Bound for South Australia

– received on board the [tooltip color=”grey” text=”To navigate difficult stretches of water, ships took pilots on board. Pilots were coastal navigators with knowledge of their local waters and they captained the ship through the channel or harbour.”] pilot [/tooltip] hove up …
anchors and made sail the wind at north I felt …
us for a letter but did not receve one tharefore I was led [to?]
trust and leave all in the hands of the God of all gra[ce?]
the cost of England looked delightfull as we sailed by
but soon it looked like a cloud at 7 PM tacked ship
Portland light in sight …

Extracts from letter, Captain Robert C Morgan
Rec^d March 9^th 1836
G Fife Angas Esq
Jeffrey’s Square
St Mary Axe
London

Bark Duke of York March 8^th 1836
off the Isle of Wight

Dear Sir

under a sense of the love and
favour of God I address these few lines to
You as the chief friend and counceler and
director in this important station of life
I am placed in both in regard to Yourself
and the Company how far I may give
satisfaction I know not but I look up
to God in Christ to be guided with
wisdom and grace …
we were compelled to put in here by
adverse winds and our time has bing
employd in getting ready for sea I have
kept the people and passengers on fresh meet
wile here beliving that to be both cheap
and best for the people and I likewise
I have got a few things here that we were
short off which I trust you will approve off
the wind is now fare from the North
and I hope by the blessing of Him who
hold the winds in His fists and holds
the waters in the hollow of is hand will
conduct us to our place of destine were
we may all fullfill our station of life
We use family service on board and keep
the Lords day and expect the Lords blessing
which He has allready favoured us with
Mr Stevens [illegible word] I belive to be a sincere
Christan and Mr Bear [Beare] I belive will prove
a serveseable man if spared to the
Company I still feel some anksierty
concerning the Ships Cofer if You can give
me any directions or council concerning it
the first oppertunity I will be glad
fare well dear Sir praying You and Yours
every blessing for time and Eternity for
our Redeemers sake Amen

Yours affectonately Robert C Morgan

M^r Stevens haveing nothing perticular to write
desires his respects M^r and M^rs Bear [Beare] and family
are all well the work men allso
we now have a fair wind and shall make
the best farewell Sir

… recd[?] a letter from my beloved wife and child and bless God
for surporting her in the trying hour
… read the explanation of the
145th Psalm and lay down in peace

After private prayer and Christain conversation
took boat and went to cows …
– blowing hard let go the seacond
anchor – sent a letter home to my beloved wife

After private prayer entered in the service of another
Sabath – different circumstanced than the last Sabath
at half past 6 weighed anchor and made sail down channel
with a fair wind I feel in the parth of my duty England I
love thy shores duty calls me from thee…

This day commenced with strong winds and a heigh sea
the vessel verry laboursome and the sea beating over the
deck the dear passengers all sick the decks much lumbred
and the people dissatisfied as to the commencement of our
voyage at 11 AM made the land and took a  [tooltip color=”grey” text=”To navigate difficult stretches of water, ships took pilots on board. Pilots were coastal navigators with knowledge of their local waters and they captained the ship through the channel or harbour.”]pilot[/tooltip] for the
Isle of white at 2 PM came to anchor at the mother bank
this afternoon blows verry hard gave 40 fathoms of cable
my communion with God has not bing so sweet as at other
times in the everning it blew a perfect gale let go the
seacond anchor and gave 70 fathoms of cable I experianced
how good and servesable this anchor is to the vessel
and how much more is Christ to the beliveing soul

10 AM left my family in the hand of God at home
[?with a]ll.things needful for life and godlynesse glory be to God
… my christian brother English in company we went on
[?boar]d of the [tooltip color=”black” text=”A packet was a ship that ran a regular route between two ports and had a government contract to carry the mail, in this case powered by steam rather than sail. The ships also carried passengers and cargo and the mail contract was seen as a mark of their speed and reliability.”] steem packet[/tooltip]and landed safe at gravesend where
Captn Pryn joined us and we came on board of the Duke of York
… after dinner all hands with most of the passengers assembled [?]
… on the quater deck haveing hoisted the Bethel flag…
… ist head we commenced the worship of God with singing
…
Captn Pryn offered a most affectionate prayer to
Allmighty God for us and all mankind many tears was shead
and I hope the seed sown that will be blessed of the Lord
without whose help the labourer laboureth in vain I went on
shore after service and bid farewell to my christian Bretheren
knowing not if I shall see them again in the flesh but God
knows that will surfice –