Undated Diary Entry (Probably 1st July, 1838)

Behold, I tell you a mystery!

The whole town is abuzz with gossip, rumour and chatter regarding the Lord Goderich and what took place on the voyage out.

It was a matter of public knowledge that the voyage was not a happy one and was so reported in the newspaper when the ship finally arrived in April.

(The following cutting has been pinned to the page - Editor's note)

---

THE LORD GODERICH.

THIS long-expected vessel has at length arrived after a tedious passage of six months. The detention was occasioned principally by some unpleasant differences between the passengers and the captain. In order to settle them, the ship put into Bahia, and proceeded afterwards to Rio de Janeiro, under the charge of Lieutenant Edwards of H.M.S. Samarang, then at the former port. At Rio, the differences were considered so serious, that Mr. Hesketh, the English Consul there, thought it his duty to put the ship and passengers under the superintendence of Mr. Wethem, master's assistant of H.M.S. Lyra. 

We regret to learn that these unhappy differences continued throughout the entire voyage; and that actions and counter actions in the Courts of the province have already been commenced by the parties who consider themselves aggrieved.

The Canton was expected to sail on December 1st, and may be hourly expected.


Well, what with "unpleasant differences" and extra officers on board and legal threats the whole matter was sufficiently spiced to excited the interest of all.

Then, about a week ago, some of Lord Goderich passengers held a dinner to praise the Captain of the ship, Andrew Smith. It was reported thus:

(The following cutting has been pinned to the page - Editor's note)

DINNER TO CAPTAIN SMITH.

ON Monday last a dinner was given at Port Adelaide to Captain ANDREW SMITH, of the Lord Goderich, by several gentlemen passengers on board that vessel, in testimony of their respect

and esteem for his character and conduct. About twenty gentlemen sat down to an excellent dinner of three courses provided by Mr. Anthony of the Port Adelaide Hotel—a new undertaking which promises to furnish the visitants of the Port with that accommodation which has been so long a desideratum. The chair was taken by Mr. A. H Davis, Captain Mordaunt, of the Canton, acting as Vice-President. The following toasts were drank during the evening:— 
" The Queen." 
" His Excellency the Governor and the Naval Service."
 " Prosperity to South Australia, wisdom in her councils, and unanimity among her colonists." 
The Chairman proposed the health of Captain Smith, to whose character he paid a just tribute. 
" Our Native Land."
 The Vice-President prefaced the health of "The Duke of Wellington and the Army" by an allusion to the day, which was the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo.
 Mr. Whettem—" Dr. Garde and the officers of the Lord Goderich."
 " Our Visitors and the Commercial Marine of England." 
The Chairman then alluded to the circumstances under which they were assembled, and pro-posed " Mr. Anthony, and success to the Port Adelaide Hotel." 
Several other toasts were drunk, and some excellent songs sung, when the Chairman and some others having retired, Captain Mordaunt was called to the chair, and the meeting did not break up till a late hour.
[Mr. Whettem's letter in our next.]


All this sounds like a cheery, if drunken evening and the glow of human friendship was shining out like a good deed in a naughty world, Except that this had already appeared in the other paper:

(The following cutting has been pinned to the page - Editor's note)

[ADVERTISEMENT.]

____

To the Editor of the Southern Australian.

Adelaide, June 22, 1838. 

SIR, Having been informed that a dinner has been given to Mr. ANDREW SMITH, Master of the barque Lord Goderich, by the passengers of that vessel, we consider it due to ourselves to state that we were not of the party, nor in any way connected with the transaction, and would feel obliged if you would make the circumstance public.

We remain. Sir,

Your obedient servants,

 F. WICKSTEED, 

W. SANDFORD, 

CHAS. FENN,

D. M'NISH, 

E. C. GWYNNE,

S. FAIRLIE, 

B. SHAW, 

W. SHAW, 

R. J. BRADSHAW

CABIN PASSENGERS

all of which suggests, at the very least, dissension in  the ranks. And indeed the whole thing seems to have boiled over onto the fire with these two letters appearing in yesterday's paper:

(The following cuttings have been pinned to the page - Editor's note)

To the Editors of the South Australian Gazette, 
GENTLEMEN— Having seen in the columns of a newly arisen paper of this date an article headed "An Advertisement" directed to the editor of that paper, and signed by F. Wicksteed, W. Sandford, Charles Fenn, D. M'Nish, E. C. Gwynne, S. Fairlie, B. Shaw, W. Shaw, and R. J. Bradshaw, the purport of which was to assure the public that they were in no way connected with a dinner given as a tribute of grateful respect by some of the passengers by the Lord Goderich to Captain Andrew Smith, I must in reply state that the individuals above mentioned, whose transcendent virtues and highly moral character could not brook the idea that a shade of suspicion should rest on the public mind that they could possibly dine with Captain Smith and the friends who met with him around the social board on the evening of the 18th inst. were not the subject of a moment's consideration with those who there met, and whom I doubt not would, with myself, have deemed it a disgrace rather than an honor to have been found in their company. As for myself, a sea voyage has told me a tale never heard before; and perchance some of the immaculate nine alluded to before might, if they cast a wandering look back to the night of the third of March last, recall to their minds that shameful scene of disgraceful drunkenness which only ended in the melancholy and awful death of one mixed with them in that truly wretched case of degrading intoxication; and yet they would not dine where they were not wanted or would have been allowed to enter. Let it suffice to say, if the table round which we met had been indeed so highly honored as to have been spread for their entertainment, it would not have resounded with the hearty good-will that greeted the meeting of Captain Smith and his friends.

