ROYAL NAVY SHIPS THE FLYING SQUADRON in Hobart 1870
MUSIC manuscript of the GALOP by W. H. SPILLER
BOOK The Cruise round the World of the Flying Squadron 1869-1870
PHOTOGRAPHS by ABBOTT, WOOLLEY, CHERRY, CLIFFORD & NEVIN
DIARY of Midshipman Marcus McCausland
Abbott Album
171. Flying Squadron in Hobson's Bay 1869 (Victoria)
https://stors.tas.gov.au/
Press Reports
Source: Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), Saturday 29 January 1870, page 3
TRANSCRIPT
VISIT OF-THE -FLYING SQUADRON TO HOBART TOWN. . The Flying Squadron arrived at Hobart Town on Sunday 2nd January. The Squadron consists of H.M.S. Liverpool, 30 gun steam, frigate, 2,056 tons; -H.M.S. Endymion, 21-gun steam frigate, 2,480 tons; H.M.S Scylla, 10-gun steam- corvette 1,467 tons; H.M.S. Liffey, 30-gun steam frigate, 2,654 tons; H.M.S. Barrosa, 17-gun steam corvette, 1,700 tons; H.M.S. Pheobe, 30-gun steam frigate, 2,800 tons. Large numbers of spectators assembled in various spots to watch the little fleet coming up the harbour under full sail. His Excellency the Governor and suite paid a visit to Rear-Admiral Hornby on board the Liverpool. During the stay of the Squadron, the vessels were thrown open for public inspection and thousands of persons availed themselves of the opportunity. The Liverpool was of course the ship which attracted the greatest number of visitors. The officers had a gay time of it during their eight days stay. They were entertained by the Governor to several dinner parties, to a grand ball at Government House, to a lawn party at the same place, followed by an old colonists' ball, a regatta, a cricket match, in which both the Governor and Admiral Hornby took part, concerts theatrical entertainments, a picnic at Fern Tree Gully, &c., so that time did not by any means hang heavily on their hands, and they must have left the "tight little island" with the impression that they had a jolly time of it, and had been exceedingly well treated. But if the officers passed a pleasant time of it, the crews did not find it a dull visit, but were at various times allowed, leave of absence, and enjoyed themselves in their own style, keeping the City in a lively state, Sometimes the streets were "alive", with sailors. The blue jacket was everywhere to be seen, and as usual, when on shore, Jack was up to all sorts of pranks. The tars caused a considerable amount of amusement. They were all very jolly, and ready to fraternise with one and all, and to the credit of the fleet it may be said there was no misconduct to , complain of. Man-of-wars' men on shore-are always allowed a certain amount of license, and sometimes they abuse the privilege accorded to them; but the men of the Squadron who were on shore in Hobart Town behaved themselves admirably. Of course they had their larks, add they "punished " a considerable quantity of liquor, but there was no rowdyism amongst them. The Barrosa after remaining a few days proceeded to Melbourne to pick up deserters at that place. She got four, but lost twelve twelve of her own men, so her voyage did not, prove very successful. , During the time the fleet was in Melbourne they lost a hundred and sixty men, of whom twenty-nine were from the Liverpool. The Scylla lost 24, and the other vessels in proportion. The Flying Squadron left Hobart Town on 10th instant. His Excellency the Governor and Mrs. Du Cane, Archdeacon Reibey, Mrs. Lambert, and Mr. Chichester, his Excellency's Private Secretary, proceeded down the harbor on board the Liverpool, and returned in the T.S.N. Co's. steamer Southern Cross in the afternoon. In going down a collision occurred between the Liffey and Scylla, which were on different tacks; the Liffey had her jibboom carried away, and a portion of the Scylla's bulwarks was smashed and her mainsail damaged. A new sail was bent, and the other injuries speedily repaired, and the wind being light the ships came to an anchor off the Iron Pot. Three men belonging to the Liffey were injured by the collision. The S.S. Southern Cross and steamer Monarch accompanied the Squadron down the river, and had on board a large number of passengers. The Squadron finally got away on 11th instant.
Source: Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899) Sat 29 Jan 1870 Page 3 VISIT OF THE FLYING SQUADRON TO HOBART TOWN. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/39672992#
Source: Australian National Maritime Museum
Flying Squadron Special Regatta program
Date:7 January 1870
Medium:Silk, ink
Credit Line: ANMM Collection Gift from Royal Hobart Regatta Association
Classification:Ephemera
Object Name:Silk program
Object No:00048313
Related Place:Hobart
Description: This silk program with a red fringed border was produced for a special regatta to honour the visit to Hobart of five British warships known as the Flying Squadron. The regatta was held under the patronage of the Governor Chas. Ducane. Esq. and Rear-Admiral Hornby on 7th January 1870. It was organised by the Hobart Regatta Association and Lieutenants Watson, Parker and Roberts from HMS LIVERPOOL, LIFFEY and PHOEBE respectively.
