March

Mar: 1.
Tuesday. — Nothing Extraordinary. —

Mar: 2.
Wednesday. — do. — do.

Mar: 3.
Thursday. — do. — do.

Mar: 4.
Friday. — do. — do.

Mar: 5.
Saturday. — do. — do.

Mar: 6.
Sunday. — do. — do. —

I went to Church with Mr. Fretz. —

Mar: 7.
Monday. — I wrote to my dear Mrs. M. who I find is now living with Colonel Kerr's Family at the Mount. —

I wrote also of this date to Colonel Stuart and Major Agnew reporting my Proceedings at Point de Galle. —

Mar: 8.
Tuesday. — Nothing Extraordinary. —

Mar: 9.
Wednesday. — do. — do.

Mar: 10.
Thursday. — do. — do.

Mar: 11.
Friday. — do. — do.

Mar: 12.
Saturday. — do. — do.

Mar: 13.
Sunday. — do. — do. —

I went to Church with Mr. Fretz. — I wrote Letters of this date to my dearest Jane - and Colonel Balfour, via Madras. —

Mar: 14.
Monday. — Nothing Extraordinary. — I wrote to Colonel Stuart of this date, transmitting him sundry Returns, and reporting to him several new arrangements I have lately made at Galle. —

Mar: 15.
Tuesday! — I received Letters this day from my friend Colonel Kerr at Bombay, by which I am grieved to find that my beloved wife has for some time back been in very delicate health. — This alarms me very much - and has induced me to write to Colonel Stuart to request that I may be relieved from my command here as soon as the nature of the Service will admit of it, as, Domestic Concerns of the utmost importance requires my going to Bombay as soon as possible. — I wrote at same time to my worthy friend Colonel Petrie explaining to him more fully my reasons for wishing to go to Bombay at this particular period. —

Mar: 16.
Wednesday. — Nothing Extraordinary. —

Mar: 17.
Thursday! — I received most pleasing and very flattering Letters today from Colonel Stuart, in which he expresses himself highly pleased with every part of my conduct during the period of my Command at Point de Galle - assuring me that he shall not fail to mention my name in the most favorable manner to the Commander in Chief in India, as well as to the Government of Madras, in his Dispatches to them on the affairs of Ceylon. —

Colonel Stuart has been kindly pleased to grant me leave to return to Columbo, as soon as Captain Bannerman arrives at Galle, to whom I am to deliver over charge in the mean time of the Garrison; but Colonel Stuart informs me at the same time that he has appointed Lieut. Colonel Bonniveau to the permanent command of Point de Galle, and that that officer is to set out from Columbo for this place in a few days. —

I had the pleasure of receiving very satisfactory Letters from my friend Lt. Col: Petrie also by this day's Post. I informed my worthy good old friend Mr. Fretz this afternoon that I was under the necessity of resigning the highly honorable and pleasant Command of Point de Galle, which the delicate state of my beloved wife's health at present Compelled to quit much sooner than I either wished or expected. — Mr. Fretz was very sensibly affected at this intelligence, and expressed his extreme and sincere regret at my going away; as, he and his Family could never expect to experience so much kindness and polite attention from any succeeding Commanding officer at Point de Galle. —

Mar: 18.
Friday. — I wrote Letters early this morning to my dear Mrs. M., and to my friends Capt. Dunlop, Capt. Mackenzie, and Capt. Wilson, to Bombay. — I sent these Letters off for Columbo by Express to go by the Drake Cruizer now under dispatch for Bombay.

Capt. Bannerman of the 9th. Battn. Madras Nat: Infy. arrived this Evening at Point de Galle from Columbo, and I delivered him over charge of the Garrison. —

I introduced Capt. Bannerman to Mr. Fretz, to whom I begged he would shew every little attention in his power and which he promised me to do. — I supped with Mr. Fretz and his Family this Night as usual, and took my leave of them all, as I was to set out for Columbo very early next morning.

Mr. Fretz and his Daughters offered up a thousand prayers for my health and welfare - and were much affected at my parting with them. —

Mar: 19.
Saturday! — I set out early this morning in my Palanquin, and 12 Bearers, for Columbo - and arrived there on Monday morning at 10,O'Clock. —

[Mar: 21.]
[Monday.] — I waited directly on Colonel Stuart who received me most kindly - and thanked me in very handsome terms for what he was pleased to call my very able and officer-like conduct and judicious arrangements during my Command at Point de Galle; which he had reported in the manner it deserved to the Commander in Chief in India Sir Robt. Abercromby - and also to Lord Hobart the Governor of Madras.

