THE RANDOLPH
Published in The Lyttelton Times, 11 Jan 1851

"Forsan et hæc olim meminisse juvabit"

The Randolph, left Plymouth on the night of Saturday, Sept. 7, 1850, a few hours
after the Charlotte Jane, having on board 217 passengers. The officers of the 
ship were Captain Dale, Commander, Mr. Scott, Chief Officer, Mr. Puckle and Mr. 
Willock, officiating ministers, and Mr. Earle, Surgeon Superintendent.

Her course lay outside Madeira, and crossing the line in longitude 24 20’ west, 
she proceeded as far to the westward as longitude 36 30’ on Oct. 23rd, being 
then in latitude 23 46’ south. On Nov. 14, her last lat. was 45 55, south, long.
44 40’. On Dec. 1, lat. 48 26’ south, long. 109 1’ east. On the 7th, she was 
driven by foul wind to lat. 50 south. On 11th December, she was in the longitude
of the Snares, in lat. 48 33’, and after a most delightful run up the coast, she
entered Port Victoria at half past three o’clock in the afternoon of the 16th, 
having accomplished the passage in 99 days. On the anchor being dropped, ‘God 
save the Queen’ was sung by all passengers on the poop.

The Randolph spoke an unusually large number of vessels during the early part of
the voyage, and on the fourth of October fell in with the Sir George Seymour, 
which had left Plymouth about 12 hours after her, bringing a passenger who had 
arrived at Plymouth after the sailing of the Randolph.

She was becalmed two days in company with a French Barque, having on board an 









operatic company who were proceeding to Mauritius. On the first day some of the 
Randolph’s passengers pulled to the French vessel, and invited a large party to 
dine with them, and on the second day they kept a promise exacted by their 
visitors on leaving the day before, by dining on board the Frenchman, the toast 
drinking on both sides was most amusing. A great deal of Italian music was sung 
in really first rate style. On the 6th of November, there was almost mutiny on 
board, which by the mercy of god was suppressed, through the promptness of the 
Captain, supported by his officers and the passengers. On the 25th, was 
performed Sheridan’s play of the‘Rivals’, the female characters being played by
gentleman. The characterswere supported in a manner which gave universal 
satisfaction. To the ladies on board the greatest praise is due for the effective
way in which the characters were ‘got up’, the wonder was where all the dresses 
could have come from, and it was very curious to hear what they were composed. 
The representation took place between decks before an overflowing audience, and
a second performance was asked for by many who were unable to gain admittance.

There were 5 deaths, all children, and 9 births on board. The voyage is declared,
by common consent, to have been most agreeable, the only unpleasant part of it 
being that which passed in the low latitudes between the Cape and New Zealand, on
account of the cold and fog, which proved fatal to almost all the game on board. 

Converted to electronic form by Corey Woodw@rd


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