The National Archives website has collected an awesome collection of downloadable files of images from the logs and journals of Royal Navy Medical officers.
Stop over and have a look!
Friday, April 7
Surgeons at Sea
The National Archives website has collected an awesome collection of downloadable files of images from the logs and journals of Royal Navy Medical officers.
Tuesday, April 4
Friday, March 31
Sailing Video Game
Looking for something to do to kill some time before your weekend begins?
Some educational period Navy fun for young and old alike can be found at
A site funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and a project of the USS Constitution Museum. Play games, explore the ship, meet the crew, this website is as educational as it is entertaining!
Thursday, March 30
The Ship Herself
 Hand-coloured.; Technique includes etching. Published 1 Feb 1817 HMS Magicienne (36) at right and HMS Acasta (44) on the left at the Battle of San Domingo, the only primary source (original, from the era) image of Acasta, other than the original plans, known to exist.
HMS Acasta
Builder: John Randall & Co,, Rotherhithe
Launched: 14 March 1797 Class and type: Acasta-class fifth-rate frigate Tons burthen: 112722⁄94 (bm) Length: 154 ft (46.9 m) Beam: 40 ft 9.5 in (12.4 m) Depth of hold: 14 ft 3 in (4.3 m) Sail plan: Full-rigged ship Complement: 320 Armament: 40 guns Nominal Guns: 40 Nationality: Great Britain Operator: The Royal Navy Ordered: 1795/04/30 Keel Laid Down: 1795/09 Launched: 1797/03/14 How acquired: Built by Contract Shipyard: Rotherhithe Designed by: William Rule Constructor: Richard Wells Category: Fifth Rate Ship Type: Frigate Broken Up: 1821/01/01 Dimension Measurement Type Metric Equivalent Length of Gundeck 154' 0" Imperial Feet 46.9392 Length of Keel 128' 11" Imperial Feet 39.2938 Breadth 40' 6" Imperial Feet 12.3444 Depth in Hold 14' 3" Imperial Feet 4.3434 Burthen 1,127 22⁄94 Tons BM Armament 1797/04 Broadside Weight = 443 Imperial Pound ( 200.9005 kg) Upper Gun Deck 30 British 18-Pounder Quarterdeck 4 British 32-Pound Carronade Quarterdeck 8 British 9-Pounder Forecastle 2 British 9-Pounder Forecastle 4 British 32-Pound Carronade Crew Complement 1797/04 320 men Source: British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793 - 1817 Rif Winfield   |
| HMS Acasta Deck, Quarter & Forecastle |
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| HMS Acasta Frame |
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| HMS Acasta Gun Deck |
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| HMS Acasta Inboard Profile Plan |
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| HMS Acasta Lines |
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| HMS Acasta Orlop Deck |
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| HMS Acasta Upper Deck Plan |
These plans from the Royal Museums Greenwich collection
Wednesday, March 29
Leeches
Dearest Marie,
Recently I have had some small diversion from the tedium of the blockage and a distraction from my longing for you and the boys. All our water stores were found to have become corrupted, so it was necessary to rewater right away. A sailor named Miller was sent ashore to look for a good source, He had been a soldier before and they are sometimes more skilled at such things. Miller soon found a spring pond, the location was not ideal, but the water was good. To get the barrels to the good water they would have to be floated and dragged up a shallow, swampy creek, then up a small hill to the spring pond. The Doctor sent me along with the water detail, supposedly in case one should be injured, but more likely to collect any odd insects, plants or creatures that we saw. The Captain will not allow him on the American shore for fear he might be captured.
It was quite a troublesome task getting our barrels to the Spring, but once there the water was very nice. We had to float the barrels out into the pond to fill them. We had not been long employed before Miller says 'Bloody Hell". I have learned that when an English says "Bloody Hell" it can mean that he is surprised, shocked, disgusted, greatly pleased, hurt or disagrees with something said very strongly. This time it was surprised I think. When I look to him I see that he is tugging on something attached to his ankle that stretches as he pulls it. It was a leech of a type I had never seen before!
So all the sailors stop working and begin to search themselves for leeches. One named Mcquery had three, but most have none. I tried to collect all of them, but some the sailors had injured by pulling them off to roughly. As soon as the boson Hollybrass finds that he has none on hisself he roars “Back to work ye sluggards! Afraid of worms! Ye should all be ashamed!”