Colonel Stuart was pleased to add that he begged I would command his Services whenever I thought they could be of any use to me, as he would ever have great pleasure in giving me his interest and support on any occasion when they could be of real service to me. — He concluded by saying that he was very ready and desirous to appoint me to be Town Major of Columbo - if the appointment was acceptable to me; but he feared it would not, as perhaps my appointment of Major of Brigade to the King's Troops at Bombay would interfere with it, and he supposed I would not wish to relinquish the latter. — I replied that I was equally obliged to him for his kind intentions - but begged to decline the Town-majorship - since it certainly would be incompatible my holding both situations - and that I did not wish to relinquish the Brigade Majorship as long as I was only a Captain in the Army. — I then took my leave of Colonel Stuart, and went to call on Lieut. Colonel Petrie - whom I was happy to find had been lately appointed Commandant of Columbo. — After remaining a short time with Colonel Petrie I visited my friends of the 77th. - whom I was happy to find all well, and under orders to return in a few days once more to their old Quarters at Calicut on board of the Helen and Jane Transports, which are now preparing to receive them. —

I wrote by this day's Post to Bombay - via Madras - to my beloved Jane - telling her that I hoped to see her now very soon - as the Regt. was to leave Columbo in a few days. — I wrote at same time to my friend Major Oakes. —

I dined today with Colonel Stuart at Head Quarters. —

Mar: 22.
Tuesday! — The Ship Ewer sailed this day for Bombay. — Lieut. Shaw of the 77th. went Passenger on her - and I wrote by him to my dear Mrs. M. — I could have wished to go to Bombay direct by this opportunity - but it was not possible to do so, on account of my accounts as Paymaster being considerably in arrear - and which I have now to bring up and close previous to the Embarkation of the Regiment for Calicut. — I have therefore set about them with all possible diligence - and hope to be able to close them in a very few days after making the last Payments.

I dined today with Colonel Petrie, along with Dr. Anderson and other 77th. Friends. —

Mar: 23.
Wednesday. — I wrote by this day's Post - via Madras - to my dear Mrs. M.; enclosing my Letter to Capt. Dunlop Depy. Paymr. Genl. King's Troops at Bombay, to whom I wrote on business. — I dined today with Capt. Whitelocke and a number of 77th. friends. —

Mar: 24.
Thursday! — I am very busy settling and closing my accounts as Paymaster, with the Regiment - for King's Pay to 24th. April - and Company's Allowances up to 31st. Instant - the Right of the Regt. being ordered to Embark tomorrow. —

Mar: 25.
Friday! — The Right Wing of the 77th. Regt. - under the command of Capt. Whitelocke - Embarked this afternoon at 3,O'Clock on board the Helen Capt. Seton. — I paid and settled accounts with the officers and men of the Right Wing before they embarked. —

I dined at Col: Petrie's along with Capt. Whitelocke - Dr. Anderson - and several other officers of the 77th. Right Wing, after the men had Embarked. — I wrote Letters by Capt. Seton to my dear Mrs. M. - and also to Colonel Balfour and other friends at Bombay. — The Helen sailed about 7 OClock in the Evening for Calicut. —

In consequence of Capt. Gray of the 77th. having been lately appointed one of the Prize Agents for Columbo, and being therefore obliged to remain behind at Columbo to settle the Prize accounts, the command of the Left Wing of the 77th. Regiment now devolves on me, as the next Senior Captain to him in that Wing. —

Mar: 26.
Saturday. — I Paid and settled the accounts of the Left Wing of the 77th. this day - and they are now ready for Embarkation. —

Mar: 27.
Sunday. — The Ardazeer sailed this day for Calicut - and Bombay; I wrote by her to my dear Mrs. M. —

Mar: 28.
Monday. — I took a long walk early this morning through the Town of Columbo and along the Ramparts of the Forts to examine and look at the Works and noble fine Guns mounted on them. — men belonging to the 7th. Battn. Madras Native Infantry, Commanded by Capt. Bowzer, executed this day at Noon for Mutiny against their Officers. — The whole of the Troops were under arms on the occasion drawn up in 3 sides of a Square on the Exercising Ground near the Fort. — I commanded the Left of the 77th. Regt. on this awful occasion. — Lt. Col: Petrie, as the Commandant of the Garrison, commanded the whole of the Troops under Arms. —

I dined today with Colonel Petrie, who had a large Party at Dinner. —

Mar: 30.
Wednesday! — The Jane Transport commanded by Capt. Stewart, having been reported ready to receive the Troops, the Left Wing of the 77th. Regt. under my command Embarked on board of her at 4,O'Clock this afternoon. —

After having seen all the officers and men on board, I came on shore again at 5,O'Clock to dine with Colonel Stuart by invitation; the Tide and Land Wind not permitting us to sail till between 8 and 9,O'Clock at Night. — I found a large Company assembled to dine with Colonel Stuart, who was particularly attentive to me at Dinner - and once more renewed his offer of Service to me whenever required. — As soon as we had broke up from Table at Colonel Stuart's, and I had taken my leave of him, I called on my good worthy friend Lieut. Colonel Petrie, who had Captain Grant and several other officers of the Left Wing of the 77th. to dine with him. — I sat with him for near an Hour - and at half past 8,O'Clock, we took our leave of our much esteemed and beloved commanding officer and embarked on board the Jane; we were all very sensibly affected at parting with this most respectable and amiable man, more especially as we have little chance of ever serving under him again - the accounts of his not being confirmed as our Major having proved but too true. —

The Wind and Tide answering, we weighed anchor and sailed from Columbo Roads at Nine OClock at Night. —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 3: 29 December 1794 – 27 September 1799.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A769 pp.191–208. [Microfilm Reel CY Reel 299 Frames #484–493].