September

Septr. 1.
Tuesday. — The Detachment marched at 5,O'Clock this morning. — At the distance of one mile cross the Cottyhoolie River; four miles further on cross the Cherapilly; and two miles from thence we crossed the Verapilly River. — At 11.A.M. The Detachment halted at a Village called Chunganar on the East bank of the Cochin River, after a march of 16 miles from the Ground we left this morning. — Here the men cooked and took their Dinners, and refreshed themselves till the Evening under the shades of large Trees that grow all along this beautiful River and adjacent Ground. —

Col: Petrie having issued the necessary orders to that effect, and every proper arrangement being previously made for that purpose, The Detachment crossed the Cochin River under cover of the night, in Jangars and such other Boats as could be procured, into the Island of Cochin, in four separate Divisions –; the 1st. being commanded by Capt. Whitelocke, the 2d. by Capt. Gray, the 3d. by me, and the 4th. by Capt. Mc.Donald. —

The 1st. Division Embarked and began crossing from Chunganar at ½ past 8,O'Clock at Night; but the Boats having to make several Trips, the last Division did not get across the River till 3,O'Clock the next morning.

The Detachment halted and took up a strong Position on the Island of Cochin, near the Bank of the River, at the Village of Paloorty, distant about 2 ½ miles from the Town and Fortress of Cochin. —

Septr. 2.
Wednesday. — A Halting Day: – nothing material occurred, the Enemy not having ventured out to molest us in the least tho' so near us.

Septr. 3.
Thursday. — Colonel Petrie attended by his Staff and the Engineer went out this morning to Reconnoitre the Enemy's Position, Fortress of Cochin, and the different Roads leading to it from our present Ground of Encampment. — I had the honor to be appointed to command the Escort that accompanied the Colonel consisting of Two Companies of the 77th. and Two Companies of Grenadier Sepoys. — We set out at 5,O'Clock in the morning, and returned about 11,O'Clock after a very pleasant Excursion through the Country immediately lying between us and the Town and Fortress of Cochin, within a very short distance of which we passed having gone out by the Western Road and returned by the Eastern one through the Pettah or Town Muttoncherry, principally Inhabited by Jews. — This Town is within less than half a mile of the Walls of Cochin. —

Septr. 4.
Friday. — The Detachment struck Tents at Day–break this morning and marched from Paloorty to take up a new Position previous to our commencing the regular Siege of Cochin; which is now inevitable from the Dutch Governor's Mr. Van Spall having positively refused to admit a British Garrison to take Possession of it in the name of the Prince of Orange, agreeably to the Terms and alternative proposed to him by the orders of the Bbay Government in consequence of Instructions they have lately received from Home for taking Possession of the different Dutch Settlements in India, in order to prevent their being seized on by the French. — The British Detachment accordingly took up a new Position within about 2000 Yards of Cochin Fort; with our left touching the Sea on the West, and our Right extending to near the Town of Muttoncherry on the East, and almost across the neck of land on which the Fortress of Cochin is situated. — Colonel Petrie had, previous to our marching from thence, established a Post on the Island of Vypeen on the Southern Point of it immediately opposite to Cochin Fort, and divided only from it by the Cochin River, which is only there about four Hundred Yards broad. — The Troops left at this Post consisted of the Two Flank Companies of the Bombay European Regiment, and Capt. Anderson's Battalion of Sepoys, under the command of Major Wiseman, a very steady good officer. —

Septr. 5.
Saturday. — At 6:OClock this morning Capt. Whitelocke in command of a Detachment of 120 men was sent to take possession of and occupy the Town of Muttoncherry until further orders, with one Six Pounder attached to him. — Governor Van Spall was again summoned for the last time to surrender previous to our Breaking Ground and commencing our operations against the Fortress of Cochin; the Dutch Governor requested to be allowed one day to consider of this proposal; which was granted him by Colonel Petrie. —

Septr. 6.
Sunday. — Mr. Stevens, Supravisor of the Province of Malabar, and his Secretary Mr. Richards, arrived this day in Camp. — In the Evening these two Gentlemen, accompanied by Colonel Petrie, went into Cochin Fort at the particular request of the Dutch Governor to have an interview and conference with him previous to the commencement of Hostilities.

