Thanks so much vicky44
I did a quick search for the Coptic and found that it arrived in Hobart 9 March 1888 & 27 July 1888.
From Trove and Papers Past (NZ newspapers) I found the following:
Coptic's route was London, Plymouth, Tenerife, Cape Town, Hobart, New Zealand (Wellington I think)
Passengers for other Australian ports transferred to other ships.
On the voyage which arrived 9 March, 20 were bound for Melbourne
On the voyage which arrived 27 July, 19 were bound for Melbourne
There is an interesting description of a voyage of the Coptic in the Mercury (Hobart) , Sat 8 Jul 1893 page 3.
From London to New Zealand. Trip of the Coptic. David BLYTHEhttp://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13282164. On that voyage the Coptic followed the same route as the two 1888 voyages.
Re Charles returning to England.
The details for Charles JACK who married Isobel Louise BELL in London in 1916 exactly fit Charles Douglas JACK
widower, 57, father William JACK surgical engineer
I have attached the grooms' signatures from the two marriage registers 1880 and 1916.
Given that they were written 36 years apart, the word Charles looks pretty similar
Perhaps someone has a document with Charles Douglas' signature which could be compared with these
The first attachment can be dragged to see the end of the word JACK
regards
barb