November

Novr. 1.
Sunday. — Our friend Major Gore came up this forenoon to visit us, and staid [sic] Dinner. — Mr. Wensley and Lieuts. Shaw and Campbell also dined with us today. — We had a very merry pleasant Party. —

Novr. 2.
Monday. — My worthy friend Doctor Anderson arrived this forenoon in Cantonments very unexpectedly from Cochin by Land, having obtained leave to come up before the Regiment, which is now on its way back to Cantonments here. —

Doctor Anderson and Lt. Shaw dined with us today. —

Novr. 3.
Tuesday. — Capt. Whitelocke arrived this forenoon in Cantonments from Cochin and dined with us; as did also Mr. Gray of Calicut, Lieut. Mahoney, Doctor Anderson, and Lieut. Shaw. — We now begin to muster strong in our Society in Cantonments – and pass our time both pleasantly and sociably. —

My dearest Jane's Cold – thank God! is going fast – and her Cough is easier. —

Novr. 4.
Wednesday. — We dined today with Lieut. Shaw and had a very pleasant Party. —

Novr. 5.
Thursday. — Major Gore, Lt. Walker, Dr. Anderson, and Lt. Shaw dined with us today. — The Antelope Bombay Cruizer arrived this Evening from Anjengo in Calicut Roads. —

Novr. 6.
Friday. — I receive written orders early this morning from Col: Mc.Pherson to proceed immediately to the Presidency on the Antelope Cruizer, and informed me that he had applied to the Commander of the Cruizer to receive me on board. —

I went into Calicut immediately after Breakfast to wait on Col: Mc.Pherson, and to know whether the Antelope had accommodation for receiving also my dearest Jane on board, as, I could not bear the thought of leaving her behind, since she had set her Heart so very strongly on accompanying me to Bombay; – and therefore, I hoped to have been allowed to remain here until some of the large Country Ships should touch at Calicut, on which we might both proceed comfortably to Bombay. —

On my waiting on Col: Mc.Pherson at Calicut, I was most agreeably surprised to find that the Capt. of the Antelope had refused the Colonel a Passage for me, on the plea that he had no room. — The Coll. was very angry that his request was not complied with by the Captain of the Antelope; but at which I was exceedingly rejoiced –; for I now found that if even the Comr. of the Cruizer had agreed to give myself a Passage he had not any accommodation for my dearest Jane; so that if I had gone in the Antelope She must have remained behind. — We must now be ready to embrace the first favourable opportunity that may offer of proceeding to the Presidency. —

The London and Barwell Indiamen, Commanded by Captains Grant & Welladvice, with the 2d. Battn. of Native Infantry Commanded by Capt. Romney on board arrived in Calicut Roads this morning from Bombay. — I met Capt. Grant on shore in the Town of Calicut, and gave him an Invitation to come to see us at Staffa Lodge. — It was with Capt. Grant in the London that our agreeable Sister Mrs. Morley went Home in Jany. 1794, and it was with him she sent out our Chariot and other Commissions.

Novr. 7.
Saturday. — In the Evening the Intrepid Bombay Cruizer arrived in Calicut Roads from the Straits of Malacca and Prince of Wales's Island having Colonel Balfour of the 77th. Regt. on board now perfectly recovered from his illness by his Sea Voyage to the Eastward. — He was attended by his Aide de Camp Lieut. Weston, and by my young friend Mr. Lachlan Maclean (asst. Surgeon on the Bbay Establishment) as his Surgeon on this Voyage; the Bombay Government having very handsomely paid the good worthy Colonel this highly gratifying piece of attention in allotting a Cruizer entirely for his use, and allowing him still to retain his allowances as the Commanding Officer of the Forces and taking also his Staff along with him. —

Novr. 8.
Sunday. — Colonel Balfour having landed this morning in Calicut, I went into Town to wait upon him, and to invite him and his Staff to dine with us today at Staffa–Lodge. The Colonel was preengaged in Town but promised to dine and spend a Day with us before he went away. —

The following friends dined with us today at Staffa Lodge – vizt. Mr. & Mrs. Lewis, Colonel Dow, Mr. Wensley, Capt. Whitelocke, Dr. Anderson, Lieut. Weston, Lieut. Shaw and Lieut. Archd. Campbell. —

Novr. 9.
Monday! — The 77th. Regiment, to all our great joy, arrived this day in Cantonments from Cochin. —

I went into Calicut after Breakfast to wait on Colonel Balfour, who has promised to spend tomorrow with us in Cantonments. —

