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This fonds is comprised of is a personal diary kept on a daily basis that commences April 24th 1855 "continued from the other book" ( the other book is not present) aboard HM Steamer Rifleman at Corrientes. It runs to May 7th 1857 where it ends in mid page, with several blank pages remaining. Mackarsie describes the numerous comings and goings of senior officers, visiting officials, civilian visitors and his daily activities. The geographic range of the Ship seems to be along the east coast of South America, mainly in the River Plate estuary with side trips to Rio de Janeirio. The fonds also includes a log of approximately 50 pages, handwritten with entries made in 8 columns, for HMS Spy. The first entry is on Wednesday Sept 26th , 1849 and provides technical information pertaining to wind direction, latitude and longitude, times, and comments about daily sailing observations such as: "observed strange sail, made sail in chase, boarded the French barque Juste of Calais, 11 killed." The last entry for the log is Saturday December 29th of the same year. There are a number of Pay bills (Navy form 86) for Mackarsie also present. Interspersed with the journal, log and pay slips are other items of a more comtemporary vintage. There are several pages of hand written notes, which take the form of an article, speech or radio broadcast which outlines a brief provenance of the material as well as there interest in the historical study of the supression of the slave trade by the British Navy. Also of note is a rough geneaology of the Cock family (wife of Henry Herbert Mackarsie).