 at 2000 before finishing at 29.50 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 50F. 0200. Received 100 lbs of beef and 50 lbs of bread. 0800. Wind W by S force 1 with overcast sky and rain. Employed as requisite. Noon Wind west force 1 with overcast sky. 1300. Employed as requisite. Marines inspected in marching order. Received 20 tons of fresh water. 1600. Wind SW force with broken cloud and passing rain. 1640. Evening Quarters. General leave to watch. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list Nil.

At Chatham. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 29.54 inches rising to 29.55 at 0800 and to 29.66 at noon and to 29.68 at 1600 and to 29.73 at 2000 before finishing at 29.90 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 45F. 0600. Liberty men returned. Received 144 lbs of beef and 80 lbs of vegetables. 0900. Divisions with arms. Six inch gun crews divisional drills. Noon. Wind NW force 1 with overcast sky. 1300. Employed as requisite. 1500. Riggers shifted ship into North Lock. 1600. Wind ENE force 1 with rain. Evening Quarters. Gave General leave to port watch. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list Nil

North Dock. Chatham. Wind WNW force 1 with overcast sky. Barometer 29.87 inches rising to 29.90 at 0800 and to 29.94 at noon and then falling to 29.90 at 1600 and to 29.85 at 2000 before finishing at 29.80 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 52F. 0200. Received 142 lbs of beef and 50 lbs of bread. 0400. Employed preparing for sea. Draught 14 feet 7 inches forward. 15 feet 7 inches aft. 0745. Left lock and proceeded as requisite to number 7 buoy. 0800. Wind W by S force 2 with broken cloud. 0925. Stopped. 0930. Made fast to buoy. 0945 Commenced swinging for adjustments to compass. 0945. Divisions and prayers. Exercised General Quarters and Fire stations. 1115. Finished swinging.1130. Slipped and proceeded to N21 buoy. Noon. Wind NW by N force 2 with broken cloud. Stopped and made fast to buoy. 1230. Dinner. 1345. Employed in getting in ammunition. Drew fires. 1600. Wind NW force 1 with broken cloud. 1725. Finished getting in ammunition. Stowing ammunition. 2000. Wind calm with broken cloud. 2100. Finished stowing ammunition. Coal expended 5 tons 15 cwt. Number on sick list Nil.

Sheerness. Wind SSE force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.80 inches falling to 29.75 at 0800 and then rising to 29.80 at noon before finishing at 29.85 inches at midnight. 0200. Received 150 lbs of beef and 70 lbs of vegetables. 0400. Employed cleaning ship. 0800. Wind calm with overcast sky. Cleaning ship throughout.  0900. Fitted and tested pistols for torpedoes. Noon. Wind NE force 2. 1340. HMS Wye proceeded.

1600. Wind NNE frce 3 with broken cloud. 1630. Evening Quarters. Read Stations for – Out collision mat. 2000. Wind east force 3 with broken cloud. . 2030. 15 Boys joined ship for disposal on station. Coal expended 5 cwt, Number on sick list Nil.

Sheerness. Wind north force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.90 inches falling to 29.83 at 0800 and to 29.78 at noon and to 29.75 at 1600 and to 29.73 at 2000 before finishing at 29.75 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 45F. 0600. Cleaning ship. 0800. Wind north force 1 with broken cloud. 1000. Admiral inspected ship. Mustered at Open List. Exercised General Quarters and Fire Stations. Mustered Bags and hammocks. 1145. Hauled down C in C flag.  Noon. Wind SW force 1 with overcast sky and squalls. 1400. Read stations for Arm and man boats. 1430. Exercised man and arm boats.1530. Preparing for sea. 1600. Wind SW force 1 with overcast sky and squalls.  Coal expended 5cwt. Number on sick list Nil.

Sheerness. Wind SW force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.78 inches rising to 29.80 at noon and to 29.87 at 1600 and to 29.88 at 2000 before finishing at 29.92 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 46F. 0200. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables. 0600. Employed as requisite. 0800. Wind west force 1. 0845. Unshackled. 0915. Slipped and proceeded. Course as requisite for trial.0940. Streamed Patent log. Lost by accident one ship’s lead and line. 1023. Commenced trial. 1100. Patent log 15.3. Noon. Wind NW force 1 with broken cloud.  Patent log 29.5. 1321 Patent log 48.7. Finished trial. 1500. Stopped. Made fast to number 21 buoy. Received 266 lbs of beef and 120 lbs of vegetables.  Watered ship with 16 tons. 1600.  Coal expended 16 tons 5 cwt.  Coal remaining 221 Tons 1 cwt. Number on sick list Nil.

