Journal of 225 pages bound in green vellum, kept by James Bell, passenger on the 'Planter', Deptford, 25 November 1838 to 15 May 1839, Port Adelaide. On the title page he writes: 'Kept in conformity with a promise made to C. Perry, Bellisle Street, Workington [Cumberland, England] and with the intention of being sent to her, as a small token of respect for her many good qualities and the friendship with which she has honoured me--'. In the Preface he writes 'that it is to be considered wholly private. This will account for any mention of my own affairs in such a way as does not usually occur in a journal and the Friend to whom I may send it will understand this - and that it must never be read by a third party.' He is frank and critical of debauched behaviour on board during the voyage out, particularly of captain Beazley. The last sentence of his final entry is: 'Tomorrow I hope to step ashore at Adelaide and introduce myself to Messrs Flaxman and Rowlands.' A note on back end page relates to 'Stirling Stable' rent on 2 September 1839 and 'Monday Sept 26 commenced lodging in Town.'

In 2010 much publicity was given to the discovery on a London book stall of this diary, with its revelatory contents. Auctioned at Bonham's, the Library was fortunate to obtain the diary with the assistance of the State Library Foundation, and a generous contribution from a descendant of one of the families mentioned in the diary.

James Bell was a pious young Scotsman, from Dryfesdale in Dumfriesshire. He almost certainly made the decision to travel to Adelaide both for the sake of religious freedom, and with the hope of improving his financial situation. After setting out from London in late 1838, he began writing the diary, with a written instruction stating that it was expressly for the eyes only of his mysterious female friend, 'C.P.' Library staff and two intrepid researchers have deduced that this was a widow named Charlotte Perry, who lived in Workington in Cumbria, UK, where Bell owned property.

In his diary Bell records in some detail the misbehavior of his fellow passengers on the barque Planter, including drinking, fighting and open promiscuity. Many of these people had been 'hand-picked' as ideal colonists for the experimental colony, which further raised Bell's disapproval. The captain's lack of control and poor navigation saw both the ship almost wrecked, and a mutiny among the sailors, so that the Planter finally arrived in Adelaide, much overdue, in May 1839.

Available as a publication: Private journal of a voyage to Australia 1838-39 / James Bell ; edited by Richard Walsh, with an introduction and epilogue by Anthony Laube (2011)

Permission to use this item for any purpose, including publishing, is not required from the State Library under these conditions of use.

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