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Fateful Voyage

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Revised Aug 28 2021

Portlock's Assistant Logbook Nov 8-12, 1791

Remarks on board His Majestys Brig Assistant

Moored in Table Bay Cape of Good Hope

November 1791

Tuesday 8  Moderate & Cloudy Weather PM Got Top Gallant masts on Deck & Struck Lower Yards & Topmasts Middle parts Light Breezes & Clear AM Employed clearing the After Hold to get at the Slip of the Main mast others fleeting the Main Rigging . . . Unrove the Rigging . . . At Noon Light breezes & Clear Received on board 40 pound of Fresh Beef

Wednesday 9  Moderate & Cloudy Weather PM the Commodore's Carpenter Employed Shifting the Slip of the Main mast Restowed the After Hold & set up the Main Rigging AM Moderate & Clear Employed fleeting & setting up the Fore Rigging fidded and Scraped the Topmasts Sailed hence the French Frigate 2 Indiamen & 2 Whalers Received on board 50 pounds of Fresh Mutton

Thursday 10  Fresh Gales & Cloudy Weather PM Got the Topsail yards on deck Employed refitting Ditto Blacking Taring & Sparing the Rigging AM Fresh breezes & Cloudy Employed [rallen?] the Topmast Rigging down Struck the Lower yards on deck & Refitted Ditto At Noon Strong Gales & Cloudy Received on board 50 pounds of Fresh Beef

Friday 11  Fresh Gales & Squally PM Got the Topsail yards Across Employed Rigging Ditto & Sparing the Lower Rigging down & Blacking the [leads?] of the Masts & the Tops AM Employed [rallen?] the lower Rigging scraped & greased the Main mast Crossed the lower yards . Painted the Foremast & Swayed up Top Gallant masts Received on board 50 pounds of Fresh Mutton

Saturday 12  Fresh breezes & Cloudy Weather PM Took the Rudder Coat off Stayed the Main Topmast & Top Gallant mast Employed fixing leading Blocks to the Rigging ... Arrived a French Merchant Ship AM Variable Weather Employed Blacking & Taring the Rigging Sent William Terry & Robert Scott Seamen to Sick Quarters ... Fixed a new Rudder Coat Sent 4 Halfhogsheads to be repaired & filled with Water At Noon Light breezes & Hazey Weather Received on board 30 pounds of Fresh Mutton


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