May

Thursday 1 May 1817 !
This morning the Lord Melville and Fame Male & Female Convicts Ships – for Batavia and ultimately for England; and the Colonial Brig Campbell Macquarie for Bengal, Sailed in Company. — I wrote a Private Letter to my Wine Merchants. in England per the Lord Melville. —

L. M.

Friday 2 May !
This morning early the whole of the Male Convicts recently arrived in the Shipley Transport from England (– having been mustered on board in the usual manner on the 30th. Ulto. by Mr. Secry. Campbell –) were landed, and inspected by myself in person in the Jail Yard at 10,O'Clock, in the usual manner previous to their distribution.

They appeared Healthy, and expressed themselves highly satisfied with the treatment they had received on the Voyage. —

L. M.

Sunday 11th. May 1817 !
The Ship Harriet, commanded by Capt. Jas. Jones, and of which Mr. Joseph Underwood is Owner, anchored this Night within the Heads of Port Jackson from England which She left on the 18th. of Novr. last, touching on her Passage in Van Diemen's Land – at which last place She remained Six Weeks. —

The Harriet has brought out a valuable Cargo of Goods & Merchandize for the use of the Colony. Mr. Underwood, the Owner of the Harriet, with his Family; and also Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Harry Thrupp, and Mr. Emmett, Free Settlers; Lieut. Rolfe of the R. Navy and Five Missionaries with their Families, have come out as Passengers on board the Harriet.

L. M.

Thursday 15. May !
Mr. Depy. Comy. Genl. Allan having reported to me this morning that no Wheat has been brought in for some time past by the Settlers, and that the Stores are now almost empty, I have authorized him to purchase 4000 Bushels of Wheat from Mr. Joseph Underwood of the Cargo of that description brought up by him from the Derwent – at the rate of Ten Shillings Sterling per Bushel. — N.B. Mr. Allan reported to me, that from a total want of Wheat, he was obliged to issue Biscuit in lieu thereof from the King's Store on the last issue of Provisions on Saty. 10th. Inst.

L. M.

Sunday 18. May 1817 !!! —
This morning early the Ships Sir Wm. Bensley commanded by Capt. Williams, and Morley Commanded by Capt. Brown, sailed from Port Jackson on their respective Voyages to Bengal and Batavia. —

J. H. Bent Esqr. late Judge of the Supreme Court of this Colony, and Mrs. Eliza Bent Widow of the late Mr. Judge Advocate Bent with her Family, went Passengers in the Sir Wm. Bensley to England by way of Bengal. —

L. M.

Thursdy. 22. May !
I this day drew a Draft on the Police Fund, in favor of Mr. James Smith for Forty Pounds Sterling being in full Payment of part of his House & Premises, Surrendered to Government, in George Street for the purpose of widening the New Street called Market Street.

L. M.

Friday 23. May 1817 !
I Drew a Draft of this date on the Police Fund, in favor of Jno. Blaxland Esqr., for the sum of Thirty One (£31 –) Pounds Sterling; being in full Payment and liquidation of his claim on Government for felling Sixty acres of Forest Land on Government Ground in the Dist. of Bringelly – and for erecting a Stock Yard thereon; the same having been valued by Mr. James Meehan Dy. Surveyor Genl. on the part of Govt. – and James Badgery on the part of Mr. Blaxland, these Arbitrators having agreed on the above mentioned valuation. —

L. M.

Sunday 25. May !
This forenoon Sailed for Port Dalrymple the Colonial Schooner John Palmer, on which went Passenger, Mr. Harry Thrupp Free Settler – by whom I wrote Public and Private Letters to Lieut. Govr. Sorell, Asst. Comy. Genl. Broughton, and Major Stewart, all which Letters were dated 24th. Instant. —

L. M.

Wedy. 28. May 1817 ! —
I this day inspected H. M. 46th. Regt. Commanded by Colonel George Molle, in Hyde Park, and afterwards entertained the Officers of the Corps at Dinner at Govt. House. —

Saturday 31. May 1817 ! —
I Drew two Drafts of this day's date on the Police Fund; the one being for £158. 11. 3½ Str., amount of Balance due to Mrs. Shelley Matron & Manager of the Native Institution at Parramatta for the Expences thereof for 3 quarters up to 31st. of Decr. 1816; and the other Draft being for £97. 7. 11 Str., amount of Balance due to Mr. Rowd. Hassall Supdt. of Govt. Stock, on account of Sundry Disbursements made by him as such on account of Government as per accounts of Particulars now rendered; both the Drafts in question being made payable to Mr. Hassall – he being authorized by Mrs. Shelley to receive her money.

L. M.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Diary 10 April 1816 – 1 July 1818.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A773 pp.100-104. [Microfilm Reel CY301 Frames #333-337].