The Silver Bowl: 1864 Dec 13

Page One

1864 Dec 13 page 1

Beneath is a timeline of what we now know of Thomas Jackson’s 1864 itinerary. On a separate page is a list of the names of people on these ships:

· Thomas Jackson left London shortly after November 12^th, 1864. It seems that he took the ferry from Dover to Calais, and then the train to Marseilles. Having signed his contract on November 12th, he had plenty of time to get to Marseilles for the November 20^th P&O sailing that was part of the Overland Route to Hong Kong.

· November 20^th, 1864. He sailed from Marseilles on board the P & O steamer Ceylon. It was built in 1858 - by Samuda Bros, of London and was a fully rigged steam/sailing vessel used on the Southampton-Malta-Alexandria service. It was about 306 feet long and 41 feet wide. SOURCE: Allen’s India Mail for November and December 1864, page 922. NOTE: “Our” Thomas Jackson is not to be confused with the Mr. Jackson who sailed on the Rangoon and who was mentioned on page 9 of the January 6^th, 1865 edition of Allen’s Indian Mail.

· November 23^rd or 24^th at Malta, and then November 27^th or 28^th at Alexandria. NOTE: According to the P&O handbook, it usually took 2 ½ days to get to Malta, and then 3 1/2 more to arrive at the port of Alexandria.

· November 29^th, 1864 (estimate – he could easily have arrived a few days earlier) He would have taken the train from Alexandria to Suez - the final links of the railway connecting Alexandria and Suez had just been completed five years earlier. In total, the trip from Marseilles to Bombay usually took 22 days. Since he left Marseilles on November 20^th & arrived in Bombay on December 12^th, this estimate of a total of 22 days is a fit for an uneventful voyage. It would include approximately 8 days from Suez to Aden and then 8 more days from Aden to Bombay – weather depending.

· December 12, 1864. A T. Jackson arrived at Bombay, on board the P & O steamer Malta, a month after leaving Marseilles. It was an older steamer ship, built in 1848. As reported in the January 6, 1865 edition of Allen’s, it had started from Suez. Thomas’ letter of December 13, 1864 agrees with his name being amongst the arrivals listed on page 9 of the January 6^th, 1865 edition of Allen’s Indian Mail. More detail from Peter Stanes: The reference is on page 9 of the 6 Jan edition of Allen’s Indian Mail which you can find from the following link: Allen’s India Mail Vol XXIII, 1865. You will see that the reference is to “Mr Jackson”, not “Mr T Jackson”. However, I am sure that this is the same person because the other passengers named are the same as those in the 21 Nov 1864 list.

· December 14, 1864 Thomas Jackson left Bombay at 9:00 AM on the Emeu.

· December 25^th, 1864. A letter that Thomas Jackson wrote on January 14, 1865, mentions spending Xmas day at Galle as part of an eight day stop-over in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

· January 14, 1864. Arrived at Hong Kong at 8:00 AM and began work 1 ½ hours later.

Incorporated by Royal Charter

The Agra & ~~United Service~~ Masterman’s Bank Limited

Bombay, 13 Decr 1864

My dear Mary,

I arrived in the city per the “Malta[1]” yesterday morning in good health and capital spirits so far so good – and will leave tomorrow morning at 9 OC for Hong Kong per “Emeu[2]” I expect to arrive in about three weeks – where I expect to arrive in about three weeks[3] – when I expect to be glad of a little rest tho’ I like the voyage out very much. We suffered a good deal from heat a thermometer being as high as 100° to 110 frequently. All my superfluous flesh is nearly disposed of by continued perspiration night and day. Our ship was very much crowded every berth occupied, which

PAGE TWO

made bad worse, my bed was about 2 feet long [sic? 5 feet long?], and my head frequently found its way into another gentleman's berth who slept alongside[4]. A number of the passengers had skin eruptions. I fortunately escaped every misfortune except toothache, my sufferings ended by the s^d hot weather and secondly by having a tooth broken out. The Doctor[5] attempted pulling but made a bad mess of it – However I am quite rid of pain just now. We had a great deal of enjoyment on hand the “Malta” and it was with very great regret I parted from my fellow passengers on our arrival here. There is something melancholy in the thought - some Two of us intimate friends parting at the Quay almost certain never to meet again

