Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1845 - 1846 - 1847

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George Heath Serjeant-at-Law  - age 66/67               1779-1852

Julia Anna Harrison (ne Heath) - age 38/39              1807-1879
Rev. John Moore Heath - aged 37/38                        1808-1882
Douglas Denon Heath - aged 34/35                          1811-1897
Dunbar Isidore Heath - age 29/30                             1816-1888
Leopold G. Heath R.N. - age 28/29                          1817-1907
Emma Jane Heath (later Whatman) - age 24/25       1821-1884

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24. - 8 April 1846 - Leopold Heath to Captain Mundy, re concentrating ship's broadside
File 0802

Letter draft

Sir, 

I beg to submit for your consideration (cross out - the following) a plan for concentrating (cross out - a broadside) which will I think be found more correct as well as (cross out - much) more simple than any of the methods at present in use.

Let the rear axeltree of each gun be fitted as in figure 1. and when the ship is in smooth harbour (crossed out - let a boar with her masting stepped be anchored at the required distance and in the required direction, and let all the guns be carefully pivoted at the mast) let the guns be carefully pointed at an object in the required direction and at the required distance, then place the bars or battens AVs on the deck at a (crossed out - convenient distance from the rear  - and rule lines. this distance must be regulated by the depth of the sweep piece) such a distance from the rear axeltree so that when the gun happens to be close over to one side of the post and consequently more inboard than when in other positions the (bar AS ?) may still be more inboard than the rear axeltree itself) Rule lines corresponding to the pass and fix them permanently in the deck either by cutting them in with a board chisel and paying them with pitch, or by a row of copper beads. 

These lines might of course be drawn by the rules of trigonometry but the practical method will do away with any error which might arise from the rear axeltree not being at right angles to the (axis?) of the gun. 
(Crossed out - Figure 2 - represents a detached pair of parallel rulers)

Should it be supposed that the apparatus I have described would be liable to be damaged by being attached to the gun, a pair of parallel rulers may be made for each gun as described in figure 2 and the deck marked as before.

The deck and guns are now fitted for concentrating upon that point and in whatever part of the port the gun may happen to be when the order is given, the handspikes will quickly (clear, clean?) the gun until the batten AB coincides with the line marked on the deck, and the guns are then concentrated and with considerable accuracy because of the great length of the lines thus brought to coincide. 

I would now suggest that (crossed out - should the above plan) if it be found that guns can be readily trained by the above means, a system of concentration might be introduced which would (in conjunction with sidescales) greatly increase the chances of hitting an enemy so obscured by smoke that his mastheads only are visible.

Let the deck be marked for concentration on these point, viz.

300 yards, 2 points before the beam.
300 yards, 1 point before the beam.
300 yards, abeam
300 yards, 1 point abaft the beam
300 yards, 2 points abaft the beam,
and let the winship gun be always the directing gun. 

Set the picket (which are recommended to be fitted in the "Questions in Naval Gunnery Page) to either of the abover directions and steer the ship carefully so (cross out - that) as to keep them bearing upon the enemy's main Top Gallant masthead (or that part of the enemy corresponding to the position of the pointers) and let the Captains of the guns lay their guns to the corresponding mark on the deck and continue firing in that direction whenever the smoke obscures the enemy. 

Should it be necessary to alter course alter it by whole points at a time and send down word to (crossed out alter the training of the guns accordingly.

(crossed out - It is then evident that every shot must go in the direction of enemy or some part of the enemy.)

It is then evident that supposing the sidescales to have been properly attended every shot must hit some part of the enemy as long as the distance is within 300 yards and even beyond that distance it is only the foremast and aftermast guns which will go wide.

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File 0809 - Letter describing 2 methods of concentrating a ship's broadside

To - Captain Mundy R.N., H.M.S. Iris.
H.M.S. Iris, 
Trincomalee, 

8th April 1846

Sir.
Sir Thomas Hastings having called the attention of the students on board H.M.S. Excellent to the importance of devising some more simple and correct method of concentrating a ship's broadside than any of those which were then in use, I beg to submit the two following methods.

