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corpse in his arms going to put it out at one of the port-holes.'
Cape Leeuwin was on the southwesterly edge of the coiony of Western Australia, which had
been established as recently (and its capital, Perth, founded) in 1829. Still sailing eastwards, the
Lady McNaghten moved into and across the Great Australian Bight. Even far out at sea, with
no land to be seen, there were scents and signs of land.
William Howitt, a Quaker, wrote in 1852: 'A gentleman coming into the cuddy said: "Come on
deck and smell the land!" People could not at first believe it, but there it was, strong and
delicious... The wind is blowing strong off the shore, and the fragrance continues. Something like
the scent of a hayfield, but more spice... This evening another sign of our approach to land - a
hawk.'
James Robertson: 'This inert mass of cooped up beings became galvanized into a new life by - a
butterfly!'
The Rev JD Mereweather wrote in his diary on 11 June: 'We have made a very good reckoning
since yesterday. As we are now approaching the Terra Austraiis, I assembled all my scholars,
and distributed books to them, according to their deserts. The children listened with much
attention to the address I gave them on the occasion; and the parents thanked me most heartily
for having done no more than my duty. Gave some larger books also to the grown-up people.
'12 June: The married people complain that the young men who have an enclosed cabin in their
part of the ship, invite unmarried men from the fore part of the vessel to pass the evening with
them; that they make much noise, and manage to leave just as the women and children are
undressing. This enclosed cabin is so situated, that it is necessary to pass through the whole
length of the saloon to get to it.
'13 June: The first mate thought he saw land, but it was an illusion. The emigrants are very much
excited at the idea of being on land after so long a voyage. At night something occurred which
occasioned very great talk and
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scandal. This is entirely owing to the charterers allowing unmarried men to have berths aft. To-
day I examined all the children. Find that they have made much progress during the voyage, in
spelling, reading, and scripture knowledge, but not much in writing. In fact, now every chiid who
is of an age to read, can read; and all, except the very little ones, can answer easy questions on
religious subjects. The elder ones can say the Church Catechism word for word, and seem to
understand the nature of the Holy Sacraments. Throughout the voyage they have been in the
habit of learning the collects of the Sundays and other holydays. My two boys can say by heart
20 out of the 39 Articles, and prove them pretty well by texts from scriptures. They can also say
many of the church prayers. 1 hope that, by the blessing of God, the children have not morally
deteriorated during the voyage, though I am sure that the parents have.'
There is no knowing whether this was true of the Honeycombes. But it would be nice to think
that the youngest, John, was a recipient of one of Mereweather's books and that he kept it for
some years, as a souvenir of the voyage. Perhaps Mereweather also inculcated some idea of
learning in the seven-year-old- For in later life John would write lucidly and well. In this
connection we should also note that John's older sisters, Elizabeth and Martha, also wrote a
good hand when they signed their marriage certificates.
On the ship, excitement grew as the ship neared journey's end, and no doubt there were more
occasions of scandalous behaviour, though better concealed. John Mereweather conceals his
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