Ocean Voyage Diary and Ship Logs

The first half of the text concentrates on the author’s experience sailing aboard a merchant vessel in the United Kingdom, Europe, and the eastern coast of the United States from July 12, 1844, to September 30, 1844. It gives a first-person view of living and traveling abroad as a merchant in the 19th century through documenting trade, ship damages, and personal sights, experiences, and events. A number of the passengers during this part of the voyage are identified as Jews.

The second half of the text contains travel and trade logs for five different ships: The Tyrian, Iconium, Thracian, Persian, and Eurotas, which traded goods between the United Kingdom, Western Europe, the U.S. east coast, the U.S. Gulf Coast, and parts of South America.

From 1845-1847, The Tyrian sailed to New Orleans, Liverpool, New York, and Boston. In May 1847, on an attempted trip from Baltimore to Glasgow, it sank and the crew was "supposed to be drowned."

Built at Sheepscot Bridge Maine in 1848, The Iconium sailed to Wiscasset, Mobile, Liverpool, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Boston, Panama, Baltimore, Callao, and San Francisco from 1848-1849. From 1845-1850, The Thracian sailed to Mobile, Glasgow, Havana, New Orleans, Boston, Nantes, Bordeaux, Antwerp, Havre, New York, Liverpool, Gothenburg, and Cadiz. On February 21, 1850, it was sold for "$13.500" for use in California trade. From 1844-1850, The Persian sailed to New Orleans, Liverpool, Philadelphia, New York, Venice, Marseilles, Havre, Valparaiso, Callao, Chincha Islands, Baltimore, and Panama. From 1845-1846, Brig Eurotas sailed to Mobile, Ghent, Antwerp, Flensburg, Havana, Liverpool, and Boston. It was sold in Boston in 1846, for "$11.500."