So they all go back to work and the barrels are soon filled, which was the easiest part of the job. When we are done I tell Hollybrass I wish to keep Mcquery- since the leeches seemed to prefer him- and stay behind for a bit. He starts to tell me no, but when I say it is for the Doctor he tells me just to be sure they do not have to wait on us. All the sailors think well of the Doctor.
So I have a bottle of sprits the Doctor has sent with me to pickle creatures in. As soon as they are gone I tell Mcquery he can have it all If he will just lay down in the water. “I would bath in a trough o’ them leeches fer a bottle o’ pure spirits like that!” he says and lays right down. He is Irish and spirits is as mothers milk to them. The bites he had from before were still bleeding, and leeches can smell blood in the water. So he lays there contentedly drinking the spirits and the leeches come to us .Before we left I collected another eight from him.
When I go to get him to leve he is unsteady on his feet. I suppose the spirits were stronger than what he was acustomed to. For an Irish this was a surprise to me. When we get back to the cutter Hollybrass is upset- “he’s pissed” he says of Mcquery. “It is from to much blood taked by the leeches” I tell him. “Which you’ll be doing the explaining if an officer sees him when we get aboard” he says.
But we keep him away from the officers when we get aboard and it all ends well. I have found the American leeches to be inferior top the ones from Europe- but we have few of those left so cousin Jonathan’s leeches are stilled welcomed .
Rumors abound of the War’s end, at least here in North America. I hope and pray it is true.
Ever your loving husband,
Baptiste
Tuesday, March 28
The Lieutenant's Exam
Frederick Hoffman, who served as a lieutenant on HMS Tonnant (80) at Trafalgar, describes in his autobiography how he took, and passed, his lieutenant's examination in 1799:
"I was soon on shore and at the door of [my captain's] room. I knocked. “Enter,” said a voice not at all encouraging. “What do you want, any orders?” “No, sir,” said I, with one of my best quarter-deck bows, which appeared to soften him. “I hope I am not intruding; I have taken the liberty of waiting on you, sir, to acquaint you that I have served my time.” He was half-shaved, and my visit appeared unfortunately ill-timed, and I began to apprehend by the expression of his countenance, and the flourishes he made with his razor, he intended making me a head shorter. “Who sent you to me at this inconvenient time?” asked he. “The first lieutenant, sir,” said I; “he thought it was better for me to inform you before you went to the Admiral’s pen.” “Oh, very well; you may go; shut the door, and let the barge come for me at seven o’clock.” On board I repaired, and delivered the message. I kept pondering whether my hardy, half-shaven captain’s manner was favourable to the information I had given him or not. My messmates were anxious to know how I was received. “Not very graciously,” was my reply. Next morning, to my agreeable surprise, I was ordered to take the barge, and go on board the Alarm frigate, where I met my old captain, who shook hands with me, and two others. “Well,” said the former, “are you prepared to prove you are an able seaman and an officer?” “I hope so, sir,” said I. He introduced me to his two brother officers, and informed them I had sailed with him some time, and that I had frequently charge of a watch. We all descended to the cabin, where Hamilton Moore’s “Epitome,” a slate and pencil were placed before me. I was first asked several questions respecting coming to an anchor, mooring, tacking, veering, and taking in sail. I was then desired to find the time of high water at different places, and the variation of the compass.
They appeared satisfied with my answers and solutions, and before I left the ship they presented me with my passing certificate. On the following day I took the oath of allegiance, abused the Pope—poor, innocent man—and all his doctrines, and received my commission for a twenty-four gun ship which I joined the day after. I left some of my messmates with regret, as they were made of the very stuff our Navy required. "
Monday, March 27
Ropework Upclose
Some examples of the fine rope work of Acasta Josh Wilson, who says that most of the knowledge came from Hervey Garrett Smith's books "The Arts of the Sailor" and "The Marlinspike Sailor". A lot of it was looking at pieces in museums and collections, and suggests that "Ashley's Book of Knots" has some great examples in it as well. Thanks to Josh for the images of his fine work!
Heavy duty sailor's knife and sheath for cleaving rope
Rope mat ready to put on a step to prevent slipping
Ditty bag and lanyard
Sewing palm, needle case and folding knife
Seam rubber and fid lying on a hammock
Hammock clew
Needle case and detail
Working a knot loose with a marlin spike
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