A Journal of a Voyage from England Towards Madeira in the Ship Britannia

Manuscript logbook and workbook, 2 calligraphic title pages, [76][8], several text illustrations and diagrams, 3 full page watercolour illustrations, 1 manuscript map, contemporary notes to front pastedown, contemporary red morocco back marbled boards, folio (205 x 340mm), September 22 1842; with a Certificate of Service and Discharge for Christopher, serving as Mate on board the William and Thomas of the port of Hayle; a letter enclosing a plan for a proposed site for a magazine and gunpowder store, a baptism card for Roseina Christopher in 1864 and a photographic postcard of a prize bull are loosely inserted.

A heavily illustrated midshipman’s workbook, with some lively and detailed illustrations of ships on triangulated routes, full page watercolour illustration of a ship, anchors, a mackerel, a manuscript coastal chart “From England to the Cape Verde Islands, on Mercator’s Projection” and several other illustrations. The workbook of the midshipman is a good example of the navigational education covered in the classroom and how it is applied in an actual voyage. The following subjects are covered; Trigonometry, Navigation, Pane Sailing, Traverse Sailing, Parallel Sailing, Middle Latitude Sailing, Mercator’s Sailing, Finding Latitude by Observation, and ending in the 8 leaf log book ‘A Journal of a Voyage from England Towards Madeira in the Ship Britannia”. The logbook contains all the expected notes such as the daily progress, wind directions and bearings, sail manoeuvres, with detailed notes and equations underneath as this voyage was a practical part of the education of a midshipman.

John Christopher joined the Royal Navy in 1839 and served on board the HMS Cambridge until 1841. In March 1842 he joined the Merchant Service. In 1850 he gained a Master’s Certificate serving in the barque Minmanueth of Scilly from 1865 to 1872, participating in transatlantic trade with America. In 1876 he had to retire from life at sea due to his poor health, buying shares in the schooner Lizzie Morton of St Ives. In 1879 Christopher helped found the Hain Steamship Company of St Ives, with his grandsons Sir George P Christopher and Captain J Christopher playing major roles. The National Maritime Museum holds some of John Christopher’s papers, certificates and letters which provide an overview of his life.

A fine and heavily illustrated Naval training exercise book from an accomplished seaman.