The program details various squadron rowing and sailing events as well as a novelty duck hunt. It is type set in two columns and was printed at the Mercury steam press office in Hobart.
Extracts and Plates 1871
These extracts, map and lithographs are from the official account of the Flying Squadron in Hobart, Tasmania, January 1870,
The Cruise round the World of the Flying Squadron 1869-1870, under the command of Rear Admiral G.T. Phipps-Hornby. (Compiled by J.B., with the assistance of Henry Cavendish.) [With plates and a map.] Publication date 1871 Publisher London : J.D. Potter
Map of the Cruise Round the World 1869-1870:
The Cruise round the World of the Flying Squadron 1869-1870, under the command of Rear Admiral G.T. Phipps-Hornby. (Compiled by J.B., with the assistance of Henry Cavendish.) [With plates and a map.]
Publication date 1871 Publisher London : J.D. Potter
Link to full text: https://archive.org/stream/cruiseroundworld00bj/cruiseroundworld00bj_djvu.txt
The beauty of Tasmanian women
Some Tasmanian women were pretty, but so few beautiful according to the authors:
FLYING SQUADRON. RIVER DERWENT. TASMANIA.
Pages 136-137
... a distinguished captain of a frigate, whose previous
diplomatic career now stood him in good stead,
and His Excellency continued his round, calling on
the captains of each ship, and returning to Govern-
ment House about six o’clock, preparatory to the
ball, which was to take place that evening at
Government House, where, at nine o’clock, the doors
were opened, and the company poured in to be
astonished at the beauty of the room, or, as our
correspondent of the Press mentioned, struck with
the floral decorations, in which nothing was left
undone to dazzle the vision with the splendours
of the vice-regal palace. Our correspondent was
assuredly there, but as we had not the pleasure of
seeing him, we conclude he came with the fern trees
that were placed at the back of the dais, which, with
the lights behind them, produced a very desirable
effect, and the room itself looked as well as a pretty
room can look, decorated with an amount of flowers,
in the profusion of which Tasmania stands unrivalled,
and arranged with the greatest talent of artistic taste ;
we may thoroughly congratulate Mrs. Du Cane on
a rare thing — perfect success ; and as
we had heard
one constant cry in Australia about the beauty of
Tasmanian women, of “ Wait till you go to Hobarton,”
we waited ; and as the day drew near, anxiety
increased to see the room which was to be full of
dazzling visions, and like most other things in this
life that you look forward to with interest, we hope it
will not be considered heresy to say that
we were a
little disappointed as to the amount of beauty in
it. That there were pretty girls is undeniable, but
that they were very scarce we think is equally so.
What nature had not lavished, artifice had usurped the
place with little winning ways, and many hearts beat
a shade quicker at the sight of a well-remembered
Melbourne face; and, without making invidious selec-
tions, we doubtless think that the Misses R ----e were
quite the belles, inclusive of the suffering Aunt
Laura, who betrayed the sagacity of a great instinct
on more than one occasion ; and, with all going merry
as marriage bells, dancing was kept up, with only a
partial suspension at midnight, when, according to
our Mercury friend, supper was served in the most
superb style, the wines and champagne being of the
choicest qualities, and iced — the fact of the iceing
having struck the gentleman so much, we are afraid
he must have bolted a bit in the pantry ; and by
three o’clock the last white slipper had fled en route
to its nest, leaving us alone with the thought of what
we had done which we ought not to have done ; and
while we were ruminating over the pros and cons
Captain Goldsmith's SS "Kangaroo"
The vehicular steam ferry built by Elizabeth Rachel Nevin's uncle Captain Edward Goldsmith at his slipyard on the Queen's Domain, Hobart, in 1854 was still in operation between the wharves at Hobart and Rosny (Bellerive) on the eastern shore of the Derwent up to the early 20th century
FLYING SQUADRON. RIVER DERWENT. TASMANIA.
Page 138
Wednesday, January 5th. — The town was kept
alive during the day by Jack, who was on leave, and
who also was affording great amusement to the
people ashore ; and in the afternoon was the picnic,
given to the squadron by the citizens of Hobarton,
at a place — Rosny — the opposite side of the harbour
to the town, where, shortly after one o’clock, the
“ Kangaroo ” steamer took the givers and their
guests across, who were shortly afterwards joined by
the vice-regal party, and to the immense amusement
of the spectators, many of the squadron, including all
the supposed stern and unyielding naval post-captains,
save one, played at the scientific game of duckstone.
