Mathew Skews journal

Collection — Box: 157

Identifier: MSS 1971-227

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The vessel left Brazil "20th of April 1833, all in good health... and reached the Congo every man in perfect health." That there was interest in a mining project in the Congo is evidenced by entries in the Journal about the condition in which they found the mine, and a statement that "The living hear (sic) is very costly..."

This holograph book is inscribed on the inside cover: "Mathew Skews, December 24th, 1827 - Journal of a voyage in his Magestys Ship THE CMILUSS, Lieutenant Croke Commander, From Falmouth towards Rio Dejaneiro." It is a combination of a journal, ship's log, and diary that also served to record what must have been general information for the British government, for poetry, "An Hymn," historical facts, and other subjects.

Recordings in the book show that the sailing vessel en route to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, called at ports of the Maderia Island and at Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The journal gives a very good description of the mountainous views and "scenes" of both islands and relates some experiences they had while ashore on both islands. On the return voyage, the ship left Brazil April 20, 1833 and headed for the Congo where there was interest in a mining project.

The spelling of the keeper of the journal is often phonetic, and some pages are missing.

Also known as MSS 0-227

Dates

Created: 1826-1849

Creator

Skews, Mathew (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.