I would in the first place suggest for the sake of simplicity that the usual concentration at 200 and 400 yards should be merged into one concentration at 300 yards.

1st Method

Let the rear axletree of each gun be fitted as in figure 1. and when the ship is in a smooth harbour let a boat with her mast stepped be anchored directly abeam of the midship gun and at the distance of 300 yards from it, and let all the guns be carefully pointed at the mast, then let a line about 4 feet in length be chalked on the deck so as to coincide exactly with the bar AB when at a convenient distance from the rear axletree, this distance must be regulated by the depth of the sweep piece so that when the gun happens to be close over to one side of the port and consequently more inboard than when in other positions the line thus chalked may still be more inboard than the rear axletree itself.

This line must be permanently fixed in the deck, cutting it in with a broad chisel and paying it with pitch is a good practical method but a wire sunk in and pinned down or a line of small cupper beads would look neater and also be more correct.

This is the beam concentration, and in whatever part of the port the gun may happen to be when the order to concentrate is given the handspikes will quickly slew it so as to bring the batten or bar AB to coincide with the line thus market on the deck, the guns are then concentrated and with considerable accuracy because of the great length of the line thus brought to coincide.

For the bow and quarter concentration the guns must be pointed at a boat and the deck marked in a similar manner.

2nd Method

Let parallel rulers be made as in figure 2, and let the deck be marked as described in the 1st method, then butt the vertical arm of the rulers against the rear axletree and train the gun until the flat arm coincides with the line on the deck.

In either of these methods the lines ought be drawn on the deck by the rules of trigonometry, but the experimental method will destroy inaccuracy that might arise from the rear axletree not being accurately at right angles to the axis of the gun.

I have the honour to be, Sir
Your obedient Servant, L.G.Heath, Lieutenant H.M.S. Iris. 

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14 August 1846
Charles Heath to Alexander Johnson

My dear Sir,
I am so much engaged today and tomorrow that I cannot properly have the pleasure of waiting on you.
Will you be so kind as to send the picture by the Bearer.
I hope to find a use for your picture of Lady Anne.
You will receive Proofs of your Plate of "Cordelia" when it goes to press - we always return some Proofs to the Artist.

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29 October 1846
Charles Heath, 6 Seymour Place, London - to Dawson Turner

My Dear Sir,
I have the pleasure of sending you the Proofs for the next year's "Keepsake" and "Book of Beauty" and I likewise send you Proof of the year 45 as I have little doubt they never reached you - for I have discovered lately that my Clerk who had the management of all these things had been robbing me to a great extent and that none of the Proofs I sent to friends last year arrived - he having sold them. Should, however, those intended for you have arrived, perhaps you will oblige me by returning these now sent.

I know it gratifies you to learn that I am now doing as well, indeed much better than ever, that I am engaged in several works all of which augur well and that soon after Christmas I shall send you the first part of the most splendidly illustrated "New Testament" ever produced, the whole engraved in wood. The designs drawn in Paris - the engraving executed in London. It is a most elaborate production and I have been engaged on it for the last 18 months.

With best wishes believe me,
My Dear Sir, Yours most sincerely,
Charles Heath

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Thursday 1 October 1846
London Evening Standard

Borneo (from the Gazette, Tuesday)
Spiteful River, Brune, Borneo Proper, July 20, 1846

(from Captain Mundy to his Exc. Rear Admiral Sir T. Cochrane C.B.,)

Sir, - Having received such information as to the retreat of the Sultan, as to hold out some hope of his capture, I directed Captain Mundy to take under his command, in addition to the gun-boats, 150 marines, and a detachment of seamen, small-arm men and rocket party, and to proceed in the direction pointed out to him in pursuit of his Highness.

- - - At this unpleasant juncture of affairs, Mr Brooke was assured that by retracing our steps into the Damuan river, and then ascending it for a few miles, we should find another creek leading to the village of Malbout, which village was on the road to Damuan, and through which the force must have passed had it been able to prosecute the journey by land from Palihoug. Our boats were accordingly retracked to the creek's entrance, and then moved up the Damuan river, in itself so confined at this part as to preclude our advance without the constant aid of our pioneers, who, in three cutters ahead, under the efficient officer, Lieut. Heath, cleared the passage.

