Revised Jun 22 2021
After the full account of the visit of Admiral Moresby to the island in August 1852, it is not deemed necessary to insert extracts of that date from the Island Register. The Adeline Gibbs, American whaler, Mr. Weeks, Master, was at Pitcairn during the visit of the Portland. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks were living ashore. "It would be a happy circumstance," wrote the Admiral, "if a person like her could be found to reside among them." The Register proceeds;
"1853. Sunday, 15th May.—A sail was seen in the morning coming from the eastward, bearing down for the island, under a crowd of sail. At half-past twelve she had neared the island sufficiently for the boats to go off to her. The vessel proved to be the Portland, and we had once more the satisfaction to welcome the dear and gallant Admiral Moresby, and our Pastor, the Rev. G. H. Nobbs. She also brought back the son and daughter of our worthy Pastor, the former of whom had been absent nearly four years. We were truly rejoiced to see the dear and good friends, who have done so much to promote our comfort and happiness; and we hope and trust that we may ever deserve their kindness and regard. Divine service was performed during the evening. The Rev. Mr. Holman preached a farewell sermon to the community, which deeply affected, and will long Tbe remembered by, them. Text from 2 Cor. xiii. 11.
"Monday 16th.—The community busily engaged landing the various presents to them from their untiring friends and benefactors, Admiral Moresby and others, in Valparaiso and England, to all of whom we feel truly thankful.
"Tuesday, 17th.—To-day, at 12, the Admiral assembled the people, and addressed them on various subjects, principally relating to the internal regulations of the island.
"Wednesday, 18th.—This morning the Admiral avowed his intention to sail in the course of the day; and in consequence all was bustle and preparation.
"Thursday, 19th.—Several of the people were attacked with influenza.
"Friday, 20th.—The epidemic rapidly spreading; many very ill. Henry Chads Christian born.
"Wednesday, 25th.—Most of the people seriously ill, and unable to help themselves.
"Saturday, 28th.—Rainy and very thick weather. About 10 A.M. a ship was reported in sight to the westward; 12, the ship seen from the village, and instantly recognised to be the Portland. After some hours, a crew of invalids pulled off to her. The next day, at sun-down, the good ship Portland left us, we fear, for ever. That our heavenly Father may ever preserve her gallant crew from all the dangers of the sea, and from the assaults of their spiritual arid temporal enemies, is the prayer and earnest wish of the community at Pitcairn's Island.
"31st.—Elizabeth Holman Adams born.
"June 20th.—Thomas Buffett and Louisa Quintal, and Fletcher Nobbs and Susan Quintal, married.
"28th.—John Moresby Acland Quintal born.
"Aug. 9th.—William Henry Holman Christian born.
"13th.—Rosalina Amelia Young born.
"October 5th.—Ernest Heywood Christian born.
"September 19th.—Sarah M'Coy had a severe fall, by which she broke her collar-bone and fractured her jaw,
"21st.—Sarah M'Coy suffering much pain.
"October 5th.—Sarah M'Coy almost quite recovered.
"16th.—George Henry Parkin Christian born.
"November 2d.—About 4 P.M. a sail, which was immediately pronounced to be a man-of-war, was seen coming from the eastward. The whaleboat was immediately manned; and after a few minutes' hard rowing, some of the islanders received a hearty welcome on board H.M.S. Dido, bringing to the community some more tokens of the kind regards of their friends abroad, more especially Rear-Admiral Moresby, and his benevolent officers.
"Nothing can exceed the kind treatment which the islanders received from the Captain (Morshead) and officers of the Dido.
"4th.—Our people are very busily occupied in the laborious though certainly delightful, operation of landing the presents, and conveying them up the steep ascent to the village. Fortunately, the weather has been very fine, so that the things are landed with comparative ease and safety; and our worthy guests are enabled to avail themselves of a walk over the Island, and other little amusements in which they may take an interest.
