This volume, entitled "Log of The Proceedings of H.M.S. Glasgow" (73 pages) chronicles the ship's travels around the Bay of Biscay between February 1 and August 28, 1815. Midshipman James Williamson recorded daily information about the weather, the ship's course, and incidents onboard. The first 3 pages contain a chart of the ship's course, position, and bearings, maintained daily between February 1 and August 5, 1815; the dates April 1-May 24 are not included. Each day of the week is represented by an astrological symbol in a repeating pattern used throughout the entire volume. The longer log entries commence on February 1, 1815, and cover the ship's course, winds, and remarks about events on the ship, such as the arrival and departure of visitors, discipline of sailors, maintenance work, ships encountered, change of course, weather, and other daily occurrences. The Glasgow moored in Plymouth Sound and "Hamoau" between April 1 and May 25, at Plymouth between June 5 and June 9, and at Sheerness and Chatham, England, between August 8 and August 28. A color-coded map showing the progress of the Glasgow between southwest England and the Bay of Biscay is pasted into the volume between the pages covering May 6 through May 24.
The 50-gun English frigate HMS Glasgow was launched in 1814. Captain Henry Duncan (1786-1835) took command of the ship later that year, following his return from service in the Mediterranean Sea onboard the Imperieuse. The Glasgow cruised between the Isles of Scilly, Great Britain, and the Iberian Peninsula until early 1815. Following Napoleon Bonaparte's return to Europe from the island of Elba, the Glasgow joined the fleet of Admiral George Elphinstone, 1st Viscount Keith. Captain Duncan led a squadron assigned to the Bay of Biscay, where the Glasgow remained until Napoleon's surrender. The ship had returned to Plymouth, England, by late August.