At three pm. we entered the second creek, which was even more intricate than the last; and finally at 4.30, after being ten hours at the paddles, we reached the end of the swamp, which our guides informed us was the quay at Malbout.

- - - - Following the Sultan - - -

On arriving at the river, which was there about 30 yards wide, we found the bridge three feet under water, and owing to the strength of the stream quite impassable, the pioneers commenced at once to cut down the largest trees, which were close to the water's edge, and three of them falling at the same time directly across to the opposite back, a compact bridge was soon formed, and well knitted together by the creepers. In executing this service, which was specially under the charge of Lieutenant Heath, I remarked the exertions of Mr Simpson, chief officer of the Phlegethon, whose small party of Javanese were most useful.

- - - we found ourselves directly in face of a large and isolated building, standing on piles, with a rivulet ten feet broad passing in its rear, and the whole country round completely flooded. A glance at the desolated appearance of the place showed at once that no enemy was there to oppose. It had been evacuated probably the day before by the Sultan and his followers; magazines of powder, ammunition for guns of different calibre and cartridges admirably made for musketry, were found in considerable quantity, and one brass swivel gun of small dimensions; but the greater part of the valuable property had been carried off. Having destroyed the powder and well reconnoitred the swamp and jungle around, I directed Lieut. Heath to expend his damp rockets on the building, which was found was then fired and burnt to the water's edge, which service concluded, we recrossed the river with our whole force, and after a march of seven hours from leaving Malbout encamped on the rising ground by the new house, in which was found the Sultan's shield. The rain had set in as usual in torrents at three pm., - - -

During the six days occupied in the double expedition, I had no complaint of straggling or misconduct; and though the enemy offered no opposition to our advance, I hope I may be excused for bearing testimony to the cheerfulness of all under the discouraging circumstances of continued marching in jungle and swamps, knee deep, with heavy rain during the whole period, constantly wet to the skin and rest at night impossible.

I was much indebted to Captain Hawkins, commanding the detachment of Royal Marines, for his exertions during the march, and to Lieutenants Matthew, Heath, and Newland, who commanded divisions of seamen, and to Lieutenant Vansittart, my aide-de-camp.

- - - Mr Brooke, thoughout the march, showed the greatest anxiety to spare the houses and property unconnected with the Sultan.

I have the honour, &c., G. Rodney Mundy, Captain of Her Majesty's Ship Iris, and Commanding Officer.

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Saturday 3 October 1846
Hampshire Advertiser

The English in Borneo - Despatches have been received at the Admiralty from Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane C.B. addressed to the Secretary of the Admiralty, of which the following are abstracts:-

Spiteful, off the City of Brune, Borneo Proper, July 8, 1846

- - - In the arrangements for carrying out the service on which the squadron were about to be employed, the landing party comprised the marines and small arm men of her Majesty's squadron:- Total number of bayonets, 600. - - Field Pieces and rocket brigade under the immediate command of Lieut. Paynter, assisted by Lieut. Heath.

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Saturday 3 October 1846
Naval and Military Gazette and Weekly Chronicle of the United Service.

Return of the Force employed during the Expedition up the Borneo River, under my command, between the 10th and 16th of July 1846

- - -Pioneers and Rocket Brigade, Lieut. Heath, 52 men.

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December 1846
Richard Brinsley Peake to Charles Heath. (R.B.Peake - dramatic writer for the stage.)

My dear Heath,
I apologise to you for having kept the Books so long. I have dramatized Monte Cristo, and it is accepted at the Adelphi: but as they had no actor for the hero, I was obliged to set to work on "Colomba," which has proved quite successful. I enclose a ticket for 2 for Monday next, and if you have not seen it, I promise that you shall be amused.
Poor Charles Peake's death was caused by a disease known as the "Softening of the Brain."

Wishing you and yours health and happiness,
I am, Yours very truly,
R.B.Peake


(23 December 1846 - Theatre Royal, Adelphi - This evening - On Saturday next will be produced a new grand romantic drama, called Colomba, The Corsican Sister: or, The Twelfth of August)

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1847

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