AN ARCHIVE OF MATERIALS RELATING TO THE CAREER OF COMMANDER R.R.M. HALL, R.N. (1845-1894), CIRCA 1870

comprising four daily journals covering November 1873-August 1875, the log of H.M.S. Bellerophon, moored in the Tagus and voyaging to Gibraltar, Malta, Port Said, Candia, Tenedos, Palermo, Vigo, Spithead, Syracuse and Funchal, and the logs of the Monarch, Vigilant, Lively, Valiant, Sultan and Pallas, together in one vol., 94 leaves, contemporary vellum, folio, 1869-72; a 'Rough Sketch of my Life Cruise', Hall's autobiography, 1859-72, 122 leaves, covering his school days (and the career advice of one of his schoolmasters to take to the sea). He recounts his early naval career including the capture of a Dutch slaver off the coast of Africa narrating their journey back to Africa where they lost 14 as a result of illness. 'The stink when near the hatches which could not always be kept off or uncovered was truly nauseous in the extreme'. At this time Hall mentions Richard Burton and David Livingstone. He also recounts the extraordinarily adventurous 'yarns' of a Captain Bowen; a set of four daily journals, mostly personal, recording daily events and correspondence with his wife Nell. Hall appears to be on the South coast of England at this time approx. 90 printed certificates and copy letters covering the years 1869-94, completed in manuscript; together with another manuscript

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