Monday 13 August 2018
The Island Archives have acquired three journals of Elisha Dobrée (1756-1844) a Town Douzenier and amateur meteorologist, spanning the years 1777 to 1817.
They were bought at Bonham's London auction house with the aid of Guernsey's Wilfred Carey Fund following a successful bid of £4,000.
Island Archivist Dr Darryl Ogier comments
"The journals have been known in some degree for many years and extracts occasionally published. Until the originals appeared at auction recently we did not have full copies, or any knowledge of their illustrations, some of which are in colour.
Amongst other things the sketches supply a fascinating record of comings and goings of ships in port near to Elisha Dobrée's house in the Canichers, and provide other insights into island affairs, often in wartime. Entries in the journals faithfully record each day's weather and one volume lists Guernsey's privateer vessels. A typical and memorable entry is that of 8 November 1805 that records not only that the weather was breezy, close and cloudy, but that there had arrived in the island the 'glorious news of Admiral Nelson's victory near Cadiz'.
The journals' more casual contents open up to us the world of an eighteenth-century gentleman of leisure; fishing and shooting, wining and dining, besides showing this keen interest in military and naval affairs."
The journals may be viewed at the Island Archives, Cornet Street.
