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THE SHIP 'NEPTUNE.'
A meeting of from fifty to sixty emigrants, by the
Neptune, a large proportion of whom were females,
was held yesterday evening, at the Sir John Barley
corn Inn, Bundle-street, E. L. Grundy, E«q., in tho
referring to the postponement of the former meeting
in consequence of the absence of many emigrants at
the harvest- fields. He doubted if tho adjournment
were a judicious step, as there were assembled at
that time about one hundred persons, psrhaps double
what there were then (now) present. The time,
however, had not been lost, as he had collected much
evidence which would eventually be published. A
voyage could hardly be made pleasant to landsmen ;
but it was the wish of all the colonists that it should
not be made miserable to their friends and relations
who came to join them. He then referred to the
JlamiUies and the Indian, in each of which the emi
grants had been badly treated. In both these cases
the colonists had stirred themselves, and the British
Parliament, as well as the London and provincial
papers, had taken up the question. Lord Mount
cashel, in the House of LorJs, and Mr. Divett, in
the House of Commons, brought it forward, and tho
stockbrokers of London made a handsome present, by
subscription, to Miss Caroline Arnold, one of the
females who was most persecuted on board. The
exertions of the colonists led also to the
removal of Captain Brewer, the Emigration
Agent, and to the refusal of the usu il payments to
the Captain and the Surgeon of the vessel. Since
that time the various emigrant vessels had been well
managed, and their officers received complimentary
notices; but now, unfortunately, the old system
seemed re-commencing: brutal treatment and short
provisions were becoming again the order of the day.
The agents in England were becoming remiss, and
owners of vessels wore not pinned down, as they
ought to be, to their charter-parties. Experience had
shown them that good captains and officers could be
found, and it must be their object to insist that such
men should be secured for every emigrant vessel.
He then read various extracts from tho charter-party,
and proceeded to point out the way in which its
terms bad been violated.
Dr. Popham said that in coming out from Ply
mouth a rope broke, and generally the running rig
ging was so bad that the sailors were afraid to go
aloft,
Mr. Sirakins, the third mate, said the running rig
ging was out of order when they left Plymouth, but
It was afterwards replaced. The standing rigging
?was not good, but there was nothing to complain of
iu the sails. In answer to the Chairman, ho said
they had sufficient boats.
Dr. Popham remarked that they .were'not in readi
ness for sudden use.
A person observed that it took very little time to
get one of them afloat when a young woman fell
overboard.
An emigrant stated that the ' ventilators' were of
no use to then, for they could never venture to have
them open. If they let in air they let in water also.
If that was ventilation, ventilation was of no use.
The Chairman — I suppose their chief use was to
keep them shut. (Laughter.)
Dr. Pophsm said the hospitals were wholly insuffi
cient, and one of them was quite useless. He described
the other accommodations of the vessel as being
equally disgraceful. They had 320 living souls on
board, besides a crew of 31.
The Chairman — A floating city !
Dr. Popham mentioned that the head pump was in
a very bad state.
Mr. William Kershaw, an emigrant, said thai
?ome one threw the pump overboard, and that the
emigrants had to draw water over the ship's side
He remarked also that their tarpaulins were to-
small. Their size was not one-third what it ough
to have been, and the rain came down betweei
Mr. Simkins said there was some apology for tar
paulins at Plymouth, and Captain Henderson pro
mised the Commissioner there to supply them. In
stead of doing so, he put those on board which Mr.
Kershaw had referred to. They had no sufficient
appliances for bathing. The bathing-tub he be
lieved was very seldom used.
Dr. Popham said that arose from the difficulty of
fixing the sail intended for a screen. The whole
was very inconvenient
An emigrant said the tub was'used at least ten or
twelve times.
The Chairman— Ten or twelve times for 350
people !
Dr. Popham stated that there was. no charcoal on
board. Jf there had been he could to some extent
haye purifisd the water.
An emigrant stated that they had no proper
weights or scales on board, nor any mills for griud
ingDiseuita for the children.
Another emigrant replied that there was a mill,
but that the people were too lazy to use it, and sub
stituted a mstle apd mortar.
It was then stated that the ship was deficient in
holy-stones, and that the decks were in consequence
not kept properly clean. The same remark applied
to sand, scrapers, &c. The tin ca&s, bread baskets,
&c., were also said to have been insuHiieutly sup
plied, and of bad quality. The life-boit was washed
away off the Cape, and not replaced at Table Bay.
The emigrants had not sufficient room allowed them
for their baggage. It was placed under the cargo,
and brought on deck ouly twice during the_ voyage.
Eighty or ninety tons of cargo were taken in at the
Cape, and thus any access to the passengers' baggage
was entirely prevented. Part of the water was put
on board from the Thames without being filtered.
