Extensively illustrated Midshipman’s log book of a return voyage from England to Madras with drawings of an albatross-shoot, whale-ships burning oil, a mirage at sea and a sequence of coastal views including St Helena and Tristan da Cunha.
Folio-sized manuscript which has been copied by its author from the original document into a printed skeleton Log Book whilst incorporating his original drawings made on board the HMS Wellington. Rebound in recent quarter blue buckram over plain blue paper-covered boards. Borrer’s original manuscript title ‘Log Book’ has been laid down on the upper cover. There are paper repairs to margins of the printed title page and the corners of a few early leaves. Borrer has added the details of his trip to the title page, laying in a sheet of signals and on the verso his manuscript list of ‘Ships spoken with on the Wellingtons Voyage...’ with 13 entries on the outward leg including for the ‘Cachalot French South Sea Whaler’, ‘Newark American Whaler Ship’ and the Australian-bound convict ship on its last voyage to New South Wales, ‘Minerva English Schooner’ which was carrying 7 transported women convicts from Ireland. Borrer lists the names of 83 members of the ship’s company on the outward leg and 35 additional passengers returning including a Captain Prendergast who ‘died at Sea’ and concludes with the unnamed: ‘2 Native Servants - Cape of Good Hope’. Laid down on the verso of this preliminary leaf is a coastal profile (32cm wide) of ‘Madeira very distant’ and a biggish sketch of a ‘Brig’. A more decorative coastal profile of ‘Pico Ruiro or Madeira Island W 30 miles’ is laid down diagonally opposite Borrer’s written ‘Remarks Island of Tristan De Chuna’ which describes the inhabitants of the island, William Glass, ‘the Governor’ and his extensive family, George Peril, and the island’s economy: ‘potatoes are cultivated in large quantities and are exchanged for Bread to the American Whalers. Very few Ships Whalers excepted touch here. This is the Wellington’s 3rd visit...’ The log itself extends over 112 pages with additional blanks to the rear, beginning on August 18th 1839 to Monday 10th December when the ship arrived in Madras and back to Gravesend for May 2nd 1840. Borrer concludes his log with a list of Fishes seen, sightings of Land and Birds. In addition to the double-sided leaf of signals there are 33 drawings laid down next to the relevant text with a single image of a mirage at sea laid in loosely.
Serving under Captain James Liddle (recorded by Borrer as hailing from Bodmin in Cornwall) Borrer proves an informative writer within the strict conventions allowed him - perhaps of most interest are his drawings. Borrer who would in due course inherit his father William Borrer’s family seat, Portslade Manor in Sussex, offers a fascinating sequence of vignettes that bring his voyage to life. The large coastal profile of Madeira is particularly well-worked, with images of other ships including The Perseverance; a 3 vessel vignette (10.5x5.5cm) of ‘Wellington - Minerva [the convict vessel] Hopeful - Main Royal yard carried away’, an image of the Wellington in high seas - ‘Strong N.E. Gales and squally with much Rain’, and a ‘squall off Madagascar’ complete with lightning over the ship - all inset images. Borrer’s coastal profiles include the Island of Palma, Tristan Da Cunha, Ligullas Point and Cape Hanglip, St Helena and Ascension. While anchored at the Cape of Good Hope Borrer made an image of ‘Several Whalers in harbour both English and American one the London from New Bedford which we spoke on our outward passage burning oil’ in addition to a sketch of a damaged mast and a doctor on board ship. Most characterful is his miniature off the Cape of Good Hope illustrating his description of how they ‘Set Gaff Topsail lowered one of he Quarter Boats for the Passengers and Captain to shoot the Albatross and several other Birds.’ Altogether an intriguing document.
