AN INTERESTING LATE 18TH CENTURY SHIP'S LOG FROM THE EAST INDIAMAN BELVEDERE, LATTERLY USED AS A PROP IN THE 1951 'HORNBLOWER' FILM

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AN INTERESTING LATE 18TH CENTURY SHIP'S LOG FROM THE EAST INDIAMAN BELVEDERE, LATTERLY USED AS A PROP IN THE 1951 'HORNBLOWER' FILM
a nearly-full volume for dates between 7th May 1795 to 17th December 1796 with lists of seamen and their careers/fates aboard noted next to them, daily reports and weather conditions etc. for trips to St Helena, China, Cape and others, the 15th July with reference to mutiny, the offenders being clapped in irons (see illustration); the latter few pages with practice jottings and dramatic entries in English and French for the film including: Lydia towards the Panama, 8th Sept 1807: Calm. Hot sultry weather...I pray God that my calculations were correct and I pray wind will come. It must come -- or we shall surely die and 22nd November 1807: Fresh Northerly. Repairs to ship proceeding. Wounded in good spirits - due to untiring efforts of Lady B. Wellesley, written over folio sheets bound between original felt-covered boards with original trade label for William Heather inside front cover
See illustration

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Lot Essay

The Belvedere was a full-rigged East Indiaman of 987 tons built by Crookenden & Taylor at Itchenor (Chichester) for Mr. Edward Fiott. Launched on 18th April 1787, she sailed from Portsmouth on 9th June 1787 under the command of Captain William Greer, her maiden voyage being direct to China from where she arrived back in the Downs on 19th September the following year. Her second voyage, to China via the Coromandel Coast, was in 1790-91 after which she was sold to Samuel Bonham, Esq. Under a new master, Captain Charles Christie, she went out to Bombay in 1793-94 and, on 9th July 1795, sailed from Portsmouth bound for St. Helena and China. Back in home waters in February 1797, she did one further voyage direct to Bombay (November 1797-February 1801) prior to being sold to Captain Christie. After her final voyage to China under Captain Peter Fearon (May 1801-September 1803), she was placed in the West Indies trade where she remained until August 1805 when she was broken up.

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