the effect of the sea

 Jane's journey continues.  Not only is she missing her friends but the Sea takes it's toll on her health. 

Jan 14th Thursday 1836

Too ill to get up all day

Jan 15th Friday

In the Downs - a very tempestuous night.  The Captain said he had never before passed such a one in the Downs and this is the 17th voyage he has made to Jamaica.  Towards noon the wind subsided.  I got better and was able to rise.  Edwin came on board from Sandwich bringing us letters; how cordially I welcomed one from each of my dear friends the Jones’ and how I treasure them, what a blessing it is to have friends, how sweet it is to be cared about.  I wrote a short letter in pencil as I laid partly dressed on the sofa for I was sea-sick as soon as I moved.  Was rather overcome by the sight of Edwin, but much pleased to see him, he soon grew pale with the motion of the vessel.  The intelligence of the loss of our book parcel grieved and disappointed me sadly but I checked my impatience considering I ought to be thankful that everything else had gone on so well.   Got better in the evening and had some interesting conversations with the Captain on the sovereigns who reigned about the period of the Reformation.  Stationary all day.

Jan 16th Saturday

Proceeded slowly on our course, not very well, took some medicine.  The captain sent down to me about 4 o’clock to say Dover was in view but I felt too poorly to go up to look at it.  My mind ever dwelling on those dear friends I have left.

Jan 18th Monday

Went on slowly although with unfavourable wind.  We have not had the wind fair for half a day since we left London - On account of the motion of the ship pieces of wood with string passed through them fastening them to the table (called fiddles) were put on today in order to keep the plates and dishes in their places.  Got pretty well towards evening by remaining perfectly still, but unable to do anything, scarcely even to read and that only at short intervals.

Isle of wight 1836

Jan 19th Tuesday

Very rough all day, obliged to retrace our course 14-15 miles to anchor by the isle of Wight.  To my greatest comfort, and I believe that of my fellow passengers my brother declined holding any more religious arguments with Mr Osborn thinking they tended to no good end and became very annoying to others.  Invariably, everyday he attacked Augustus always on the same subjects, which he  seemed to know nothing at all about; my brother thought it his duty to answer him and hoped he might perhaps give him clearer views on such important things; but his arguments (if such they might be called, for I could not follow them) were so strange, so inconsistent, so foolish; he so frequently wandered from the point set out , so conceitedly and decidedly set forth his own unsettled opinions and generally arrogantly at the close answered for my brother ( which produced a second edition) looking as triumphant as if he had completely foiled him, that the mild (for he had a great deal of patience with him; more than (i am afraid) I should have had) reasonable, judicious speaking of my brother could have no useful effect on such a self satisfied mind and we soon clearly perceived that all this much talking would tend to no other end than indulge his love of vain argument and disgust all about.

January 20th Wednesday 

Very rough again all day, the motion of the vessel threw me down twice whilst I was dressing.  Whenever i moved I was obliged to catch hold of the nearest thing I could find to prevent falling, like a little child just beginning to walk.  Being all in this tottering state cased a little merriment amongst us.

The beginning

While rummaging around in my mum's loft the other day looking for some long lost toys to hand down to my two girls. I saw something that I had not seen before.  It wasn't tucked away or hidden under something.  It was just sitting there on top of a pile of books and pictures.  


It reminded my of a book I'd found previously, an old sweet recipe book, but that is another story.  I brought it down with the Sasha dolls and smurfs that I lovingly remembered.  As I opened it I saw the beautiful copper plate handwriting and the date January 1836.  The first few lines had me hooked and I hope that you will enjoy reading this too.
In addition to the writings of the journal I have begun to research the background and history surrounding Jane Elizabeth Giraud.  I'll attempt to share the findings here with you as well.

Jan 7th thursday

Augustus and I came on board the "Seppings" Captain Anthony Rogers at Blackwall basin brackets (I think) Mr and Mrs Osbourne and three children and a servant the captain son James, Mr stones are Jamaican curate and his nephew Mr Edwin rose are a fellow passengers. I bore  up tolerably well until the evening when my spirits entirely foresoke me and I felt acutely my separation from my dear friends.

Jan 8th Friday

We reached Gravesend about 1 o'clock. The captain came on board, we find him and very kind and pleasant and our accommodation very good I amused myself in the early part of the morning with arranging our cabin, after which, walked a little while on deck. Augustus read the evening service with me, during which I was quite overcome as I united in the prayer those dear friends from whom I so lately parted. The wind unfavourable.

Jan 9th saturday 

We made but very little progress the wind being against us.  wrote part of a letter to my aunt Ridaurd. Still during several parts of the day - very dejected.

Jan 10th Sunday

Very qualmish and unable to rise in time for morning service which my brother performed with the captain and such of the passengers as were well enough to attend.  The wind contrary, not out of the river. In the evening my pocket handkerchief again hung up to dry.

Jan 11th Monday

Rather better, walked on deck for nearly an hour, found it very pleasant, the sun shine, and the sea-gulls were flying about dipping their wings in to the water felt in better spirits than I had done since i came on board.  In the being wrote to my dear friend miss Jones.

Jan 12th Tuesday

Much the same as yesterday but from the state of my feelings and the captains account of sea sickness anticipating no very pleasurable sensations as soon as we quit the river.  Walked a little while on deck in the middle of the day.  About 4 o’clock the pilot send down to me, to say the sandwich coast was in view; I was then on the sofa rather qualmish but I took a camphor lozenge and went up to look once more at the place where I had spent so many happy hours; I could see St Clements and St Peter’s churches and plainly distinguish a Maiden’s Hill, where I had so often watched the gambols of happy children.  What a variety of emotions filled my breast, as I gazed, probably for the last time on this well known shore and thought on the dear friends who were my constant companions thither.  In the evening the pilot  came to take leave of us - we gave him our letters.  As he shook hands with us and wished us all a prosperous voyage and success in our undertakings, I felt a sort of sorrow at the parting with him, it seemed as if the last link was broken with Old England.

Jan 13th Wednesday

I do not remember that anything worthy of remark happened this day - It is now the 23rd but I have been unable to continue my journal through sea sickness and the uncomfortable feelings occasioned by it.  I am consequently now writing as nearly as I can recollect from memory.