The casks wore only smoked instead of being inci
nerated, and tho smoke gave an unpleasant fl ivour
to tho water. The supply of bread was nearly suf
ficient, but much of it got very damp towards the
end of the voyage. The flour waa rather short,
having run out on the 20th October. The allowance
was reduced on the 4th of October. The quantity
ought to have been 6 tons 12 cwt. 3 qrs. ; the actual
expenditure was 5 tons 1 qr. 23 lbs. The pork was
short about 11 cwt. As regards preserved meat,
112th of the entire quantity shipped was thrown
overboard, by the captain's order, as being unfit for
human food. The raisins were 3 cwt. short. They
were out on the same day as the fl -ur, which was
then reduced to 3 ounces. Tha list of provisions
was then gone through, and ihey were found to
have been generally deficient.
The Chairman remarked that, if they had been
two or three weeks more at sea, or had got into the
horse latitudes, they would have had to eat their
horses— supposing they had any on board.
Mr. Smith said he bought provisions at the Cape
for himself and other emigrants. They cost above
£10. The voyage occupied 20 weeks.
Mr. David Tavern stated that all their meat was
weighed out with the bones included. He spoke to
the Captain about it, and his ouly answer was — ' If
you buy a bullock, you must buy bones and all.'
The Chairman asked if they had soup and bouitii ?
An emigrant replied that they bad.
The Chairman read the following note from the
printed regulations of the Commissioners — '? No part
of the supply to consist of soup and b luilli.'
Dr. Popham, in answer to the Chairman, said that,
from the very commencement of the voyage to the
time they arrived at the Cape, he attributed the pre
valence of diarrhoei and illuess generally to the bad
ness of tha water. It was not till they lefc the
C ipe that provisions were short ; but the water was
very bad from the first. When they chanced to have
a cask of good water diarrhoe i abated, but when they
had a foul cask it increased. When they took in
good water at the Cape, the emigrants were batter in
health and looks. Some time afterwards a cask of
London water was opened, and diarrhoei again ap
peared. Even in Holdfast Bay the effect of a cask
of London water was the same If he had had
charcoal on board he could, in some decree, have
neutralized the effect of the sulphuretted hydrogen
g*.s which the foul water contained. One part iu a
thousand of that gas in tho atmosphere would cause
death, but nature could more eliminate it when ad
ministered in water. The mode iu which it is then
thrown off is often by diarrhoei.
Reference was next made to the coffee-mills and
various other fittings of the ship, the whole of which
were said to be very bad, aud upon the ' Cheap
John' system. The charge f.r passengers was
£19 9*. ; several other vessels having charged
only £17 or £18.
Mr. Card said he paid forty guineas for himself
aud wife.
Mr. Johns said he paid £46 for himself and his
wife.
The Chairman remarked that this was only im
portant as showing that the owners were not run
down in price. He then read an extract from a diary
kept by a young woman on board, mentioning the
nelancholy state of the ship from frequent deaths.
An emigrant said that the doctor himself felt a
d;fficulty in giving medicine, bacause ho had not
pure water with which to mix it.
Mr. Harvey said tha doctor did not use proper care
towards the emigrants.
Ti'e Chairman, in answer to this, produced the
testimonial to Dr. Popham, signed by 180 emigrants,
and by Harvey, as well as by his wife, thanking the
doctor for his kind care during the voyage.
Mr. Harvey complained of gross expressions on
the part of Dr. Popham, when he asked for medicine
for his wife.
The Chairman — You should not say that, for so ne
of us might believe there were grounds for the ex
pressions.
Dr. Popham emphatically denied having used su^h
The Chairman read passages from a journal, but he
[aid he was not at liberty to say by whom it was
tept. It stated that Mrs. Popham was ill through
txhaustion, produced by want of food. The Cap
uin rudely and brutally refused to go into port.
Several emigrants declared the remarks on the
j iptain more severe than he deserved.
Mr. Tavern said the Captain's strictness did
nore thau the Doctor's efforts to preserve nurality
unong the single women.
The Chairmau read another extract from the anony
nous journal, to the effect that the Captain declared
ii had often, by false swearing, defrauied the men
-f their wages.
Several persons declared that false, and that the
3 iptain was a good and careful sailor.
Dr. Popham here entered into a statement as to
he defective supply, both in quality and quantity, of
nodical comforts. The limejuice was knocked off
;he emigrants after the third week, that the seamen
iliould not have power to sue him on arriving in
Adelaide.
The Chairman said there should have been 1,200
gallons on board.
Mr. Simkins, late third mate of the Neptune, said
more than the usual quantity was served out during
the three weeks owing to the prevalence of scurvy.
Mr. Smith said the issue of limejuice commenced
on the 5th July, and was discontinued on the 27th of
the same month.
Mr- Harvey said he often saw Mr. Smith and Dr.
Popham comparing their logs.
Mr. Simkins said Mr. Harvey threatened to stab
Dr. Popham, and there was an entry to that effect in
his log.
Dr. Popham said he made the entry in compliance
with the provisions of the Passengers Act.
The Chairman read another extract from the log,
detailing more allegations of bad conduct on the part of
the captain. A young man name I Edward Scrivener
certified to the truth of the statement in the extract.
