[HMS Arethusa, ship's log, 1837.] Manuscript log of HMS Arethusa, while stationed in 'Passa D'Arcos Bay' [Paço d'Arcos, Portugal] and travelling from Cadiz to Lisbon. With 'Remarks' including a death and burial at sea, and punishment by lashing.

HMS Arethusa, the fourth of nine Royal Navy ships to bear the name, was a 46-gun fifth rate launched in 1817. (Fifth-rate ships served as fast scouts or independent cruisers. Owing to their combination of manoeuvrability and firepower, they were often assigned to interdict enemy shipping.) She was was renamed HMS Bacchus in 1844 on conversion into a hulk, and was broken up in 1883. The present item is 21pp., 8vo. Stitched. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn grey paper. With loose heavily worn remains of brown marbled wraps (front and back cover detached from one another). Page headings include: 'HMS Arethusa from Lisbon to Cadiz', 'Moored off Cadiz', 'at Single Anchor in Passo D Arcos Bay', 'at Sea', 'Squadron of Evolution'. The various entries in the log are boxed in, and divided into columns including 'H | K | T | Courses | Winds | Wea[ther] | [date]' and 'Course | Dist[ance] | Lat[itude] | Long[itude] | Bearings & distance', and also 'F & S' and 'Remarks'. The first set of remarks, begun while 'At Single Anchor at Passo D'Arcos Bay', reads 'AM 5.30 Shortened into 36 fams. 8 Crossed royal yards 9 mustered at quarters 10 weighed and made all plain sail | Tacked as requisite | Working out of the river Tagus'. On 27 September 1837: 'AM Made and Shortened sails as requisite 5.20 Departed this life W. Honyboum 2nd. class ordy. | Out 2nd reef of Topsails and 1st of Courses | 10 Committed to te deep the body of deceased | Cape Roca ahead'. On 26 July 1837: 'PM Saluted Spanish Flag with 21 Guns and French Admiral with 15 Guns Found laying here 6 French line of battle Ships & a French steamer'. Another typical entry, 6 August 1837: 'AM Working for the South Channel 6.45 Shortened sail and came to with B B in 10 ½ fams 7 Shifted both Furled Sails PM. Discharged 1 Subordinate Officer to Prince Regent 5 Mustered at quarters'. Other comments include: 'Punished Thos Westcot with 36 lashes for drunkeness [sic]', 'Aired bedding', 'Housed Top Gal[ant] Masts and hoisted Mast head Flags | Arrived HMS Myrmidon 12 Saluted with 21 Guns being the Anniversary of Prince Alberts birth day', 'Discharged Mr. D Cragie Master to P & O C Packet Madrid for passage to England to join HMS Rodney', 'Exercised Navel Cadets at Knoting [sic] and Splicing', 'Sent three men to the hospital', 'Performed Divine Service', 'Exercised Marines Magazine Men boys at Magazine drill', 'Exercised watch at Cutlass drill', 'Employed caulking and picking oakum', 'Exercised small arm men and boats crews', 'preparing for sea'.