"Yesterday, just in the bustle and excitement of the day, an American whale-ship, which left us the day before, made her appearance again round the east point of the Island; and shortly after, the captain landed with the melancholy information that his ship was in a sinking state, occasioned by two of his crew having, the night before, with an inch-and-a-quarter auger, bored eight holes through the bottom, hoping to sink her off the Island! Nor was it discovered until fifteen feet deep of water had made its way into the hold. He had landed to procure assistance; and taking into consideration the unfortunate position he was in, one half of our men went immediately on board, leaving the others to continue landing the things from the Dido. After fourteen hours of hard labour, they, with the assistance of the crew, succeeded in pumping out all the water, and in stopping the holes. After endeavouring in vain to be allowed to leave the mutinous characters on the Island, he again left us, to procure redress at some port where there is an American Consul, and where he might be able to replenish his stock of provisions and other stores, as those he had on board are nearly all ruined. The captain was unable to account for the cause of the diabolical attempt to sink the ship, and endanger the lives of so many human beings. Still several of the crew have been previously heard to speak with much discontent of the treatment they experienced on board, and of the tyranny of the captain. It is a most providential thing for us, that she did not sink. For having been within eighty miles of this Island, whoever were saved would naturally have come, expecting hospitality from us; and as there were twenty-seven persons on board, it would be a heavy draw upon our at all times circumscribed means, to have them quartered among us for perhaps several months, before chances should occur of removing them. Besides which, it is impossible to imagine how much mischief might be occasioned by having among us so many individuals, who, by all we have learnt of them, are by no means the best of characters."
The incident here recorded deserves a little more notice. The circumstances attending the rescue of the whaler, which have also been related by Admiral Moresby, serve to throw additional light on the generous and disinterested character of the islanders. "They asked no reward," said the Admiral, "nor did they get any, beyond the Captain's thanks, that I know of; for all they mentioned to me was, 'The Captain thanked us very much.'"
To return to the Register:—
"Nov. 4th.—This afternoon the splendid picture of the Queen and Royal Family was unpacked. The case having been a little wetted on landing, it was feared that it might have penetrated to the picture; but fortunately , and to the inexpressible joy of every one, no wet had got to it, nor any injury whatever befallen it either here or on the passage out. It was placed for the time being in the singing-room; and it is impossible to describe the anxious delight, and, it may be added, grateful loyalty, with which all hastened to obtain a view of so great a treasure as the picture and gift of our much-loved Sovereign.
"A very fine portrait of our untiring benefactor, Admiral Moresby, was also brought on shore to-day by Captain Morshead, and kindly presented by him to the community. This also was exhibited; and so good a likeness was it of our benign and venerated friend, that every breast was kindled anew with the warmest emotions of grateful and devoted affection.
"Nov. 5th.—The men have been employed to-day in landing the remainder of the stores, including some twenty bags of biscuit and four barrels of beef which Admiral Moresby, with his wonted generosity and benevolent solicitude, ordered to be landed and kept in store for the benefit of the community, in case of any contingency or scarcity of provisions during the next six months; and at 4 P.M. we had the satisfaction of seeing our work completed, that is, every thing carried up from the landing-place, and safely deposited under cover. In landing the things, we have been most successful, insomuch that nothing was injured, more than the slight wetting of a few bales, which have been timely attended to; any evil consequences which might have resulted being thus prevented; and we desire to return our grateful thanks to Captain Morshead, and all on board the Dido, for the kind manner in which their services were rendered to facilitate the boat operations.
"Nov. 5th.—This afternoon, whilst Lucy Christian, a girl of sixteen years, was occupied in cooking, her clothes accidentally took fire. She was instantly enveloped in flames; and had it not been for the assistance of two or three people, who fortunately happened to be within a short distance, the consequences would have been most dreadful. As it is, her arms and back are very much scorched; but it is hoped not seriously. The Rev. Mr. Nobbs was almost immediately in attendance with medical assistance; and as the surgeons of the Dido were both on board at the time, one of them was sent for, who arrived in about an hour and a half, but found that Mr. Nobbs had done everything that was necessary, and all that the most skilful surgeon could have recommended.
"Nov. 6th, Sunday.—Capt. Morshead very kindly remained to spend the Sunday with us; and both at morning and evening service, himself and a number of his officers attended our humble church. It being the first Sunday of the month, the Holy Sacrament was administered, with the , usual number of attendants.
"Captain Morshead intends sailing to-morrow, first to the Gambier Islands to water and then to Valparaiso, taking with him two members of our community, Reuben and Francis, sons of the Rev. Mr. Nobbs, who go to establish themselves in Valparaiso for a few years, the former having been for nearly four years a resident there."