July

July 2.
Tuesday! [sic: Friday] — After a very pleasant quick Passage of not quite 13 days from Mocha Roads, we anchored this day at Noon in Bombay Harbour, and were immediately placed under strict Quarantine by the Board of Health recently established at Bombay in order to prevent the possibility of the introduction of the Plague from any of the Troops or Followers now arrived from Egypt. — The Lowjee Family and Jehangheir Transports from Mocha arrived only about half an hour before us, and were also put in quarantine, and no Boats are for the present suffered to come near us on any account ! — Some of our Friends, however, have had the charity to come off in their boats to hail us at a respectable distance to enquire how we are, but dare not venture to come along side of us. — We learn from them that Governor Duncan is still in the Guzerat, whither he had proceeded some months since to adjust some Political Disputes subsisting there at present between our lately acquired ally the Guickawar [?] Rajah and his Subjects. —

Mr. Rivett Carnac is at present the Acting Governor at Bombay, but lays dangerously ill. —

An Embassy from the King of Persia to the Supreme Government of India has lately arrived at Bombay on its way to Bengal, and the Ambassador is now waiting here for the return of Govr. Duncan to the Presidency from Guzerat. —The Scaleby-Castle Country Ship sailed this day at 3, O'Clock for England, but I had not an opportunity of writing Home by her to any of my friends. —

I wrote a short Letter to Governor Duncan announcing to him my arrival at Bombay and enclosing him Genl. Baird's Dispatches, with which he had entrusted me. —

July 3.
Saturday. — Several Friends and acquaintances came off this morning in their Boats to hail us at a distance and to enquire after our healths. — They flatter us with the hope of being released from Quarantine in a couple of days more. —

At 1. P.M. The Sheerness Man of War and Hercules Transport, with the 86th. Regt. on board, anchored in the Harbour, and were immediately placed under Quarantine. —

July 4.
Sunday! — At 5, O'Clock this Evening, the Board of Health released the William, Sheerness, & Hercules from quarantine, on being convinced that we were all free from Infection leaving us at liberty to disembark tomorrow. — The Lowjee Family and Jehanghier Transports having the Sepoy Troops on board, are however still kept in quarantine on account of the Native Troops having had many Plague cases amongst them some little time previous to their leaving Egypt. —

July 5.
Monday! — I landed at Bombay at Ten O'Clock this day, and took up my residence once more at the Government House – where I found my old friend Mr. Jas. Augs. Grant the Governor's Private Secretary, who had been prevented by sickness from accompanying the Governor to the Northward. —

I spent the whole of this day in calling on and visiting all my old Bombay Friends, and was happy to find them all well; particularly my much esteemed and dear good friend Doctor Colin Anderson – who had lately returned from the Northward on leave of absence from his Regt. (the 75th.) and is now living at his own old House on Colabah. —

July 15.
Thursday! — Having brought three fine Egyptian Horses with me from Egypt, I this day made Presents of two of them to my much esteemed Friends Doctor Colin Anderson and Charles Forbes Esqr.; both of whom are highly pleased and gratified with this mark of attention.

July 16.
Friday! — Mr. Rivett Carnac the Acting Governor died this Evening universally regretted by all the Settlement, leaving his amiable Wife and Family in the deepest distress. —

July 17.
Saturday. — The Remains of the late Mr. Rivett Carnac, Senior Member of Council and Acting Governor of Bombay, were interred with Military Honors within the Church. —

July 20.
Tuesday!!! — A most melancholy and unfortunate incident occurred this afternoon between the Hours of 4 and 5, O'Clock at the Country Residence of the Persian Ambassador Hadjee Khaleel Khan. An affray and violent dispute having taken place between the People composing the Ambassador's Retinue, and the Sepoy Guard of Honor Posted over him, which consisted of Two Flank companies of Bengal Volunteer Sepoys commanded by Capt. Rutledge, the latter took to their Arms and fired upon the Persians, killing and wounding a great many of them before their officers could put a stop to the tumult. — In the midst of which the Ambassador himself, having come out of his House in hopes of quelling it by his Presence, was most unfortunately mortally wounded by a Musquet Ball through the Breast and expired a few minutes afterwards in the arms of his Nephew, a very fine young man, who was also severely wounded in several places. —

It yet remains a doubt who were the real and first aggressors on this unhappy occasion; – but it would appear that the Sepoys were principally to blame, and received very little Provocation from the poor Persians to justify their proceeding to such cruel and unwarranted violence against those whom they were bound to [to] guard and protect from every kind of insult. — This is a most serious affair, and may have very serious consequences. —

July 24.
Saturday! — The Chiffone Frigate commanded by Capt. Stuart, sailed this morning for Calcutta with the accounts of the death of the Persian Ambassador.

Mr. Cherry the Acting Governor was particularly desirous to send me with the official accounts of this unfortunate affair to Marquis Wellesley the Governor General of India, and I accordingly prepared to embark on the Chiffone at a moment's notice.

I was however prevented from going by Genl. Nicholson the Commanding officer of the Forces, who represented to the Acting Governor that I could not be spared from the Command of the 86th. Regiment at present, and likewise on account of my being a Member of the Board of Field Officers now assembled to investigate the affair of the unfortunate Tumult on the 20th. Instant. —

July 31.
Saturday. — Mr. Cherry the Acting Governor again expressed a wish to send me to Bengal with the Proceedings of the Board of Field Officers, which were this day closed, but which I declined as, my going would interfere with my returning to Europe by the Ships of the ensuing Season. — Mr. Cherry made the same offer to Colonel Murray, who accepted of this mission and was sent accordingly.

Source
MACQUARIE, Lachlan Journal No. 5
[12 September 1801 - 14 July 1804]
Original held in Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A770 pp. 73-84 [CY Reel 300 Frames #93-99].

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