Great was the company of spectators, and loud the
applause, when a bearded and decorated captain was
seen fleeing heedlessly down the lull, pursued by an
impetuous and hairless midshipman, one of whom, in
his anxiety to do for the duck, hurled a large portion
of a rock, without looking to see if anybody’s head
was in the way ....
The vehicular steam ferry built by Elizabeth Rachel Nevin's uncle Captain Edward Goldsmith in 1854 was still in operation in the early 20th century, photographed here as S.S. Kangaroo, Hobart to Bellerive ferry, Hobart, ca. 1913
Source: National Library of Australia https://nla.gov.au:443/tarkine/nla.obj-141891637
The Ladies' letter to the Admiral to move his ships
FLYING SQUADRON. RIVER DERWENT. TASMANIA.
Pages 140-141
The Admiral received a letter, through the
Tasmanian Times, from the ladies of Hobart Town, and for their sakes we must regret the sometimes hardness of the human heart.
“ Dear Admiral, —
“We have a favour to ask at your hands,
“ and knowing how kind and gallant all members of
“ your profession are to such petitioners as we, it is
“ with the better grace and more confiding spirit
“ that we pray you to grant our request. Do, dear
“ Admiral, move those fine ships of yours from their
“ present anchorage, where nobody can see them at
“ advantage, and where they are so difficult of access
“ to the ordinary anchorage near the wharf, where
“ the whole town can have a fine view of them, and
“ where all can conveniently reach them. You must
“ know we like to look at the blue coats and gold
“ buttons (people say the owners of the said coats
“ and buttons like to look at us), but modesty forbids
“ our putting this forward as a plea; and we also
“ like to view their floating home, especially when
“ they come in a fleet to our shores. Now, please
“ do be compliant to our earnest wishes, and be
“ assured every hospitality we can offer will be the
“ more readily extended to the whole of the crews
“ under your command.
“ And your petitioners will ever pray for fair
“ winds for your squadron when at sea, and sweet
“ smiles to welcome it at every port it enters.
“ The Ladies.”
The result, if any, was not apparent, the anchors remaining where they were, and the ships as before obscured from the light-blue eyes of Hobart Town.
Thursday, January 6th. — The day was devoted to the great cricket struggle between the Southern Tasmanian Cricket Association and the Flying Squadron, the Governor leading his Kingdom and the Admiral his Squadron. [etc etc]
From: The Cruise round the World of the Flying Squadron 1869-1870, under the command of Rear Admiral G.T. Phipps-Hornby. (Compiled by J.B., with the assistance of Henry Cavendish.) [With plates and a map.]
Publication date 1871 Publisher London : J.D. Potter
Link to full text: https://archive.org/stream/cruiseroundworld00bj/cruiseroundworld00bj_djvu.txt
The Three Lithographs
These images in this publication
The Cruise round the World of the Flying Squadron 1869-1870, under the command of Rear Admiral G.T. Phipps-Hornby (1871) are from
the British Library at Flickr: Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/tags/sysnum000158052
Caption on mount:
"THE LAST OF THE ABORIGINALS (LADY) TASMANIA"
Standidge & Co. Liths London
Image taken from page 187 of 'The Cruise round the World of the Flying Squadron 1869-1870, under the command of Rear Admiral G. T. Phipps-Hornby. (Compiled by J. B., with the assistance of Henry Cavendish.) [With plates and a map.]' 1871
There is nothing in the published text dated 1871 about the Flying Squadron's visit to Tasmania which refers to this lithograph of a Tasmanian Aboriginal woman or which can account for the image's inclusion in the publication. Aborigines are mentioned in the section on Victoria, Maoris in the New Zealand section, and the Japanese "race" in that section. Even the Anglo-Saxons are mentioned as a "race" but the authors are silent about the Tasmanian Aboriginal woman who appears on page 187.
As for identification of both the subject and the photographer, their source of this photograph was the Hobart studio of Charles Alfred Woolley (1834-1922). He took three photographs of each of five Tasmanian Aborigines in 1866. This one is of Wapperty, female of the Benlomona Tribe, 70 yrs old.
