October

Octr. 1.
Wednesday. I dined with Captain Burt of the Montrose. —

I dined on the 25th. Ulto. with Lieut. ODonell; and on the 26th. Ulto. I was at an entertainment given by the Officers of the Hon"ble Company's Service at the Presidency to Colonel Howson the Commanding Officer of the Forces. —

Octr. 2.
Thursday. Captains Romney and Dunlop dined with us en famille; – the former with Capt. Mackenzie 75th., Lt. Geo. Gordon and a number of other officers embarked on the Betsey for the Province of Malabar to join their Corps. —

Octr. 3.
Friday. I was on the Island of Coolabah to pay the Regiment the last month's Garrison allowances.

Octr. 4.
Saturday. Captain Gray dined with us en famille.

Octr. 5.
Sunday. – Sir Francis Gordon and Mr. Oliphant dined with us. —

Octr. 6.
Monday. I dined with Col. Balfour on Coolabah; and Mrs. M. & myself supped with Mr. and Mrs. Shaw. —

Octr. 7.
Tuesday. We dined with Doctor and Mrs. Crozier in the Country; and visited Captain Burt and his Bride (late Miss Sheen) at the Mount, in the Evening. —

Octr. 9.
Thursday. I dined with Captain Dunlop in the Country – We had Major Oakes's and Mr. Shaw's families to sup with us. —

The most extraordinary kind of weather, I have ever observed in this Country, at this season of the year, has prevailed for this and some days past; – a great quantity of rain has fallen accompanied with heavy gales of Wind, Thunder and Lightning; – this is what the old inhabitants call the Elephanta or, the breaking up of the Monsoon.

Octr. 10.
Friday. I dined with Mr. Crokatt Member of Council. — The Panther Cruizer arrived this Evening from Suez, with great and glorious News from Europe, brought overland by way of Alexandria – vizt. The Allied Powers victorious and triumphant in every Quarter over the French. — An Insurrection by the Royalists at Paris — The whole of the infamous Convention extipated [sic] and put to death as they richly merited! that monster and Chief of Crimes Robespiere [sic] was the last of them that was executed; he was broke on the wheel, after seeing the ashes of the murdered King marched in solemn and mournful procession round the streets of Paris! – then due and just vengeance was executed on this unfeeling Barbarian, in justice to the late unfortunate monarch's manes.

The insurgents then, this account says, declared for Monarchy, had crowned the Dauphin, and distinguished the avowal of the cause by a white Scarf round the upper part of the right arm; – one of the conditions imposed by the People, on crowning the Dauphin, was, that he should swear to Govern by the British Constitution! — The same account advises further that the British Grand Fleet commanded by Admiral Earl Howe, off Ushant on the 1st. of June, had fought the French Fleet, beat them and gained a most brilliant victory – having taken Six sail of the line, burst two and sunk two, besides having intercepted the convoy from America (with Supplies for the French) of 150 Sail and Six Frigates, the whole of which they captured. — This is the best and greatest news we have heard for a great many years; – and I sincerely hope, we shall all soon have a confirmation of the truth of it. —

Octr. 11.
Saturday. This day Colonel Howson commanding Officer of the Forces, gave an elegant Entertainment to all the officers of the Army, in a Bunglow [sic] built for the occasion on the Esplanade. I was nominated by him to be one of the Conductors of the Entertainment and in consequence thereof sat up till a very late hour. —

Octr. 12.
Sunday. Mrs. Mackenzie, Lieut. Peter Mackenzie, Capt. Spry and Lt. Weston, dined with us today.

Octr. 13.
Monday. The bad weather still continues, and as violent as at any period of the whole monsoon. It blew very hard and rained very heavy indeed early this morning, which obliged Colonel Howson to postpone the inspection of the 77th. Regiment a second time. —

Octr. 14.
Tuesday. Colonel Howson inspected the 77th. Regiment this Evening, and was highly pleased with their soldierlike appearance. —

Octr. 16.
Thursday. This day being the anniversary of my Jane's Birth, we invited and had the following friends to dine with us in commemoration of that event – vizt. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, Mr. and Mrs. Halliday, Captain and Mrs. Burt, Lieut. & Mrs. Blackall, Mr. Morris, Mr. Forbes, Lieut. Sheen, Revd. Mr. Wade, Mr. Anderson and Captain Whitelocke. — Mrs. Morris and Colonel Balfour were invited and sent excuses. — We spent a very merry jovial day; every one being disposed to contribute his mite [sic] to good humour, mirth and harmony.

