Some time ago I posted the following message re the Speedy, built at Bridport, and have now added a few snippets regarding two of her passages to Australia that I've managed to track down from the Shipping Gazette and Sydney General Trade List. It would appear to indicate that the Australian Gold Rush was still on. One wonders how this affected our relatives on this side of the World and how many of them dashed off never to be seen again ? The fame of the Marco Polo, Indian Queen, Sovereign of the Seas, and other fast sailing American-built ships, will shortly be contested by the new British clipper ship whose portrait we have engraved this week. The Speedy has been built at the yard of Messrs. Cox and Son, of Bridport, on lines said to be unsurpassed by any vessel afloat ; her appearance in the London Docks has excited much interest among the seafaring community and the confidence of her admirers is shown in the fact that heavy wagers are pending upon her accomplishing the voyage to Sydney in less period than any other sailing ship has yet done. She is a noble vessel 1060 tons register, and 1600 tons burthen, and will carry a limited number of passengers at one uniform rate - all accommodated on the saloon or upper deck; the whole of the lower part of the ship being devoted to freight Her qualifications appear to us equal to those of any vessel we have yet seen, every appointment both for passengers and crew being most perfect. She has a poop of unusually large extent; an elegant saloon ; is very lofty 'tween decks ; and her cabins, both in size and accommodation are of the highest order. Her brokers Messrs. Hotchkin and Mobbs, have spared no pains to render the vessel as comfortable aboard as she is outwardly beautiful in mould. Messrs. Prowse and Co. of Liverpool, the owners of the Speedy, we the proprietors of many of the finest liners afloat. The Speedy, is appointed to sail on the 10th instant, and it will be both curious and satisfactory to the south country builders if the palm of success in the construction of clipper-ships should after all be awarded to Bridport. She is expected to make the passage to Sydney in seventy days. Her dimensions are:- length from stem to stern-post, 192 feet ; over all, 202 feet ; beam, 33 feet ; depth of hold, 21 feet; poop, 62 feet long. She is built of teak and English oak.- The Illustrated London News, 10 Dec., 1853. SG 27 Mar. 1854 ; Page 57 ; Vol 11 22 Mar 1854: Speedy, ship, 1031, Captain Nightingale, from London, [Dep. 22 Dec 1853] ; Passengers: Mr & Mr Bundy & 3 children ; Mr & Mrs Moore ; Mr & Mrs W Poulter & child ; Mr & Mrs Thomas Poulter ; Mr & Mrs Williams ; Mrs Smedley ; Mrs De Forney ; Mrs Usher and 3 children ; Miss Wallace ; Messrs. L Fennings Lee, Tate, Samuels, Warrington, Broom, Wilson, Wilson Sen., Wilson Jun., Graves, Mayhew, Mis Mayhew, and Mr Dixon. Ebsworth & Co. agents. Arrival 9 April, 1855: Speedy, 1032 tons, Captain J. H. Nightingale ; from Southampton, Jan 6 ; with 414 government immigrants ; J. & S. Spyer & Co. Agents. SG & SGTL ; Page 74 ; of 16 Apr. 1855. The Speedy. This splendid clipper ship arrived on Monday from London, [Dep. 2nd Jan 1855,] after a fair passage of 92 days. She left Southampton on the 5th January, with the wind west south west, in company with the Kaffirland, also bound for Sydney : and on the 9th January saw the Lizard Point having beaten the whole way down channel. January 20, in latitude 21° 32' N., longitude 21° 48' W. The ship Hampden of and from Hamburgh, bound to Sydney, was spoken ; also January 28, saw the ship Guiding Star, from Liverpool, hound to Melbourne, in latitude 19° 47' N. , longitude, 25° 36' W. February 7, crossed the equator having never had a fair wind for two consecutive days since leaving England. March 8, passed the meridian of the Cape of Good Hope, in latitude 45° S., April 2, rounded the South end of Van Diemen's Land, since which time she has had constant northerly winds, with rain. The Speedy brings to this port 417 Government emigrants, classed as follows :- 79 married couples, 68 single women, 74 single men, and 101 children. One sudden death from disease of the heart, and five births have occurred during the voyage. There has not been a single case of sickness on hoard. The immigrants who are all English, and chiefly mechanics, appear very clean and respectable The ship is in a very clean condition, and the immigrants speak in terms of great praise of both the captain and surgeon for their kindness and attention during the voyage. Captain Nightingale has brought London papers to January 5. SG & SGTL ; Page 78 ; of 16 Apr. 1855. Speedy, 1,031 tons 27 Jun 1855 Captain Nightingall. Gold and specie shipped for London 27 June, 1855.- Speedy, ship, 1031 tons, Captain Nightingall, for London. Passengers - Mr. and Mrs. and Miss King, Mrs Ellis, Mrs. and two Masters Nathan, Mrs. Faveno and family (6), Mrs. and Miss Ironside, Mr. and Mrs. Reid, Mr. Chisholm and Misses Chisholm (2), Messrs. Strong, Clarke, Monro, Nightingall, Dr. Chapman, and 1 in the steerage. SG & SGTL ; Vol. 12 ; Page 150 of 2 Jul 1855. The following is the amount of gold and specie shipped on board the Speedy, bound for London. Specie. Sovereigns Bank of New South Wales 15,000 L. and S. Spyer and Co. 2100 Flavelle, Brothers 400 D. S. Warren and Co 1000 John Row 500 M. and L. Broadziak 323 Josiah Mullins 315 S. Browning 420 J. C. Hopkins 07 Total 20,265 Gold Dust. oz. dwt. gr. Union Bank 3384 0 0 Oriental Bank 3352 16 12 Bay and Glaister 115 17 0 M. and L. Brodziak ?? 152 8 0 Total 7005 1 12 Value, £26,268 SG & SGTL ; Vol. 12 ; Page 149 of 2 Jul 1855. Paul 50.33.50N 02.26.70W http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval.html