Captain Grant of the London and his Brother Lieut. Grant dined with us today. — My dearest Jane was highly delighted with the satisfactory accounts given her by Capt. Grant of her beloved Sister Mrs. Morley and her young Family. —

Novr. 10.
Tuesday. — Colonel Balfour attended by his Aide de Camp Lieut. Weston, and Body Physician Dr. Maclean, came up to Cantonments early this morning. — They dined and spent the Day with us, having had Dr. Anderson and several of the officers of the Regt. to meet them at Dinner. — Our new Plate from England, sent us out by the London Capt. Grant, having arrived this morning at Staffa Lodge, was displayed this day at Dinner in honor of our friend General Balfour! — accounts having been received tho' not yet officially – that he has lately been promoted to the rank of Major General. —

We spent a most pleasant and merry agreeable Day, and the General did not leave us till late in the Evening. —

Novr.11.
Wednesday. — I dined in Town today at Major Gore's along with Colonel (– for he does not like yet to be called General –) Balfour and his Staff. — In the Evening the Colonel embarked on board the Intrepid and sailed for Bombay. — Major Gore and myself accompanied him to the Beach and saw him into his Boat. —

On the same Evening the Helen Country Ship, commanded by Capt. George Seton, anchored in Calicut Roads from Madras, bound direct for Bombay; and on which I have determined to procure a Passage for us to Bombay if possible, in consequence of having heard the most favourable accounts of Capt. Seton's character. — It being however too late to see him tonight, I shall not be able to know whether he can take us until tomorrow. — I did not return to Cantonments till late in the Evening, which I did along with Lieut. Shaw, who had also dined at Major Gore's. — My Jane was quite happy to find we were so soon likely to set out for Bombay in a good Ship. —

Novr. 12.
Thursday. — Immediately after Breakfast I rode in to Calicut to see Capt. Seton, whom I found on shore. — He very politely agreed at once to accommodate Mrs. Mc.Quarie and myself, and also my Brother George, with our Servants, with a Passage to Bombay; – and informed me that he should certainly sail from Calicut on Sunday the 15th. Instant, recommending us to be on early that day before the Sea Breeze sets in. — I returned to Cantonments immediately with these glad tidings to my beloved Jane, who was overjoyed to find I had succeeded in procuring a Passage, and that we were so soon to sail for Bombay. — We set about preparing according for our Voyage. —

Novr. 13.
Friday. — I was very busily employed all day settling the Accounts of the Regiment and closing them up to the 31st. of last month for Company's Allowances, and for King's Subsistence up to the 24th. of December next; wishing to give as little trouble as possible to my worthy friend Doctr. Anderson, who has kindly agreed to act for me as Paymaster during my absence.

Novr. 14.
Saturday. — I closed all my Regl. Accounts this forenoon, and delivered over charge of all the books and Papers to Doctor Anderson. —

We dined today with our worthy and best friend Doctor Anderson who insisted on giving my dearest Jane (his very great favorite [sic]) a parting and farewell Dinner. — He asked a large party of our Regimental friends to meet us for this occasion. — He also invited Capt. Seton of the Helen to dine with us, who accordingly made one of our Party, and we spent a most pleasant agreeable day. — My dear Mrs. M. being almost entirely recovered of her Cold, was in high Spirits and the best good humour –: which indeed, fortunately never forsakes her at any time – and which makes her Society not only much liked – but also greatly admired and courted. — She is a very great favorite with all the officers of the Regt. – and her departure – tho' but for a short time – is very much regretted by all of them – and certainly her absence will make a great blank in their Society. — She has still a little of her Cough remaining – but I trust the voyage to Bombay will entirely remove it. —

Novr. 15.
Sunday! — We got up very early, made all the necessary arrangements for the Security and Protection of our House Furniture and Baggage at Staffa Lodge, leaving every thing there in charge of our trusty Head Parsee Servant Bowmanjee; and at 7,O'Clock this morning we set out from our own House for the Town of Calicut, being accompanied thither by our Brother George Jarvis, and our friends Doctor Anderson and Lieut. Shaw. — We went direct to Major Gore's House, where he had an elegant Breakfast prepared for us – and several friends to meet us – vizt. Mr. & Mrs. Lewis – Col: Dow &c. &c.