They staid [sic] with him for some hours but returned again to Camp without anything decisive being agreed upon, the Dutch Governor having promised to give a definitive answer on the following day. —

Septr. 7.
Monday. — I am "Captain of the Day", and consequently in command and charge of all the Camp Guards & Piquets. —

I dined with Colonel Petrie in company with Mr. Stevens & Mr. Richards

In the Evening Govr. Van Spall sent in to Col: Petrie and Mr. Stevens an equivocal and evasive answer, requesting another day to consider of the Proposals made him yesterday, which is granted. — Mr. Stevens and Mr. Richards left Camp this Evening. —

Septr. 8.
Tuesday. — Governor Van Spall sent in another evasive answer this morning to Colonel Petrie, of which the latter took no notice. —

This being the anniversary of my happy Wedding Day, having been united with my beloved Jane this day two Years, I invited my dear good friend Doctr. Anderson Capt. Grant and Lieut. Lawrence to dine with our Mess in honor of the Day – which we spent most jovially and pleasantly, drinking the health of my dearest Jane in many overflowing Bumpers. —

By this day's Tappal or Post from Madras, we received a most unwelcome and very unpleasant piece of news – which the officers of the 77th. Regt. most sincerely regret – namely: that His Majesty has not been pleased to confirm the appointment of Brevet Lt. Colonel Petrie to the Majority of the 77th., to which he had been some time since nominated by Sir Robert Abercromby the Commander in Chief in India, in room of Major Stirling Promoted to the Lt. Colonelcy of the 74th. Regt.; but that Capt. Whitelocke (our eldest Capt.) has succeeded to the Majority from interest made for him by his friends at Home. — This news however is not yet received officially which induce us to hope it may still be so arranged at Home as to admit of Colonel Petrie continuing our Major and Commanding officer. — At all events many months must elapse before the official intelligence can come to hand to remove him. —

Septr. 9.
Wednesday. — Govr. Van Spall has at length sent in to Col: Petrie a pretty clear and decisive answer to the proposals lately made him, by which it appears that he is positively determined not to admit a British Garrison into Cochin – but on the contrary to defend it to the last extremity.

Septr. 10.
Thursday. — Nothing extraordinary occurred.

Septr. 11.
Friday. — I am Capt. of the Day; and the Camp Guards and Piquets are increased. I wrote Letters of this date to my friends at Home to go by way of Madras by Ships that are about to sail soon from thence for England. — I have written to inform my Uncle Lochbuy that I have lately applied to the Comr. in Chief in India Sir Robert Abercromby for Commissions for my eldest Nephew Murdoch Maclaine (my Sister Betty's son), and for Hector Macquarie, one of my poor old relation Mc.Quarie's youngest sons; and Sir Robert having been kindly pleased to promise to give Ensigncies to these two young men, I have requested that they may be held in readiness to come out to join their Regiments in India as soon as they appear Gazetted at Home.

Septr. 12.
Saturday. — Nothing extraordinary occurred.

Septr. 13.
Sunday. — I had the happiness of receiving a great many Letters from England for my dearest Jane and myself giving us very pleasant satisfactory accounts of all our Friends at Home.

I sent Mrs. M. her Letters immediately, some of which announce that our good amiable Sister Mrs. Morley has executed all our Commissions in England, and that she has sent out by the Ships of the present Season to Bombay our Carriage, Plate &c. &c. which we commissioned by her when she went Home 1794. — There being however no prospect now of our returning to reside permanently at Bombay for some time to come, my dearest Jane and myself have come to the resolution to order our Chariot to be sold immediately to the best advantage by our friend and Agent Mr. John Forbes at Bombay. —

My beloved Jane and myself keep up a most regular and punctual Correspondence by Letters not a day passing without our having the felicity of hearing from one another.