Octr. 17.
Friday. I went to Coolabah and settled accounts with the Regiment and my own Company, previous to their departure for the Province of Malabar. —

Octr. 18.
Saturday. We dined on board the Montrose Indiaman with Captain and Mrs. Burt – We had a pleasant Party; – but, Mrs. Macquarie was a good deal indisposed and has been for some days past. —

Octr. 19.
Sunday. Commodore Thistleton and Mr. Sheen dined with us; and we expected Capt. and Mrs. Burt to come on shore to dine with us; but the Ship's moving down to the Middle Ground prevented them from coming on shore. —

Octr. 20.
Monday. The 77th. Regiment embarked this morning at Seven OClock on board the Raymond and Duke of Montrose Indiamen, in high spirits and in perfect order. — I have appointed my friend Doctor Anderson to act for me as Paymaster until I join the Regiment on the Coast; which, I hope to do early in December. — Lieut. Mc.Intosh is appointed to the charge and command of my Company until I join it myself. —

I accompanied Mrs. Shaw on board the Raymond, on which she and her Husband proceed down the Coast. — The two Ships sailed about three OClock out of the Harbour with a fair wind. —

Octr. 23.
Thursday. This day the 5th. Battn. Of Native Infantry embarked for the Malabar Coast. — I wrote letters to Doctr. Anderson, Lt. Weston and Lt. Archd. Campbell. —

I dined with Capt. Sandiford at the Sans Souci Club held at Parell House. Mrs. M. dined at Mr. Halliday's where I took her up in the Evening. —

Octr. 25.
Saturday. This morning early died suddenly and very unexpectedly Colonel Carr Howson, Colonel of the 1st. Regiment of European Infantry on the Bombay Establishment; and commander in chief of the forces serving on this side of India; he was interred in the Evening with all the honors of War. —

This man was rather a singular character, but for strict honour and integrity he stands unimpeached; and his manners were mild and inoffensive; and he was a man of very independent principles, his whole fortune consisting of about a Lack [sic] of Rupees, he has bequeathed by Will to his adopted son Lieutenant William Green who was his Secretary and Aid de Camp.

By the death of Colonel Howson the command of the Forces on this side of India, devolves on Colonel James Balfour of the 77th. Regiment as the next senior officer; the Bombay Government, have in consequence dispatched an express Boat after him this day to recall him back to the Presidency to take the command of the Army. I wrote to Colonel Balfour by this Express Boat to acquaint him with the dissolution of Colonel Howson; and should it prove agreeable to him to make choice of me as one of his Staff, I signified to him, that it would be agreeable to me to make one of his family, providing it did not interfere with any prearrangement he might be under to others. —

Octr. 26.
Sunday. I find the Express Boat that was ordered yesterday by Government to the Malabar Coast to recall Col. Balfour to the Presidency, did not sail for the Coast until this morning.

Octr. 27.
Monday. Doctor Anderson, having previous to his departure for the Coast, given Mrs. Macquarie an invitation to occupy his Bungalow on Coolabah during the hot weather or as long as she thought prover, we accordingly availed ourselves of his kind offer this afternoon, having removed to the Island immediately after Dinner, and slept this night in the Doctor's very pleasant Bungalow; – and hear [sic] we purposed remaining for a month, coming occasionally into Town. —

Octr. 29.
Wednesday. I wrote again to Colonel Balfour inclosing a Duplicate of my last letter to him. — I also wrote to my friend Doctor Anderson. —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 2: 26 March 1792 – 28 December 1794.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A768 pp.202-217 [Microfilm Reel: CY299 Frames#347-#354].