January

Jany. 1.
Saturday! — Being now about to take my departure from India for Europe, and reflecting on the uncertainty of Life as well as on the mutability of all Human Affairs; I have judged it necessary and proper, in justice to my Family and near Relations, to make my last Will and Testament; disposing of my Property between them, in such manner as to prevent all Disputes after my death. — I consider myself to be worth at this moment about Twenty Thousand Pounds in Lands and Money. I have made my Will in duplicate; leaving one copy with Charles Forbes Esqr. my Attorney at Bombay, and sending the other Home by the Earl St. Vincent Indiaman to my Brother Charles. — I have nominated my Brother Charles, and my much esteemed Friends, Doctor Colin Anderson and Charles Forbes Esqr. Executors to my Will. —

Jany. 2.
Sunday. — The Earl St. Vincent Indiaman sailed this day for England - but is to touch at and remain on the Malabar Coast till there joined by the Sir Edward Hughes; it being intended that they shall go home in Company.

Jany. 5.
Wednesday! — The time of my departure being now at hand, I this morning went through the form of sending in my Resignation of my appointment of Military Secretary to the Hon'ble The Governor; to which I received a most satisfactory and highly flattering reply from Mr. Duncan expressing his regret at being thus soon deprived of my Services; which he is so good as to say he will not fail to bring to the notice of the Court of Directors in the most favorable terms in his Public Letter to that Body — The Hon'ble The Governor, at my particular request and application was this day kindly pleased to appoint my Cousin Lieut. Lachlan Mc.Quarie of the 86th Regt. one of his Aides de Camp; which is doing me a very great honor and favor - and for which I feel most grateful. —

Mr. Duncan did me the honor to give me this day a farewell Dinner; and invited some of my most particular friends to meet me; namely, Mr. & Mrs. Forbes and my Niece Miss Wilkins, Capt. Mc.Intosh, and my Cousin Lieut. Mc.Quarie. —

All idea of the abolition of the Bombay Government being now entirely relinquished, my good and worthy friend Govr Duncan has resolved on prolonging his stay in India for four or five Years more!

Jany. 6.
Thursday! — After Breakfast I had a long and Confidential Conversation with my friend Governor Duncan respecting his own Family and his Private affairs at Home, which he wishes me to enquire particularly and report the result to him. — He gave me a number of Letters for all his Friends at Home, and also a number of little Presents for them; and having received his Instructions in writing on all these Points, and also his Public Dispatches, I took my leave of him preparatory to going on board; and I confess I felt not a little affected on talking leave of so good and kind a Friend; - having preciously taken leave of all my other particular Friends at Bombay. —

At 3,O'Clock this afternoon I embarked on board the Hon'ble Company's Ship The Sir Edward Hughes Indiaman Commanded by Capt. Jas. Urmston.

At 4.P.M. We Weighed anchor and made Sail out of the Harbour with a fine fair light Breeze: thus commencing our destined Voyage for Old England! —

Mr. Cherry, Genl. Jones, and a number of other Gentlemen came off with their Friends on board the Hughes, and took leave of us as we were Passing the Light House - which we did about half past 5,O'Clock.

I felt extremely low and melancholy in looking back at Bombay - where I had spent so happy - and by far the happiest period of my whole Life - and where all that Constituted that happiness lies now mouldering dust ! —

My mind was wrapt [sic] up in these mournful reflections as long as I could discern Bombay, and occasioned emotions that cannot be expressed - but which I must now endeavour to suppress. —

The following are the names of the principal officers of the Hughes Vizt..
1 James Urmston Esqr. — Commander
2 Mr. Patterson — Chief Officer
3 Mr. Bird — 2d. Officer
4 Mr. Maine — 3d. Do
5 Mr. Alsager — 4th Do
6 Mr. Huchins — 5th. Do
7 Mr. Wilson — 6th. Do
8 Mr. Murray — Surgeon
9 Mr. Greenslade— Purser
10 Mr. George Urmston — Midshipman.

The following Passengers Embarked on the Hughes for England, Vizt.- Mrs. & Miss Carnac, Colonel and Mrs. Gore, Mr. & Mrs. Smee, Mrs. Gray, Mr. & Mrs. Elphinston, Lt. Colonel Patrick, Major Heath, Capt. Duncan Campbell 88th. Regt., Lieuts. Brown and Taylor of the 75th.; and Masters Carnac, Rees, Powell, Cooper, and Waddington; Miss Kitty Reeves, 3 young Misses Carnac, young Miss Gray, and young Master Elphinston. — In all 28 Cabin Passengers, including Children; all of whom lived with the Captain at the Cuddy Table, excepting Lieuts. Brown & Taylor, who messed with the 3d. Officer Mr. Maine. —

Our Dinner Hour is 4 — Supper Hour 9 — and Breakfast Hour 8. —

Jany. 13.
Thursday. — We have had very light Winds coming down the Coast since we left Bombay, consequently have made but slow progress in our Voyage as yet. — At 8,O'Clock this morning we anchored in Tellicherry Roads.

In the course of the day Mr. & Mrs. Torin and Mr. & Mrs. Bell came off to see Mrs. Carnac and their other Friends on board the Hughes. —

Jany. 14.
Friday. — At Half past 3,O'Clock this afternoon, we weighed anchor again and sailed for Calicut. —

Jany. 15.
Saturday. — At 1,O'Clock this morning we anchored in Calicut Roads, where we found the Earl St. Vincent Indiaman ready waiting for us. —

Immediately after Breakfast this morning, Capt. Urmston and myself went on board the Earl St. Vincent to wait on Lady Syer, and Major and Mrs. Wilson, who are Passengers on board of that Ship; as are also Mr. and Mrs. Soper &c. &c. from Bombay for England. — We staid [sic] with them for about an hour and then returned again on board the Hughes. —

In the afternoon Mr. Strachey, Capt. Corsellis, and several other Gentlemen came off from Calicut to see their Friends on board the Hughes, and remained with us till late in the Evening. —

Jany. 16.
Sunday! — The two Ships being now ready to take their final departure for England, we weighed anchor and sailed from Calicut Roads this Evening, with a very fine fair Breeze of Wind, at 7,O'Clock: the Earl St. Vincent Indiaman being in Company. —

Jany. 17.
Monday. — At Ten O'Clock this morning we were abreast of Cochin and in Sight of the Fort. — Adml. Rainier in the Centurion 50 Gun Ship, Passed close and spoke to us off Cochin, but did not give us an opportunity of sending Letters by him to Bombay, which was a great disappointment to us all. —

Jany. 24.
Monday! — We have had very fine weather and fair wind ever since we sailed for Calicut.

We crossed the Line today in East Longitude 79°-32', going at the rate of Four Knots. —

Source
MACQUARIE, Lachlan Journal No. 5 [12 September 1801 - 14 July 1804]
Original held in Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A770 pp. 106-112 [CY Reel 300 Frames #106-112].