Thursday 26. Octr.!
We all got up between 4 and 5 o'clock this morning -- and Breakfasted at 1/2 past 5. ---The Carts were all loaded, and we were just in the act of mounting our Horses -- when Mr. Jno. Rowley galloped into Camp with a Letter from the Commissioner announcing his approach and his arrival at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon at Goulburn Plains -- and intimating his intention of being with me here early this Day. I therefore ordered the Carts to be unloaded, and the Tents to be repitched -- to await the arrival of the Commissioner on our present Ground, so as to proceed together early tomorrow morning to the Great Lake. ---In the meantime I wrote him a note and sent it off at 7 o'clock by a mounted Servant to inform [him] that I had postponed moving till he should join me.---
At 8. a.m. I sent off a mounted Servant to Mr. Throsby at the great Lake, with a supply of Prog & Grog, and to apprize him that we remain here for this day -- but that we shall join him tomorrow; as he intends remaining at the Lake till our arrival.---
At 11. a.m. I rode out accompanied by Major Antill, to meet Commissr. Bigge and his Suite & at 12 we met 4 miles from our present Camp. ---He was attended by Mr. Secry. Scott, Mr. Oxley, Mr. Cordeaux, and Dr. Hill -- and also by Chas. Fraser, the Colonial Botanist, besides a numerous Retinue of Servants -- all mounted, having 7 Pack Horses to carry their Baggage. ---They [left] Bathurst on Wednesday the 18th. Instant and have been 9 days on the way -- the distance (measured) from Bathurst Town to Bathurst Lake being 138 miles. ---The Commissr. and Suite have all arrived in good Health -- but a little tired with their Journey. ---We all rode into Camp together and arrived there at 1. p.m.; George having Wine, Biscuit, and Oranges prepared for the Travellers, of which they partook. We afterwards walked about the Camp -- or read -- or talked till 5 o'clock -- when we dined --Drank Tea at 7 -- and went to Bed at 9 o'clock; intending to set out for the Great Lake early in the morning, -- accompanied by the Commissioner & his Suite.
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