Source: State Library of NSW
Tasmanian Aborigines, 1866 / photographed by Charles Alfred Woolley | PXB 435
7-9. [Wapperty?] or [Wonoteah Cortamena?] (Human [& Lightning?]), female of the Benlomona Tribe, 70 yrs old
Link: http://archival.sl.nsw.gov.au/Details/archive/110327084
Caption on mount:
"H.E. DUCANE ESQRE VISITING THE SQUADRON RIVER DERWENT TASMANIA"
Standidge & Co. Liths London
Image taken from page 151 of 'The Cruise round the World of the Flying Squadron 1869-1870, under the command of Rear Admiral G. T. Phipps-Hornby. (Compiled by J. B., with the assistance of Henry Cavendish.) [With plates and a map.]' 1871
Caption on mount:
"GOVERNMENT HOUSE HOBART TOWN"
Standidge & Co. Liths London
Image taken from page 177 of 'The Cruise round the World of the Flying Squadron 1869-1870, under the command of Rear Admiral G. T. Phipps-Hornby. (Compiled by J. B., with the assistance of Henry Cavendish.) [With plates and a map.]' 1871
Photographs of the Flying Squadron
Hobart photographers George CHERRY, Samuel CLIFFORD and Thomas NEVIN produced souvenirs of the Flying Squadron's visit in all formats, e.g. as cartes-de-visite, as postcards, as panoramas and as stereographs.
Caption: "Flying Squadron in the River Derwent, Hoabrt Town, 7th January 1870"
Printed below image from left to right: "Scylla, Phoebe, Liffey, Liverpool, Edymion"
Photographer: George Cherry 1870
Source: Maritime Museum of Tasmania
The Flying Squadron from Rosny
Publication Information: 1870.
Physical description: 1 photograph : sepia toned ; 11 x 19 cm.
Tasmanian scenes" also known as "Clifford album 1".
Clifford and Nevin's prints as prototypes
Compare the photographs (below) produced as stereographs by Samuel Clifford and Thomas Nevin in January 1870 and the two coloured lithographs (above), published in London, 1871 in the account of
The Cruise round the World of the Flying Squadron 1869-1870, under the command of Rear Admiral G. T. Phipps-Hornby. (Compiled by J. B., with the assistance of Henry Cavendish). The stereograph of the ships by Clifford viewed from the Queen's Domain, and the stereograph of Government House taken by Nevin at the Queen's Domain, appear to have been used by the London publishers as the prototypes for the lithographs in 1871. All three photographers - Cherry, Clifford and Nevin would have received some instruction to supply the local press, the visitors, and the colonial Government with these items. Thomas Nevin, in particular was under contract to the Lands and Survey Dept. by 1870, commissioned by Surveyor-General of Tasmania, James Erskine Calder.
The Flying Squadron in the Derwent January 2-10, 1870
Carte-de-visite printed on mount at right "SAMUEL CLIFFORD"
From the family album of Jean Porthouse Graves 1870s-1940s
Photo © KLW NFC 2015 in KLW NFC Private Collection
Flying Squadron on the Derwent River.
[STEREOSCOPE] CLIFFORD, Samuel (attributed) Hobart? 1870.
Stereoscope, card mount measuring 175 x 83mm.
Source: Hordern House Rare books Sydney NSW
Link: https://www.hordern.com/pages/books/3909313/stereoscope-samuel-clifford-attributed/flying-squadron-on-the-derwent-river
Commercial photographer
Thomas Nevin and his friend Duncan Chisholm were captured with Nevin's own camera by a third person (possibly Thomas' younger brother Jack Nevin) as they watched the Flying Squadron in the River Derwent from their vantage point on the Queen's Domain during the week of 2nd-10th January, 1870.
Detail of stereograph below, Thomas J. Nevin, ca. 1870
Self portrait (foreground, in hat) and male friend reclining on the Queen's Domain, Government House in distance.
Verso blank, inscription "Domain Hobart per G. T. Stilwell, Librarian, SLT."
Photos recto and verso copyright © KLW NFC Imprint 2014-2015
Taken at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, 10 November 2014
TMAG Ref: Q16826.3
Stereograph by Thomas J. Nevin, ca. 1870
Self portrait (foreground, in hat) and male friend reclining on the Queen's Domain, Government House in distance.
Verso blank, inscription "Domain Hobart per G. T. Stilwell, Librarian, SLT."
Photos recto and verso copyright © KLW NFC Imprint 2014-2015
TMAG Ref: Q16826.3
The new Government House in the background of this "selfie" was photographed again by Thomas Nevin as the more formal subject of this stereograph (below) which was used as the prototype by the London publishers in 1871 for the coloured lithograph (above) on page 177 of
The Cruise round the World of the Flying Squadron 1869-1870, under the command of Rear Admiral G. T. Phipps-Hornby
Government House from Domain
Stereograph by Thomas J. Nevin ca. 1870
TMAG Ref:Q1994.56.18 [scans recto and verso 2015]
Midshipman Marcus McCausland's Diary
The Cruise of The Flying Squadron 1869 – 1870
A Midshipman's Diary by Marcus McCausland
Edited by Charles Fountain, May 2002.
