Rough journal, H.M.S. Erebus

Rough journal H.M.S. Erebus. Compiled while serving as Surgeon and Naturalist to Antarctic Expedition under Captain (afterwards Rear Admiral) [Sir] James Clark Ross [1800-1862] from 19 September, 1839 to 31 July, 1843. Author's holograph MSS. Pp. 521-527 in Part 5 are wanting. The pagination is incorrect after p. 1577, which is followed by p. 1778. On the verso of the title of Part 1 is a note headed: 'Memorandum August 3rd, 1843. When I commenced this diary I intended keeping a fair copy of it, but having permitted it to get in arrears for so long a period, this was never done; and consequently the following pages are remarks, for the most part hastily entered at the time; sometimes in boats, at others in pedestrian rambles, etc., without arrangement or correction'. At the top of the same page is a note in pencil: 'Diary of 1800 pages': this was probably written some years later. Contains long descriptions of Madeira, South Africa (Cape), Australia and New Zealand visited en route.

1839-1843

1592 [wrongly numbered 1792] pp. in 15 pamphlets 8vo. 201/2 x 121/2 cm. Unbound.

Presented 1907.

A selection of ink sketches from McCormick's journal, MS.3366, can be viewed on Wellcome Images:

Landing place at the incrustation bed. Ponta da Lourenco, Madeira: L0046601

Venda of Cruzinha, Madeira: L0046602

Farmer Peck's, near Cape Town, road from Simon's Town to Cape Town, South Africa: L0046600

Table Mountain, South Africa, showing Lion's Head and Lion's Rump and Cape Town: L0046599

Water course with coal seam, South Bay, Cumberland Bay, Kerguelen Island: L0046595

The Southern Cross and Magellen's Clouds 'near the Zenith', Kerguelen Island: L0046596

Upper End of Cumberland Bay, Kerguelen Island: L0046597

Terraced Hill forming West point of Bay, Cumberland Bay, Kerguelen Island: L0046598

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).