The Chairman went on to read a passage which re
ferred to making land ; but as he went on, he admitted
that the fair journalist was writing in mistake.
Mr. Simkins here said that as the vessel approache 1
land the captain discovered that he had by mistake
given away the chart of Spencer's Gulf.
Mr. Harvey said the captain told him that they
were opposite Port Lincoln. O hers said the cap
tain was of opinion that land was farther off than
the passengers imagined, and as in fact turned out.
The Chairman went on to lead from the log that it
was discovered, on the night of making land, that
the vessel was running right on shore. The vessel
was put about suddenly, and providentially escaped
from wreck. The doctor being apprehensive that the
sailors would abandon the ship, loaded his pistols to
prevent them. ?
Mr. Smith read a passage confirmatory of that
statement from his log.
Dr. Popham — Next day, at 12, we were 1 20 m'les
eastward of Cape Willoughby, and on the following
Sunday the ship was again in the same spot where
aim nHftrlv wnnf nahnm :in tha ni-Avinna RVidav Ho
leard the captain ask Mr. Ford, chief mate, not to
nake an entry of having seen Cape Willoughby
ight, but that officer said it had been done.
The Chairman read from another log a passage in
which the captain was described as taking credit to
himself for frequently having defrauded the Customs
by taking false oaths.
Several parties wished to overhaul the Doctor's
onduct
The Chairman — You shall have a go at the Doctor
some Sunday next week. Any time you choose to
pay my expenses you shall have the opportunity you
seek, but this meeting is for a special parpose. The
Chairman read what he stated were passages from the
ship's log. They were precisely similar to the ex
traqts from the lady's diary, so largely drawn on
during the meeting. A leg of pork having been
stolen, the Captain wished the doctor to strew arsenic
upon another, to be left in the same spot. Dr. Pop
ham of course declined thus to risk the life of any
fellow-creature. Another passage referred to. the
grossly indecent language of the Captain. Again,
his having frequently expressed a wish that tha
yesjfel bad sunk when off th« Lizard. The Chairman
next read a note written by Capt. Henderson, em
phasising the peculiar oi thography of the document.
It merely enjoined the person addressed to speak the
truth if called on.
Dr. Popham said the flour was so bad that it could
scarcely be used by any person on board.
Mr. Harvey and others corroborated that state
ment.
Mr. Dempster said Captain Henderson was dis
missed from the command of the Isabella Wats-jn in
1345, in which vessel he (Mr. Dempster) arrived in
South Australia.
A person named William Cooper stated that he
arrived here in the Oliva, and spoke highly of the
kind treatment the passengers by that vessel received,
although they only paid £17 7s. each, being two
guineas less than was paid by each passenger by the
Neptune.
Dr. Popham was also willing to give credit where
it was due, and had great pleasure in stating, what
he felt w mid be heard with satisfaction by many
present, that Mrs. Popham, who had be^n left at the
Cape in a state of extreme emaciation, arrived here in
good health and fl :sh by the John. R. Molhr. The
Captain told her she must not expect first-class treat
ment, and yet she declared she could not desire a
better table than whs furnished in that vessel; and
nothing could exceed the kind-iess and civility of all
on board (Hear, hear.^
The Chairman thanked those emigrants who came
to the meeting at an inconvenience to themselves, as
he confessed he had done; but be was satisfied they
did well in bringing that mattor forward. They
must carry that case forward, and urge the Commis
sioners, who, after all, were but human nature, to a
sens3 of their duty, and the necessity of attending
to the quilifi nations and character of persons en
trusted with the important duty of conveying immi
grants to these shores. He would be happy to see
as many of them as could m ike it convenient to
attend that day month to hear the Chairman's report.
Me then left the chair, which was taken by Mr.
Dempster, and a vote of thanks, proposed by Mr.
Smith, and seconded by Mr. Matthews, was carried
unanimously.
Mr. Grundy acknowledged the compliment paid
to him by that respectable and intelligent meeting.
They had come to a fineciuntry, and brought to it a
most valuable commodity — their labour. South Aus
tralia had been well termed the paradise of the work
ing man, but he could not agree with a friend of his,
who called u the gentleman's purgatory. (A laugh.)
He then referred at some length to tho case
of the Indian, and also of tho Ramillies, which caused
such a stir as to effect a most desirable change in
the conduct of ship captains and the treatment of
emigrants. For many months after it was quite
gratifying to read in the papers the testimoni .Is —
always cheerfully signed where the pa-sengers are
well used. They were, he feared, getting into a bad
way again ; but now that he had emerged from his
retire nent, he would not rest until he effected an
alteration for the batter. (Hear, hear.) He was one
of those who thought if a thing was worth doing at
all it was worth doinsj well. (Hear, hear.) He had
always acted on that principle, and as he believed
Captain Henderson was an exceedingly bad man, he
would not let their complaints rest until he was well
done for. (Applause.)
The meeting then broke up.
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