Log of the HMS Minotaur, kept by F. A. Hodge

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0097-Item 0038

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

Heavily illustrated logbook kept by Frederick A. Hodge aboard the HMS ships Minotaur (February 14, 1881, to December 21, 1881), Achilles (December 22, 1881, to April 10, 1882), and Swiftsure (April 17, 1882, to March 8, 1883) documenting regular military voyages to a variety of places. The Minotaur sailed from Vigo off the coast of Spain to Portsmouth; the Achilles from Plymouth to a sea transfer; the Swiftsure from Keyham to Honolulu via Peru and the Galapagos Islands, and returned from the Sandwich Islands to Plymouth in 1885.

The log of the Swiftsure is written in two volumes and bears the [flag] of Rear Adm. Lyons, Captain H.C. Aitchison, kept by F.A. Hodge, Mid., for the journey dated April 17, 1882, through March 8, 1883, and the second part lists the ship as being commanded by The Hon. T.S. Brand, and kept by F.A. Hodge, June 26, 1885, though November 20, 1885.

Midshipman Frederick Hodge's logs are notable for their artistic enhancements. They include the standard log records of date, course, distance, wind, barometer and thermometer readings, and remarks; but Hodge has enhanced his record keeping with pencil drawings, pen and ink sketches, and hand-colored illustrations. He drew plans and sections of each ship on which he served, details of ship parts such as rudders or guns, charts and maps of voyages, nautical flags, anchors, buoys, sketches of ports or landscapes, and passing ships. The brief, routine entries of the logs are entirely official with only one lengthy narrative report on damage sustained by a grounding, but Hodge personalized his log with his artwork.

The logbook consists of two vellum bound volumes. The first volume contains approximately 290 pages with entries in ink. This volume covers the whole of the journeys of the HMS ships, the Minotaur , the Achilles , and the first journey of the Swiftsure . The second journey of the Swiftsure is recorded in the first 40 pages, out of a total of 200, of the second volume with entries in ink.

Dates

Creation: 1881 February 14-1885 November 20

Creator

Hodge, Frederick A., active 1881-1885 (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials entirely in English.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, http://library.udel.edu/spec/askspec/

Historical Note

Logbook kept by Frederick A. Hodge aboard the HMS ships Minotaur, Achilles, and Swiftsure documenting regular military voyages between February 14, 1881, and November 20, 1885, in a variety of places, including Vigo, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Callao, Peru; the Galapagos Islands; the Sandwich Islands; Portsmouth, England; and Plymouth, England.

Information derived from the collection.