Septr. 14.
Monday. — Nothing extraordinary occurred.

Septr. 15.
Tuesday. — The Ship expected for some time past from Bombay, with Battering Guns and Stores for the Siege, is at length arrived this day off the Island of Vypeen, and will disembark them in the Hyacottah River, from which they will be transported to our Camp and the Post at Vypeen Point.

Septr. 16.
Wednesday. — Nothing extraordinary occurred.

I this day paid off and discharged all my supernumery [sic] and unnecessary Servants, Coolies and followers, giving them all a full months wages in advance to carry them Home to their Families. —

Septr. 17.
Thursday. — Nothing extraordinary occurred.

Septr. 18.
Friday. — I this day received Letters from my dearest Jane expressing a most earnest wish to come down directly by Land (– now that the monsoon has subsided and admits of Travelling –) to see me here and live with me for some few days in Camp. — I wrote to her immediately in reply entreating of her to drop every idea of this kind, and to remain where she now is until I can join her; which I have promised to do the moment the Siege is over – and which I have stated will probably be in about a Fortnight hence. — In this she has acquiesced. —

Septr. 19.
Saturday. — Nothing extraordinary occurred.

Septr. 20.
Sunday. — Do. — Do.

Septr. 21.
Monday. — I marched this morning at Day break in command of a Detachmt. of 3 Subalterns and 120 men from the 77th. Grenadier Battn. to Relieve the Post at Muttoncherry – which has lately been advanced to within 500 Yards of the enemy's Walls. — I arrived with my Detachment (having to march about three miles thither from Camp) at Muttoncherry at Six OClock, and Relieved Capt. Gray who commanded the Detachment there, and with whom I visited the Day Sentinels and different avenues and Roads leading to the Post. — This is a four days command, and my Detachment is composed of most excellent officers and men. — Lieuts. Morris (Grenadr. Battn.) Mc.Kenzie and Mc.Intosh (of the 77th.) are my Subalterns. — At night I was visited by Lieut. George Gordon the Depy. Commissary of Stores, who had come over from our Post on Vypeen Point, and staid [sic] with us at Muttoncherry all this Night. —

Nothing of any consequence occurred during my four Days Command at Muttoncherry. — The Detachment were very alert and attentive to their Duty, and had good Quarters. — The Subaltern officers and myself took up our residence in the House of Mr. Wrede, a man of considerable Property in Cochin, but attached to the Stadholder and English Government, and resides at Muttoncherry. —

Septr. 25.
Friday. — I was relieved early this morning by Capt. Grant and an equal number of officers and men; and returned to Camp with my Detachmt., where I arrived at 9,O'Clock and made my Report to Colonel Petrie.

Septr. 26.
Saturday. — The Royal Charlotte Country Ship, with Guns and Stores, arrived and anchored this day in the Roads from Bombay. —

Septr. 27.
Sunday. — I this day received Letters from Bombay – by which I find I am very soon to be ordered up thither as an Evidence at a Court Martial to be held there on Capt. Geo. Mc.Kenzie of the 75th. Regt. on charges preferred against him by Capt. Davie of the same Regiment. — I am called upon by Capt. Mc.Kenzie to disprove some of Capt. Davie's charges that fell under my observation in my official Capacity as Major of Brigade to the King's Troops at Bombay and connected with Capt. Davie's having obtained Leave of absence to return to Europe in a Surreptitious manner from Colonel Howson then Commanding the Forces at Bombay. —

Septr. 28.
Monday. — The Guns & Stores arrived on the Charlotte were yesterday and this landed from her, and were brought into Camp. —

Septr. 29.
Tuesday. — Colonel Petrie went over this day to visit the Post at Vypeen and to hasten the preparations there, now that the Guns & Stores are arrived. —

Septr. 30.
Wednesday. — Colonel Petrie returned from Vypeen, and is well pleased with the state of forwardness of that Post. —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No.3: 29 December 1794 – 27 September 1799.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A769 pp.41–61 [Microfilm Reel: CY299 Frames #408–418].