Boredom

Joseph E. Vantine. Principal incidents that happened during the cruise of the U.S. Steam Frigate Minesota [sic] in the East Indies (1857-1858)

Principal incidents that happened during the cruise of the U.S. Steam Frigate Minesota [sic] in the East Indies (1857-1858)

Chinese currency note found in Principal incidents that happened during the cruise of the U.S. Steam Frigate Minesota [sic] in the East Indies

Poem found in Principal incidents that happened during the cruise of the U.S. Steam Frigate Minesota [sic] in the East Indies

Long voyages often inspired bouts of melancholy and homesickness. In this journal penned by Joseph E. Vantine aboard the U.S. Steam Frigate Minnesota on a mission to deliver an American diplomat to China in 1857-1858, he described a particularly difficult day for the crew. Anchoring off an island near Malaysia, Vantine lamented: “at this place we spent our Christmas, and a more unhappy Christmas was never spent before by a great many of our crew, there seemed to be a settled melancholy which pervaded everywhere, many a one of us often turned our thoughts homeward, on that day and imagined we could see our little brothers and sisters snugly covered up in their beds, their stockings hanging up in the chimney place.” Vantine kept a Chinese currency note as a souvenir or as a bookmark.

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R. Lillibridge. Schooner President from Newport towards Hispaniola R. Lillibridge master. (1797)

Captain Lillibridge kept himself entertained aboard the Schooner President by writing his logbook entries in carefully composed rhyming verse. He also produced his own watercolor paintings including this image of their departure from Newport, Rhode Island in February 1797.

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F.D. Webster. Journal of the Pacific Cruise of the USS Lancaster (1864-1865)

Lieutenant F.D. Webster penned this often-whimsical journal aboard the U.S.S. Lancaster serving in the U.S. Pacific Squadron in 1864-65 for his own personal amusement rather than official purposes. Webster might have hoped to have his journal published as he described dramatic events like revolutions in South America, earthquakes, pirates, and news arriving of Abraham Lincoln’s death. Here he describes how the officers were determined to raise morale, including a feast in honor of an officer from Boston, the “City of Baked Beans.” Webster described the flatulence-producing “bill of fare” comprised of every way to serve beans imaginable. He also purchased dozens of photo cards as souvenirs of the places he visited and people he met.

Webster included a photo of the U.S.S. Lancaster, some fellow officers, and a view of a port he visited on the voyage.

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