VOVAGE OF THE "CASTLE EDEN."

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 6, 15 February 1851, Page 5

VOYAGE OF THE "CASTLE EDEN."

The " Castle Eden," 930 tons, Commander Timothy Tbornhill, J. B. Haylock, SurgeonSuperintendent, sailed from. Gravesend on Sep. 28th, and from Plymouth on Oct. 3, having on board 27 cabin passengers, amongst whom were Dr. Jackson, the Bishop Designate of Lyttelton, with his wife and family, Lord Frederic Montague, and several other laml-purchasers. She also brought 32 fore-cabin, and 145 steerage passengers. After leaving Plymouth she met heavy weather for two days, which compelled her to return to the Sound, from which she finally sailed on the Bth. During the fir^,.

month no incident of any importance occurred to vary the monotony of a voyage, the usual amount of sea-sickness occasioned the usual amount of discomfort, and some more serious

illness.

When off the Cape De Verde Islands, symptoms of the hooping cough appeared amongst the steerage passengers, which must have been caught from a child who came on board with a party'of visitors when the vessel was lying in the Docks, and who was immediately turned out when his disorder was discovered by the Surgeon-Superintendent. The heat in the tropics was very great, the number of sick increased ; ; *md on Nov. 1, one of the steerage passengers died. " The line" was passed on the 12th of November, with less rigorous observance of the rites of Neptune than are frequently permitted. Shortly after entering the S. E. Trades, the Surgeon-Superintendent came to the conclusion, that in consequence of the general state of the health of the passengers, and the condition of the provisions, it would be advisable to touch at the Cape of Good Hope, or at some port in South America. The Hi oping Cough became prevalent. Several cases of fever occurred, aud the medicine-chest requited replenishing. On the 29th of Nov. the course of the vessel was altered, and on Dec. 12th. the anchor was dropped off Cape Town. The " Cast!e Eden" sailed again on the 21st December, the passengers having been greatly beueritted by the rest, and by the supply of fresh provisions ;" and after a tolerably favourable run round ttie southward of Stewart's Island, tho high land of Bank's Peninsula was seen on the 3rd of February. Contrary and strong winds detained the ship beating off the end of the Peninsula, until Friday the 7th instant, when she anchored-in Port Victoria. One of the patient?, Mr. Leslie, w&o had been sinking for some time, died the morning alter the arrival of the vessel. Three births, three deaths, and three marriages occurred during the voyage; and had it not been for the necessity of putting into the Capo, the voyage of the " Castle Eden" would have been prolnibly as expeditious as that of the other ships chartered by the Association,