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The topic I'm posting relates to a 19th century clipper ship named The Westland which used to sail from England to New Zealand and back. Because the sailors were on board a week before the passengers or cargo, it was the practice for them to receive a month's salary in advance. So, the end of the first month of the journey was a time of great rejoicing for them because, up to that point, they had been "working for a dead horse" but now their wages would begin to accumulate. The ceremony they undertook involved making a sham horse, stuffing it with straw, tar, pitch and other inflammable materials. The sailors then painted their faces black, wore ridiculous masks and hats and paraded the horse around the deck while singing and playing flutes, tin whistles etc, A mock auction followed and the horse was sold to the highest bidder. It was then hoisted up to the yardarm with its rider who set fire to it, letting it drop into the sea. The rider was then lowered safely. The ceremony ends with the crew assembling at the captain's cabin and being served with alcohol. I have never heard of this ceremony before and I would to know more about it and whether it occurred on other vessels besides a clipper ship.

Can anybody help me decipher the final three lines of the attached please. I am OK up until
Wine Merchant
At his own expense he
attempted to close
 After this the only words I can see that might be correct are Sherborne and the final word which might be Napoleon.

Many thanks.

M

I am researching the life of a very interesting character by the name of Richard Cadman Etches. He was an Englishman, probably born around 1753, who spent much of his later life working for the British Secret Service as a spy. I have discovered that in 1789 he went to Copenhagen where he achieved Danish nationality, the reason being that this would enable him to flit in and out of Revolutionary France with impunity. I would love to know whether any record of this exists in Denmark and/or how I would go about finding it. Any help would be most welcome.

In the latter part of the 18th Century an ancestor of mine lived in a house just off Oxford Street The address was 19 Bryanston Street, Portman Square. I want to discover the history of the house and who lived there over the years. I suppose I should approcah HM Land Registry but if so I'm not sure what I should be askiing for. Can anyone help me please?