127 leaves (the last blank, pasted down as rear fixed endpaper). Ink manuscript on blue paper, in the hand of Philip Dumaresq. 24.5x19 cm (9¾x7½"), half leather & marbled boards, label of Henry Anstice, Stationer, on front pastedown. In custom half red morocco slipcase & chemise.
Log of the maiden voyage of the "Surprise," the first clipper ship constructed in East Boston, which was launched on October 5, 1850, from the yard of Samuel Hall. Howe and Matthews, American Clipper Ships, note that her construction was supervised by Capt. Philip Dumaresq, who was slated to command her. The ship sailed from New York for San Francisco on December 13, 1850, arriving at her destination on March 19, 1851, a then-record passage of 96 days 14 hours. The ship continued on to Hong Kong, leaving San Francisco on May 7 and arriving on June 23, 1851; and thence to London, July 29 to November 10. Generally, each page in the log covers a single day at sea, with hourly records of the watch, the wind speed and direction, comments on the weather, and other salient observations and facts. The barometric pressure for each day is given, as are the longitude and latitude. It is very neatly written, and well preserved.
Howe and Matthews note of the Surprise, "Her record as a consistently smart ship continued throughtout her whole career and she was always a favorite and popular vessel as well as a money maker."