Pitcairn's Island  Notes  Source  Whalesite

Extract of report from Captain Morshead
(H.M.S. Dido) to Rear-Admiral Moresby
(December 15, 1853).

Copy

Sir,

      After receiving your final orders on the 29th September, I immediately parted company from your Flag, and on leaving the anchorage at Valparaiso, I got a strong Coast wind from the Southward which enabled us to make the Island of Ambrose on the third day when we continued our course to the W.N.W. till in the Latitude of 22S., and having then a brisk trade wind

Rear Admiral
      Fairfax Moresby C.B.
            Commander in Chief
              - &c. - &c. - &c. -

we hauled more to the Westward with every prospect of making a rapid passage to Pitcairns, but the trade wind having failed shortly after, I was compelled to stand again to the Northward and got as far as 20° S, every attempt after that to get to the Southward was always accompanied with the loss of the trade and even light westerly winds, so that it was not till the evening of the 2nd November, that I was enabled to run up to Pitcairns.

      2.______The Chief Magistrate with a party then came off from the shore to welcome us, and remained on board all night and were truly grateful at the many tokens of remembrance from yourself, Captain

Chads, and the Portland’s Officers and Crew together with all the presents from their friends in England and Valparaiso, their devoted loyalty on receiving the picture of the Queen was most gratifying. They were busily employed on the next and following days in landing the cattle, and packages &c many of which were very large, and had to be opened and taken piecemeal through the surf, which was done with great alacrity, although two whale boats and 24 hands were absent in freeing a whaler with 15 feet of water in her hold that had been scuttled by a couple of wretches of the Crew, with the intention of sinking her off the Island her state was doubtful for some time but gaining upon her at last they succeeded

in stopping 8 auger holes of ½inch bore, adding another proof of their readiness to help all who are in distress around them.

      3.______In landing, I was met by the whole population, with their highly esteemed and Reverend Minister Mr. Nobbs at their Head, and I am happy to add that owing to the supplies left by yourself in the Portland last May, they speedily recovered from the effects of the famine and with one exception the whole Island was in perfect health.

      4.______During my stay on shore I assembled the inhabitants, and acquainted them in compliance with your order, that their memorial relative to Norfolk Island had been forwarded by you from Callao last June.

I also read to them your caution relative to excess during the visits of Ships of war, and I am happy to add that during the Dido’s stay, with the exception of a single glass of wine to drink the Queen’s health, they abstained from all wines or spirits, but it is impossible to disguise the intoxicating delight that the presence of a man of War causes to all, both young and old.

      5.______I took the opportunity of attending their Divine Service on Sunday when the whole adult congregation received the Sacrament from their Minister Mr Nobbs and I feel it must be gratifying to all who are interested in their welfare to hear of their

increasing respect and attachment to him since his return among them as their ordained Minister, respected and beloved as he has ever been, all were perfectly aware of the additional advantages which his ordination has conferred upon them. The person who had the Medical charge during Mr Nobbs absence still continues to act, yet every case is superintended by Mr Nobbs himself, and on our arrival we found he had a patient suffering from ovarian dropsy, and during our stay he had to attend a young woman nearly burnt to death, and a premature birth, and although our Surgeon or his Assistant, was soon after in attendance to whom he resigned the cases yet everything had been done by Mr. Nobbs that their professional

experience could approve, and all appeared unanimous that no one could be better adapted to their general wants.

      6.______With reference to the Provisions which you entrusted to my discretion, I have left them on the Island. Their yam harvest had been a fair average, but owing to a long drought, great fears were entertained for the potatoe crop on which they are equally dependant. One whaler only had been supplied for the year, yet there was not in the Island a single yam, potatoe, hog or goat available for traffic, although they would exchange them for an equal amount of nutriment in biscuit or flour, their famine has taught them a good lesson, for in many houses I saw

parcels of biscuit tied up to the beams to await their pending scarcity, under these circumstances I was induced to leave the supplies with directions that they were to be reserved for the contingency.

      7.______It has long been their custom to leave any case at issue for the decision of a captain of a Man of War as a final appeal only one was left for me to decide, it had previously been before the Magistrate and submitted to a jury, and on my confirming the opinion of their own tribunal, they all shook hands immediately.

      8.______I trust I may be allowed to add my testimony to their already established reputation for morality and virtue, with the

Scriptures daily even hourly in their hand, it is impossible that any can act from higher principles or purer motives, and all their impulses happily appear for good, while their goodness even inclines them to judge charitably of the faults of others, but so simple and confiding is their nature, that any designing person thrown among them might easily destroy their peace and harmony, it has never been my lot to witness a community more entitled to admiration and respect, and with this estimation of their character it is impossible to separate the credit that is due to Mr Nobbs, who has been their friend and teacher for 25 years, and is now happily their spiritual guide and Minister. Mr Nobbs is

now deprived of the assistance of his three eldest sons and his declining years are ill adapted to supply the increasing wants of a numerous young family, and if his frugal and often scanty meal which must ever be wrung by hard labour is considered any addition that could be made to his salary would enable him to increase his sphere of usefulness and enhance the respect that is now due to his sacred calling a glance at the Public records of the Island, where their delight is expressed at Mr. Nobb’s return and he is welcomed back as their "worthy Pastor and dear kind friend", will express their feeling towards him better than any comment of my own. I am the bearer of a letter, and a small

specimen of Pitcairn Cabinet work for the Queen entrusted to your care, previous to my departure on the 7th November they assembled on our Quarter Deck and sang our National Anthem when I took my leave and in furtherance of your orders proceeded to replenish our water at the Gambier Group.

      Pagination of the original autograph has been maintained.

      William Henry Anderson Morshead, 1811-1886, Captain of the Royal Navy ship Dido which sailed in the Pacific, checking Russian activity. [National Library of New Zealand]

      Sir Fairfax Moresby GCB (786 – 1877) was a Royal Navy officer. In 1850 Admiral Moresby became Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Station. His main responsibility was to protect British commercial interests in Valparaíso in the face of unrest among the people of Chile. He also took an interest in Pitcairn Islands at this time and planned the emigration of the islanders to Norfolk Island.

Document no. 72. December 15, 1853. "Extract of report from Captain Morshead (H.M.S. Dido) to Rear-Admiral Moresby". Pages 1346 to 1367.

Pitcairn's Island  Notes  Source  Whalesite