We found this letter in the back of a second-hand book. We think it could be of historical importance and deserves a wider circulation. We offered it the National Maritime Museum in London but it was not wanted. We have checked the address but cannot trace the author. Sailing clippers sailed to Australia until the late 1930's so its probably there is now no-one alive who sailed on them. Amazingly the picture I chose at random is the second ship mentioned in the letter.
Pete's Stuff 
Most interested to read this harrowing eye-witness account of life on these old sailing ships, as my grandfather was Captain on one of those mentioned: Kelmeny. Bit of a shock to read that he didn’t treat his seamen properly, but that seems to have been pretty standard in those days (and perhaps still is…). This indeed gives a very different picture from those yarns about “the romantic sea-faring days of yore”, which makes it all the more interesting. Also lots of nice seaman’s jargon!
A fairly balanced (and interesting and at times plain frightening…) picture is given in the 2006 documentary “The Last Cape Horners; The End of the Great Sailing Ship Era”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbyeIXeVr7c
My Grandad also sailed on the Archibald Russell, which is mentioned a few times. Who knows, perhaps there’s a shot of Ben Bright in there somewhere…
Thanks for putting this online!
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