East India Company "Swift" - account of a voyage to India and Malaysia 1794-5 (written 1796 or a little later)
Attributed to Clement Sneyd, Second Lieutenant on board the voyage
£7,560
Auction: 05 February 2025 from 10:00 GMT
Description
Covering Brazil, South Africa, India, Nicobar Islands, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, a detailed description of the voyage of The Swift from 1794-1795, captained by John Doling, alongside the Suffolk, the fleet under the command of Captain Peter Rainier, comprising 95 manuscript pages, 19 x 35cm, contemporary half morocco, “Voyage of the Swift C. Sneyd” to the spine, with a loosely inserted manuscript map titled “A Chart shewing the Track of HMS Ship Myrtle” of the Bay of Biscay and Portugal and a hand-coloured manuscript signal chart
Footnote
SALEROOM NOTICE: PLEASE NOTE NEW ZEALAND NOT VISITED
The Swift appears to be one of the ships which accompanied the Suffolk (a 64-gun ship) to escort a convoy to India, under the command of Captain Peter Rainier (1741-1808, later Admiral of the Blue and namesake of Mount Rainier). This particular voyage was in itself notable as a trial for the implementation of a citrus diet for sailors to ward off scurvy, which was ultimately successful and became Admiralty policy the following year. On the first page of the account we find the following:
“The Beer being expended ordered the Company to be served Wine mixed with 1oz of Sugar and ⅓oz of Lemon juice to every pint, it was very nice Tipple…”
The following month, a comment is made:
“Notwithstanding several of the men in the last month shewed strong symptoms of the Sea Scurvy, by persevering in their mode of diet, ?, and by mixing their Wine and Spirits with Lemon Juice and Sugar is totally disappeared…”
The account of the Swift is also notable for the details it provides relating to this voyage, alongside vivid and engaging descriptions of the ports visited (some details, such as a description of Madras, copied from Brookes General Gazetteer and other publications). For example, an account of Penang reads:
"This is a most excellent Harbour, said to be the best in India, there are three entrances from the North and from the South…
…The streets are at Right Angles - some of the Houses neat and well fitted, particularly the Superintendant's of Governor's…the houses belonging to the Malays, Seapoys &c. are absolutely Rabbit Warrens…"
The detailed description then continues to comment on the locals, paying particular attention to women the author considers to be the most attractive! The manuscript ends in Jeddah, with an extended account of the death of the Swift's Captain, John Doling.