After Breakfasting with Major Gore we proceeded, attended by him and all our friends, to the House of Doctor Moir situated close to the Beach, and from which it was agreed we should take our final departure as Doctor Moir himself was to be one of our fellow Passengers. — At the Doctor's House we found Capt. Seton waiting for us ready to escort my dear Mrs. M. in his own Boat on board the Helen. — We here took leave of all our good friends, and Mrs. M. embarked about half past Ten O'Clock. — I staid [sic] on shore till the Post came in to get some Letters I expected from Madras, which having received and answered, I embarked on board the Helen at half past 11,O'Clock, which weighed anchor and made sail immediately on my getting on board. — I found my dearest Jane in high spirits, and most genteely and comfortably accommodated, Capt. Seton having allotted us Half of his Round house – with a Quarter Gallery – which gave us ample room – and which we found very neatly furnished and conveniently arranged for our reception. — He had also allotted very good accommodation for our Brother George; who accompanies us to Bbay principally with a view of getting a Passage the easier from thence to Madras to rejoin his Regt., his leave of absence being now nearly expired. —

Besides our own little Party, the following Gentlemen were Passengers for Bbay on board the Helen vizt. – Doctr. Moir, Lieut. Ritzo 75th. Lt. Dobson Marine, Lieut. Maxwell Nat: Infy., and Mr. Drysdale Free Mariner. — Mr. Basden was Chief Officer, and Mr. Learmonth was Second Officer on board the Helen.

Novr. 16.
Monday. — We find Capt. Seton a most warm kind hearted friendly man, and extremely polite and attentive to us. We have a very good Table, and our Society is a very pleasant one; to which the good sense, good humour, and good nature of Doctr. Moir, contributes not a little. — The weather at this time of year on the Malabar Coast is extremely fine and temperate; and the sea air seems to agree very well with my dearest Jane, and whose Health, I trust, will greatly benefit from it. — Indeed I think it is even already improved; and we shall only have to regret that our Voyage will probably be too short from the great progress we have made in it during the last 24 Hours – the Wind being as fair as it can blow for us.

Novr. 22.
Sunday. — We have had most delightful fine weather since we left Calicut, and the Wind – tho' not blowing strong – has been fair the whole way. — We have met with no occurrence worth mentioning during the Voyage. — We are all very happy and comfortable; my dearest Jane is particularly so; and, thank God! finds her Health very much improved by the Voyage. — Her appetite is very good, she sleeps better than she did on shore, and her Cough is almost entirely gone. —

At Noon today we met 4 Pattamar Boats from Bbay to Calicut with several Passengers on board. — Capt. Griffiths of the Artillery and Lieut. Moncrieff of the Engineers were among them. — They came on board to see us, and I wrote Letters by them to Doctor Anderson and Lieut. Shaw. —

Novr. 23.
Monday! — Arrived and Anchored in Bombay Harbour at 9,O'Clock at Night; and it being rather too late to go on shore, we have determined to remain on board all night. — We however have written on shore to our friends Mr. John Forbes – and Major and Mrs. Oakes to announce to them our arrival and informing the latter that we shall be on shore to Breakfast with them tomorrow morning. —

Novr. 24.
Tuesday. — Previous to our quitting the Helen early this morning I wrote a Note to Capt. Seton – thanking him for his civilities and kind attentions to us, and enclosing him a Draft of Three Hundred Rupees for our Passage. — This he returned with a very polite and friendly Note – declaring that he would not – nor never meant to take a single farthing for our Passage –; being pleased to add that he was amply paid by the gratification he had had in the honor and pleasure of our Company and agreeable acquaintance – and requesting to be considered henceforth amongst the number of our friends, – which we most readily acquiesce in. —

At 8,O'Clock in the morning we quitted the Helen and went on shore along with Capt. Seton in his own Boat, landing at the Dock–Pier–Head; where we found our friend Major Oakes waiting to receive us and conduct us to his House. — He had brought Mrs. Oakes's Palanquin to carry my dear Mrs. M. — On our way to Major Oakes's, we called on our good worthy friend Mr. John Forbes, whom we were very sorry to find indisposed and confined to the House. — He was however very glad to see us, and giving a most kind pressing invitation to our Brother George to take a Room in his House and live with him as long as he remained in Bombay. — After staying for about a quarter of an Hour with Mr. Forbes, we proceeded to Major Oakes's House, where we found our amiable good friend Mrs. Oakes ready at the Breakfast Table with open arms to receive and welcome us to her hospitable mansion – and where we accordingly take up our Quarters. — As soon as we had Breakfasted I went to wait on Colonel Balfour – now Commanding the Forces – to report my arrival from Malabar. — I afterwards visited a number of other friends in Bombay. —

Novr. 28.
Saturday. — The General Court Martial for the Trial of Captain Mc.Kenzie of the 75th. Regt., and to which I have been summoned up to the Presidency to give Evidence, assembled and met this day for the first time.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No.3: 29 December 1794 – 27 September 1799.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A769 pp.93–114 [Microfilm Reel: CY299 Frames #434–445].