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Journal of a voyage to India on board the Prince of Wales manuscript
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Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]3420 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206
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John Tovey, the eldest son of Alexander Tovey, was born on July 21, 1830 in Quebec, Canada. At the age of 14 he applied to join the Military Seminary at Addiscombe, Croydon as an artillery engineer cadet. He was commissioned in the 2nd European Bengal Fusiliers and posted to India. John Tovey continued to serve in India until 1852 when he accompanied his regiment to the Burmese War. His military career ended in 1856 after a quarrel with a fellow office in camp. On May 5, 1956 Lieut. J. Tovey, 2nd Eur. Bengal Fusiliers was arraigned on the charge of conduct unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman for having struck and kicked 1st Lieut. J.C. Paterson of the same regiment on April 8, 1856. The guilty sentence resulted in his dismissal from the East-India Company's service.
This journal documents John Tovey's voyage to India on board the Prince of Wales during his first appointment with the 2nd European Bengal Fusiliers. The journal begins on August 31st, 1847 with Tovey recounting a visit from his father (p.1). A young man at the age of 17, Tovey describes his impression of daily life aboard the Prince of Wales; he notes conversations with others, the weather, and how he passed the time on the voyage. The journal has a preliminary list of contents; log of his voyage; list of passengers and officers on board; extracts, criticisms, and opinions. Journal is an original limp Moroccan notebook with some abrasions and wear to the backstrip. A note inside the front cover records that the volume was "bought at Croydon in my old Cadet Town at Mrs. Markby's." The pages at the end the diary, p.113-132, are upside down from the back cover.
Sold by Jarndyce Antiquarian Booksellers (London), 2020.
Accessioned as 2020.000032. Samantha Dodd processed, wrote and encoded the finding aid, 2023.
- Publisher
- University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
- Finding Aid Author
- Samantha Dodd
- Finding Aid Date
- 2023 May 16
- Access Restrictions
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This collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
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Copyright restrictions may exist. For most library holdings, the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvannia do not hold copyright. It is the responsibility of the requester to seek permission from the holder of the copyright to reproduce material from the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts.