F.G. Simpkinson: Naval logs

The volume contains logs of the daily proceedings of different vessels kept by F.G. Simpkinson, volunteer 1st class, subsequently midshipman, travelling mainly in the Mediterranean and off the Iberian Peninsula. There are different types of entry for whether the ship was sailing or was docked. The former give the wind direction and record remarks for a.m. and p.m. on the weather, the tasks Simpkinson was employed on, and the arrival and departure of other vessels. The latter give additional information, including course, distance, latitude and longitude, bearings and distance, and speed. Each log is preceded by a title page. The volume contains the following logs: The log of H.M.S. 'Britannia' (Captain Peter Rainier C.B.), 15 March 1832 - 18 May 1833, recording this route: Spithead, Lisbon, Cascais Bay, Plymouth Sound, Hamoage, the Tagus, Cape Trafalgar. The log of H.M.S. 'Britannia' (Captain Peter Rainier C.B., bearing the flag of Vice Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm G.C.B.), 19 May 1833 - 5 August 1833, recording this route: Cape Spartel, Malta, Besika Bay (spelt Bassika or Basikia in the log). The log of H.M.S. 'Rainbow' (Captain John Franklin) and H.M.S. 'Britannia', 6 August 1833 - 23 March 1834, recording this route: at sea, Napoli di Romania, Phineka Bay, Smyrna, Vourla Bay, Malta Harbour. Simpkinson transferred from the 'Rainbow' to the 'Britannia' late in October 1833, when both vessels were at Vourla Bay. The log of H.M.S. 'Britannia' (Captain Peter Rainier C.B.), 24 March 1834 - 14 February 1835, recording this route: Malta Harbour, Napoli di Romania, Vourla Bay, Smyrna, Vourla Bay, Mytelene Bay, Vourla Bay, Malta Harbour, Vourla Bay, Malta Harbour, Gibraltar Bay, Spithead, Portsmouth Harbour. The title page for this part of the logs describes Simpkinson for the first time as midshipman. The log of H.M.S. 'Jupiter' (Captain Edward Henry A'Court), 4 March 1835 - 21 May 1835, docked throughout at Woolwich. The log of H.M.S. 'Sulphur' (Captain Frederick William Beechey), 10 October 1835 - 24 January 1836, at Portsmouth Harbour until 23 December 1835, subsequently at sea, the last entry given at the Equator.

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Transferred from the Department of Geography, April 1969.

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.

The log entries continue in MS Add.7781. MS Add.7782 is comprised of journals and papers belonging to Simpkinson.