Medway, 1755
Type: 4th rate ; Armament 60
Launched : 1755 ; Disposal date or year : 1811
Notes:

Extracts from a collection of letter books kept by Anselm Beaumont (1715-1776), a "senior merchant" in the EIC in Bengal, detailing a part of a passage from Calcutta to England in 1765.

Many thanks to Peter Covey-Crump who transcribed the following notes ©.

Anselm Beaumont resigned in December 1764 and returned to England on HMS Medway with Captain J B Tinker. Two of the other passsengers were Henry Vansittart, Governor of Bengal 1759-1764 [see DNB] and Col Hector Munro [see DNB]. Although they left Calcutta shortly after Christmas Day 1764, they were still at Fort St George (Madras) on 30 January 1765. In a letter to Richard Barwell [see DNB] dated 30 January 1765 he remarked:

"I had an Account on Board of Chaunds [his Indian banian] being at Ingellee [an anchorage near the mouth of the Hoogly, on the west bank about 68 miles below Calcutta, used by the larger Indiamen] I blamed him for not attending me all the Way from Calcutta & he must have Loitered away his time in not overtaking me the first day as I remained a whole Tide high & dry on shore by the Negligence of the Noble Commander of my Bark however Frank & I managed the business without him & I hope no part wants any further explanation to you - "

At Cape of Good Hope on 10 April 1765 he wrote as follows to several correspondents:

Letter 117 Cape of Good Hope April 10th 1765
To Charles Bourchier Esq at Fort St George [Governor of Fort St George 1767-1770]
Your Last favor dated 31st Jan I received on board the Medway which I should have replied to immediately but by some mistake the Letters were not delivered to till 11 at night when I went to my Cabbin & no Opportunity after that offered we being Under Sail ... you will expect my friend to hear something of our passage to this place therefore I shall in a few Words tell you as happily as can be at Sea Tinker behaves with great good nature & politeness to all & we want nothing that he can give us Mr Van[sittart] with his usual cheerfullness makes us all very happy & we have all enjoyed good health except Hancock who is generally complaining & often much out of Order & although he is one of the Learned I think he manages himself as bad as Man can well do but he knows too much to hear any Opinion but his Own but I think like Munro he is Emeticking himself to the next World the first part of promised us much as we passed the Line with a fine Wind & without a Calm till seven or eight degrees Southward when we had them for about 3 Weeks however we got here the 29th Ultimo (which made only 57 days) & 3 days after the York had Arrived we had two very Severe Gales in the Latitude of the Cape one on the 18th & the Other on the 23rd but we happily rec'd no damage tho' so much Wind that we could not shew an Inch of Canvas to it ... we are all greatly delighted with the place we shall remain about 10 days Longer & then proceed to St Helena ....

Letter 118 Cape of Good Hope April 10 1765
To Hugh Watts Esq at Midnapore [Member of Calcutta Council]
We got here the 29th Ultimo a passage of 57 days from Madras during which time we passed as agreeable as can be at Sea Tinker behaves with great good Nature & politeness to all & does all he can to make us happy & we are so if it can be said in any Voyage but you know I am a fresh Water Animal however I make as good weather as any We had two Severe Gales off the Cape One the 18th the Other the 23rd Ultimo but being in a good Sea Boat we made better Weather than could be expected & fortunately received no Damage tho' in One we were obliged to Lay too Under our Bare Poles not daring to shew an Inch of Canvas ...

Letter 119 Cape of Good Hope April 10 1765
To Richard Barwell Esq [see DNB entry]
... we arrived here the 29th Ultimo a passage of 57 days from Madras which time we passed as happily as can be at Sea Tinker does everything in his power to make us so & we are so if it can be so said in going over this Element We are all much delighted with this place the most agreeable half Way house to Europe that can be & every refreshment possible ...

At St Helena 29 May 1765 he wrote as follows to several correspondents:
Letter 120 St Helena 29 May 1765
To Mr Robert Carr on Board the Vansittart [Chief Mate]
... we made a Stay of five Weeks at the Cape ...

Letter 121 St Helena 29 May 1765
To Thomas Alured Pincke Esq at Fort St George [Beaumont's first cousin]
... We shall Leave this place to morrow & I hope to Arrive in England the Latter end of July or beginning of August ...

Letter 122 St Helena 29 May 1765
To Charles Bourchier Esq at Fort St George
... We have been disappointed here in not meeting any ship from India none having been here except the Devonshire that Left Bengal since the Medway we are to Sail to morrow Morning & we hope to reach England the Latter end of July or beginning of August ... end of transcript

1 Jan 1799, Receiving Ship at Plymouth.

1802 Renamed Arundel.