Your most obedient servant, 
STEPHEN WHETTEM, R.N. June 23, 1838.

To the Editors of the South Australian Gazette.

 GENTLEMEN — l observe in the last week's number of the Southern Australian an impertinent advertisement in reference to a dinner given to me by several gentlemen who were passengers on board the Lord Goderich, under my command, bearing the signatures of F. Wicksteed, W. Sandford, Charles Fenn, D M'Nish, E. C. Gwynne, S. Fairlie, B. Shaw, W. Shaw, R. J. Bradshaw. I beg to state that it is perfectly true none of those persons were present on that occasion, and it is equally true that their presence was neither desired nor solicited, and I value my own character too much to have condescended to sit at the same table with them after my long experience of their habits

 and manners.

I am, Gentlemen, 

Your obedient servant,

 ANDREW SMITH. 

Port Adelaide, June 28, 1838.

So now we have " shameful drunkenness", "wretched intoxication", "melancholy death" and persons whose "habits and manners" are so awful that a Master of a Merchant ship will not "condescend to sit at the same table with them" and the question must be asked (and most in town are asking): "What in Heaven's name happened on that voyage!!!??"

(The following seems to be a later addition to the above, possibly 6th July - Editor's note)

And to add to the fun Stevenson has shown me letters that he has received, but not yet published. I transcribe them here:

First, this from Charles Fenn, a passenger on board the Lord Goderich

 To the Editors of the South Australian Gazette. 

GENTLEMEN

I am surprised to find from the last number of your paper that you should have degraded your journal to a vehicle of private abuse by inserting the abominable calumnies of Captain Andrew Smith and Mr. Stephen Whettem. 

With regard to the letter bearing the signature of the former individual, I need only say that his "habits and manners" on board the Lord Goderich have probably been his greatest enemies, as you may possibly be aware that, on account of his conduct on ship-board, the Consul at Rio de Janeiro ordered him to pay £200 to the person who superseded him in his authority over the passengers. Perhaps it is on account of his character having cost him thus much that he sets so high a value upon it. 

Referring to Mr. Whettem's letter I regret that I can attribute no "transcendent virtues" or " highly moral character" to that individual; did the law allow it, possibly "I could a tale unfold." I believe, however, that none of the calumniated nine would ever have endeavoured under the cloak of religion to undermine the springs of female virtue. 

A sea voyage appears to have had a very peculiar and mysterious effect upon Mr. Whettem, and, according to his own account, has added considerably to his stock of knowledge. He says that it " has told him a tale never heard before." What the tale thus curiously revealed is I am at a loss to determine, as Mr. Whettem appears to have secreted it in one of the most obscure of the countless chambers of his brain. 

As a party wholly unconnected with anything that occurred upon the 3rd March last, and, therefore, having no inducement to deceive, I should be glad if I had the opportunity of removing from the minds of your readers the erroneous impressions which Mr. Whettem's letter is calculated to convey. 

Perchance it would have been as well if Mr. Whettem had possessed the delicacy to draw a veil over the faults of one who is now no more; but as he has chosen most unequivocally to accuse others of a participation in that fault, and even to attribute to them in some way the cause of a very melancholy event, it becomes a duty to state the truth. 

In the first place it is by no means certain that the death of the unfortunate individual alluded to was accidental, as Mr. Whettem is well aware that there were a number of circumstances which would incline to an opposite opinion. 

In the next, I can only say that I am not aware of any " shameful scene of disgraceful drunkenness" which took place on board the Lord Goderich on the 3d March. If there were any such scene, Mr. Whettem's advice applies equally to one who contributed to the dinner to Captain Smith on the 18th inst. as well as to the " immaculate nine." 

As to my knowledge that person, although shielded by Mr. Whettem, was one of those who were last in the company of the deceased. If it be considered necessary to defend the advertisement referring to the dinner to Captain Smith, to which I affixed my name, wherein the majority of the cabin passengers stated that they were no parties to the transaction, it will be enough to say that, from my knowledge of the character and conduct of Captain Smith, I should be exceedingly sorry if it were supposed that I had subscribed to " a tribute of grateful respect" for that individual, or had associated myself in any way with the party who assembled upon that occasion. 

As for Mr. Whettem he must surely have forgotten that not three months since he was found guilty of a gross assault before the Criminal Court, and sentenced to a fine of £10. Where characters are so expensive it is well for their owners to prise them highly. 

I am, &c, 

CHARLES FENN. 

And this, from, of all people, the Wesleyans, who seem intent on sticking their oar in.

To the Editors of the South Australian Gazette. 

GENTLEMEN

I shall feel obliged by your inserting in the next number of your paper a copy of the enclosed resolutions. 

I remain, Sirs,

 Your obedient servant, W. LILLECRAPP. 

Adelaide, 5th July, 1838. 

At a Meeting of the Trustees, Leaders, and Local Preachers of the Wesleyan Methodist Society, held on Monday last the 2d instant, It was resolved — 

That the attention of this Meeting having been called to a letter signed by Mr. Whettem, inserted in the last number of the Gazette, they feel bound to express their deep regret that one who has occupied their pulpit should have manifested such a spirit, and this meeting would record their entire disapprobation of the language of the letter referred to. 

That this resolution be inserted in both the newspapers. 

By order of the Meeting, 

W. LILLECRAPP, 

Secretary. 

Adelaide, July 5, 1838.

The whole business becomes more juicy by the moment and is the talk of the town.


 Sadly, and imagine my frustration, by the time the truth comes out I shall have sailed. I have asked Mrs Hindmarsh to keep me informed of developments after I leave, but I hold out no great hope that she will bother.