On 19 November 1838, 21-year-old James Bell set out in the sailing vessel the Planter from St Katharine Docks in London to travel to Adelaide, an infant colony half a world away and not yet two years old. He left behind family, good friends and the mysterious ‘C.P.’, a young woman with whom he hoped one day to be reunited.
Though intended only for the eyes of his beloved in England, this diary written by James provides a unique insight into the experience of sailing to Australia in the middle of the 19th century.
HB 202 pages