Editor's Note from Introduction
This article is drawn from the diary written during the cruise of the Flying Squadron by Marcus McCausland a midshipman on board the frigate "HMS Liffey". All the illustrations and photographs used in the text were bound into the diary and were either taken by McCausland or obtained by him on route. Considering how early the photographs are and the deprivations they must have suffered during the cruise, they are in remarkable condition. The diary content has been reproduced faithfully and with only very minor editing. It is hoped that by keeping the content true to the original diary and complete, the reader may gain some idea of the rhythm of the cruise with periods of tedious sailing followed by the short sharp adventures experienced in the ports. Explanatory notes draw on information contained in two other logs from the cruise and other miscellaneous sources as indicated in the bibliography.
© Copyright Charles Fountain May 2002
Source: http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Flying_Squadron/The_Squadron.html#Ships
EXTRACTS from the Diary
Hobart
December 26th
"We left Sydney under steam followed by steamers and the same sort of procession of boats as when we arrived. After we rounded the heads we made sail with all the bands of the fleet playing ‘Auld Lang Syne’, ‘The Girl I Left Behind Me’ etc. Much waving of pocket-handkerchiefs and I’m afraid many left their hearts behind them. Had a very fair passage to Hobart Town – seven and a half days."
Sunday Jan 2nd
"Arrived off Hobart Town. Crowds of people down by the water side watching us come in. In fact the churches were empty and they say the Bishop cut his sermon short by saying, "Dearly beloved brethren the Flying Squadron are coming in and I must be off to see them". I watched the Admiral as he landed and saw him surrounded by women."
"Government house is the most prominent feature onshore but the whole harbour is very pretty. Invitations came onboard at once for every sort of amusement. I went onshore the first day after arrival and just came in in time for a private picnic that was being got up. We had a very jolly day of it. We went to the top of mount Wellington the highest peak in the place, the carriages started at 11am."
I found myself in a carriage with three ladies and two little girls who made themselves very agreeable - lots of chat. In fact I was very sorry when we had to leave the carriage and take to climbing. We had to climb up a gully for about two hours and I must say I was rather ashamed of myself because the three girls I was supposed to be taking care of were assisting and taking care of me. I thought I would drop down with sheer exhaustion several times and they were mounting higher and higher and seeming to enjoy it, (jeering me in fact). But when we got to the top such a splendid luncheon was laid out under the gum trees (a peculiarity about these trees – they shed their bark instead of their leaves) which being finished the gentlemen smoked and the ladies had some small talk. Then we walked down to the carriages and drove back."
"My next debut onshore was to the theatre to act my inimitable part of swashbuckler."
"This country is a great place for lags or in other words, men who have been sent out here at their countries expense and, their time being up, have settled here. You cannot look into a mans antecedents out here."
"The next thing of importance here was a Regatta given in honour of the fleet. It was a decided success. One little incident in the day’s amusements might have proved fatal but for the pluck of one of our men. An old gentleman fell overboard and was just sinking when this man jumped in and saved him."
"We acted a second time before the Governor The Honourable Mr DuCann and Lady DuCann, Admiral Hornby and all the elite of Hobart town. The proceeds of the performance went to the organ fund the members of which stood us a great supper at the Bird in Hand Public House after which we paraded the streets during the night singing squadron songs. I then retired to my hotel and spent the remainder of the night with a mess-mate in trying to enter the landlady’s room where the poor unprotected female slept with two pretty barmaids. We wrenched the alarm bell off her door and then got in through the window but cowardly wretches as we were, we beaten off by her ladyship a big stick in one hand and a jug of water in the other - and she only in her nightgown. We kept the attack up till daylight and then had to desist."
Sunday evening
"Came off to the ship after having procured a kangaroo as a pet to bring home. A jolly little fellow about 18 inches high, a slight keepsake of one of the nicest places I have ever visited." [etc etc]
Courtesy of Charles Fountain © Copyright Charles Fountain May 2002
Source: http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Flying_Squadron/The_Squadron.html#ShipsMay 2002
Music: The Flying Squadron Galop
Flying squadron galop by W.H. Spiller.
Hobart Town : J. Walch & Sons, [18--]
"Most respectfully dedicated to Admiral Hornby and the officers of the squadron in commemoration of their visit to Tasmania"--Cover.
In Tasmanian music.
Link: https://stors.tas.gov.au/smu128053238
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