PAGE THREE NOTE: It feels as if a page may be missing. They were not numbered.

portion of the town is like all Eastern towns wretched looking but has the appearance of wealth the Natives here are immensely wealthy many of them with little bazaars are worth £50-£100,000 – In point of business this is the Capital of the East. The salaries paid are enormous. Many young men many Juniors in Years and experience are receiving £800 to £1000 a year. A Young man[6] that I knew very well in Belfast came to the Agra bank in July at a salary of £400 he has just been offered £800 a year from a rival company which he has accepted. If I were remaining here I have no doubt but that I would have at least as good a fortune. However I must

PAGE FOUR

be content for the present and hope that some first-rate thing will turn up in China – I spent yesterday evening with the Bank’s fellows. 3 of them have a bungalow and live in a style really magnificent. A sumptuous table, saddle horses, and a Carragh – the servants do evening [???] & wash[7] the clothes and fold them every night. Coffee in bed at 6:00 AM. At Bank at 8 and breakfast at 9. With all this style they live on £200 a year it would cost more in England – Of course if they lived separately it would cost them far more and they would not live as well.

I am quite ignorant of Home news and often wonder how you are all getting on. I trust to find a letter at Hong Kong on my arrival. You cannot have any idea what a treat it is to get a letter here, the Mail is one of the greatest events possible.

PAGE FIVE

Since I left Belfast I have seen a great deal of the world and I have to say that I have been in Europe, Asia and Africa in it is probable that I will see the other 2 Divisions of the world before I see dear old Ireland.

I have been very anxious about Dr. Brown[8] and Lizzie Donaldson[9]. I trust they are recovering but I am afraid of poor Lizzie. I daresay Aunt Donaldson[10] is still unchanged. We cannot hope for much change in her until the great change comes. She was very kind to me and I will always be truly grateful for her kindness - I have not experienced any great inconvenience from the heat of Bombay yet though I was at the cricket ground (where the officers of the 4^th Rifles were playing a Motet) yesterday on the hotter part of the day. The evening was a very fine. My eyes were regaled by a scene of surpassing splendor

PAGE SIX

last night. The cool air, and the stillness of night tempted us into the Verandah. The leaves of the trees appeared covered with Silver, the rich foliage gently waving up and down, the full moon and stars with the truly beautiful Eastern sky pleased the eye; while the ear was pleased with the noise of the sea, as wave after wave broke on the shore immediately below us. Everything considered I think Bombay a delightful place to live in, and I trust yet to have that pleasure.

Remember me to all friends and with fondest love believe me to be your attached brother

T Jackson

[1] The P & O steamer Malta. A few months earlier, the ship had been delayed to 19 days because of a cholera outbreak in Suez, but this voyage passed without mishap.

[2] The P&O Steamer the Emeu was launched in 1853, and in 1880 was lost in the Macassar Strait when on a voyage from Manila to Montreal with a cargo of sugar. Fortunately, this voyage was uneventful even though it had broken down a couple of times in 1863 and had to be towed into safe harbor. It was a little over 266 feet long and was 36 ½ feet wide. SOURCE: P&O Emeu Fact Sheet. NOTE: The Emeu was also used at this time for transporting chests of Malawa opium, I have been unable so far to determine the name of the Captain on this voyage.

[3] It actually took a month – probably because of the 8 day stop-over in Ceylon, for which no reason was given. He arrived in Hong Kong on January 14^th, 1865.

[4] NOTE: Thomas Jackson was 6’2” tall – a challenge for sleeping in the five foot long bunks found on such ships.

[5] It would seem going from the passenger list that the surgeon was Dr. Grant.

[6] I do not yet know who this was.

[7] It may be: – the servants do evening [???] brush the clothes…

[8] Rev Dr. Daniel Gunn BROWNE (1808-1892)– his uncle and life time mentor.

[9] Most likely his cousin Elizabeth Johanna DONALDSON (1854-1903), daughter of John DONALDSON (1818-1854) and Elizabeth Johanna JACKSON (1817-1900).

[10] Great-Aunt Barbara DONALDSON née BRADFORD (1783-1865). I suspect that either she or her daughter or both were responsible for covering the fees for Thomas Jackson’s schooling at Morgan’s School in Dublin. His close relationship with this aunt included significant conversations on matters of politics, finance, and religion.