Revised Jun 22 2021
During the voyage from Pitcairn to Norfolk Island, one of the senior members of the community, Arthur Quintal, wrote thus to his excellent friend Admiral Moresby”
"MY DEAR FRIEND,
"You may easily guess, from the date of my letter, where I am bound to. I am on board an English emigrant ship, bound to Norfolk Island, with all the rest of my fellow-countrymen. We left our own dear little island on the 2d of May, and are now about half-way on our passage. We have had a fine run, with strong easterly winds, until the 9th, when the wind shifted ahead, and has continued baffling ever since. Our people mostly were dreadfully sick for the first three or four days; but, by the blessing of God, they have nearly all recovered. Two or three are still very sick; but as the weather is fine, I think, in a day or two, they will quite recover.
"This ship is called the Morayshire, and a fine ship she is, of 850 tons burden; she has ample accommodation for all of us. and I have no doubt you will be pleased to learn that, from the captain and officers, and, in fact, all the ship's company, we have received the utmost kindness and attention. Still, at times, we have been shocked to hear their awful profanation of God's holy name.
"The emigration is conducted by acting Lieutenant Gregorie, of H.M.S. Juno, whose untiring kindness and strict attention to our wants have greatly endeared him to us. He is indefatigable in his exertions to promote our welfare; he has been twice at Norfolk Island, and is well acquainted with the place and its capabilities; and, according to his account, it is all we could wish.
"Please to receive my sincere congratulations for the honour recently conferred upon you by our most gracious Sovereign; I am sure it is not undeserved; and, to use the words of our people, when they first heard of it, 'it ought to have been done long ago.'*
∗ Rear-Admiral Moresby, C.B., the Pitcairners' warm and constant friend, had received the honour of knighthood. He has since been promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral.
"Our worthy friend, Captain Morshead, was at Pitcairn a few days before we left; and right glad we were to welcome such a tried friend to our little island again. We have seen, by the Navy List, that our dear friends of the Portland are dispersed all over the world; but we have bright recollections of all of them; and to such of them as are still near, we beg you to remember us kindly. Your ever grateful friend,
"ARTHUR QUINTAL."