The Last Voyage to India and Australia, in the 'Sunbeam'   By: Annie Brassey (1839-1887)

The original contains a number of alternate spellings of proper nouns (e.g., Vasco de Gama for Vasco da Gama; Tawomba for Toowomba; Warrangarra for Wallangarra). These have been preserved as they appear in the original. Otherwise, obvious printer errors have been corrected; where it is not clear whether something is an error, a Transcriber's Note has been inserted in the text.]

THE LAST VOYAGE,

TO INDIA AND AUSTRALIA,

IN THE 'SUNBEAM.'

BY THE LATE

LADY BRASSEY.

ILLUSTRATED BY R.T. PRITCHETT AND FROM PHOTOGRAPHS.

The full page plates and the headings to the chapters are printed in monotone by E. NISTER, of Nuremberg.

The wood engravings in the text are executed by EDWARD WHYMPER, J.D. COOPER, and G. PEARSON.

PRINTED BY SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW STREET SQUARE LONDON

[Illustration: CHART SHOWING TRACK OF THE YACHT "SUNBEAM" FROM NOV. 1886 TO DEC. 1887.]

[Illustration: 'SUNBEAM,' R.Y.S., CHRISTMAS DAY, 1886]

[Illustration: THE LAST VOYAGE

[signature] Annie Brassey

1887.]

Fresh as the first beam glittering on a sail, That brings our friends up from the underworld; Sad as the last which reddens over one That sinks with all we love below the verge; So sad, so fresh, the days that are no more!

LONDON: LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. NEW YORK: 15 EAST 16th STREET 1889

All rights reserved

Preface.

In giving to the reading world these pages of the last Journal of one of the most popular writers of our day, no apology can be needed, and but little explanation.

A word had better perhaps be said, and said here, as to my share in its composition. It is now twelve years ago since my friend then Mrs. Brassey asked my advice and assistance in arranging the Diary she had kept during the eleven months' cruise of the 'Sunbeam.' This assistance I gladly gave, and she and I worked together, chiefly at reducing the mass of information gathered during the voyage. I often felt it hard to have to do away with interesting and amusing matter in order to reduce the book even to the size in which it appeared. It was a very pleasant and easy task, and I think the only difference of opinion which ever arose between us was as to the intrinsic merit of the manuscript. No one could have been more diffident than the writer of those charming pages; and it needed all the encouragement which both I and her friend and publisher, Mr. T. Norton Longman, could offer, to induce her to use many of the simple little details of her life, literally 'on the ocean wave.'

The success of the 'Voyage of the "Sunbeam"' need not be dwelt on here; it fully justified our opinion, surprising its writer more than any one else by its sudden and yet lasting popularity. Other works, also well received and well known to the public, followed during the next few years, with which I had nothing to do. This last Journal now comes before Lady Brassey's world wide public, invested with a pathos and sadness all its own.

I venture to think that no one can read these pages without admiration and regret; admiration for the courage which sustained the writer amid the weakness of failing health, and regret that the story of a life so unselfish and so devoted to the welfare of others should have ended so soon.

On his return home, in December 1887, from this last cruise, Lord Brassey placed in my hands his wife's journals and manuscript notes, knowing that they would be reverently and tenderly dealt with, and believing that, on account of my previous experience with the 'Voyage of the "Sunbeam,"' I should understand better than any one else the writer's wishes.