Sheerness. Wind SW force 2 with overcast sky and rain. Barometer 29.82 inches rising to 29.87 at 0800 and then dropping to 29.76 at noon and to 29.56 at 2000 before finishing at 29.47 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 54F. 0600. Cleaning ship. 0800. Wind SW force 3 with overcast sky and passing rain. Employed as requisite. Received towing arrangements from dockyard.  Fitted towing arrangements. Noon. Wind WSW force 4 with overcast sky. 1300. Both watches as requisite. 6 inch Quick Fire guns crews at divisional drill. 1600. Wind SW force 4 to 6 with overcast sky and passing rain. 1700. Evening Quarters.  Coal expended 2 tons 15 cwt. Number on sick list Nil.

Sheerness to Portland. Wind W by N force 5 with broken cloud and passing rain. Barometer 29.60 inches rising to 29.79 at 0800 and to 29.85 at noon and to 29.90 at 1600 before falling to 29.85 at 2000 and finishing at 29.90 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 48F. 0500. Lit fires in all boilers. Draught 14 feet 7 inches forward and 15 feet 9 inches aft. Received 168 lbs of beef and 80 lbs of vegetables. 0800. Wind WNW force 4 with broken cloud. 0955. Slipped and proceeded as requisite out of harbour. 1015. Streamed log. 1030. Exercised Small Arms Company. Employed as requisite. Noon. Wind W by N force 2 with broken cloud. Edinburgh Light ship abeam at ½ mile. Course N56E at 10.2 knots. 1240. ?? light abeam ( Unable to read handwriting) 1410. Gull Light abeam. 1500. Shaped course to. S 56W at 9.4 knots. 1600. Wind SWS force 4 with broken cloud.1700. Altered course to S72W at 9.9 knots. 1930. Royal Sovereign Light abeam. Altered course to N84 ½ W at 5 knots. 2000. Wind WSW force 4 with broken cloud. 2125. Eased to 80 revolutions. 2140. Eased to 75 revolutions. Coal expended 15 tons 1 cwt. Coal remaining 28 tons 5 cwt. Number on sick list Nil.

At sea on course for Portland and Devonport. Course N84 ½ W at 6.4 knots. Wind WSW force 4 with broken cloud and moderate sea. Barometer 29.47 inches rising to 2992 at 0800 and then falling to 29.80 at 1600 before rising to 30.20 inches at 2000 where it finished at midnight. Temperature at noon 45F. 0150. Queens light abeam at 25 miles. Altered course to N87W. 0600. St Catherine’s Light abeam.. 0705. Altered course to N70W. 0800. Wind west force 4 to 5 with broken cloud and squalls. 0945. Altered course to N58W. Noon. Wind WNW force 5 with broken cloud. 1255. Stopped. 1300. Came to on port anchor in 7 ¼ fathoms and veered to 4 shackles. Anchor bearings at Portland. A dolphin east. C dolphin N25E. 1600. Wind west force 4 with broken cloud.  1830. Shortened cable. 1840. Weighed and proceeded out of harbour. 1940. Shaped to S84W. 2352. Sighted and lost light. Coal expended 17 tons 18 cwt. Number on sick list Nil.

At sea Portland to Devonport. Course S84W at 8 knots. Wind west force 4 with overcast sky and fog. Barometer 30.15 inches rising to 30.20 at 0800 and to 30.31 at 2000 before finishing at 30.18 inches at midnight. Temperature at midday 49F. 0115. Start Point abeam at 5 ½ miles.0225. Altered course to N50W. 0515. Altered course N50E. Sounded in 14 fathoms. 0530. Altered course to N54E. Sounded in 13 fathoms. 0545. Altered course S10E. Sounded in 11 fathoms. 0600. Altered course S82E. Sounded in 9 fathoms. 0630. Course as requisite for Sound. 070. Stopped. Came to buoy and made fast. 0800. Saluted Commander in Chief.  1100. Slipped from buoy and proceeded up harbour. 1150. Stopped and made fast to HMS Himalaya.  Received 306 lbs of beef and 153 lbs of vegetables.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Himalaya_(1854)

P&O had concluded that Himalaya was a larger vessel than the passenger traffic demanded and, with coal becoming more expensive with the advent of war in the Crimea, would not be economic. In July 1854, after another trooping voyage, to Scutari, the company was able to persuade the British Government to buy her to use as a troopship for £133,000, a little above her cost price of £130,000.

She retired from trooping service and was decommissioned on 28 September 1894.[21] Retained to become a coal hulk in the Hamoaze, Devonport, in December 1895, and with the new name C60, she was sent to Hull for conversion by Earle’s Shipbuilding Co to a vessel able to store 4,500 tons of coal.[12][18] She returned to Devonport at the end of June 1896.[22]

Noon. Wind SW force 3 with overcast sky. 1300. Tested life buoys – found correct. 1330 Commenced coaling. Received 47 tons.  Received 10 tons of water. 1600. Wind SW force 1 with overcast sky. 1700. Received 53 tons of coal. 1850. Finished coaling. Received 80 tons. 1900. Employed cleaning ship.  Special leave to both watches.  Coal expended 7 tons 19 cwt.  Number on sick list 1.