October

Octr. 1.
Saturday! — I accompanied my sister in law Mrs. Scott, and my two little Nieces Maria and Hariet [sic] Morley in a Post Chaise to dine with Colonel, Mrs., and Miss Cook, at their pretty little Villa of "Caroline Mount" near the Village of Chinkford in Essex, about 12 miles from Town. — Mrs. Cook has long been indisposed, and was this day confined to her Bed very ill. — We however passed a most pleasant day with this very amiable Family, Miss Cook being a most highly accomplished and agreeable Girl.

After the Ladies retired after Dinner, I had a great deal of confidential – but frank conversation with Colonel Cook about himself and his Family, and in which the Old Gentleman completely unbosomed [sic] himself to me! —

We staid [sic] at Caroline Mount till late in the Evening – and then returned Home. —

A Brevet Promotion came out in this Night's Gazette – which makes my Brother Charles a Major in the Army.

Octr. 4.
Tuesday! — I this day made and sent Presents of elegant India Gold and silver, or very fine Plain Pieces of Muslins to my Sisters in law Mrs. Morley, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Thomas Jarvis, Mrs. George Jarvis (– all Gold & Silver Pieces given to those four –), Miss Jarvis, Miss Maria Morley – and Miss Harriet Morley; for which they were all most thankful.

My Sister Mrs. Scott set out this day on a visit to her Brother Mr. Thomas Jarvis at Laverstock in Hants.

Octr. 5.
Wedy. — The Earl of Harrington Inspected the Somerset Place Regt. of Volr. Infy. Commanded by Colonel Tierney this morning at 8,O'Clock in Somerset Place.

After the Review His Lordship and Suite Breakfasted with Sir Andw. Snap Hummond the Lt. Colonel of the Corps at his House in Somerset Place. — At 10,O'Clock the same day Lord Harrington Inspected the Prince of Wales's Regt. of Volr. Infy. Commanded by Colonel Miles Peter Andrews, in the Green Park. — The Colonel not being present, the Regt. was Commanded and Exercised by the Lieut. Colonel Sir Walter Stirling Bart.

Octr. 6
Thursday. — Lord Harrington Inspected the Southwark Troop Yeomanry Cavalry commanded by Capt. Collingdon on Kennington Common in Surrey at 5,O'Clock this Evening. — the weather was very cold and bleak. — I dined afterwards with His Lordship and Family. —

Octr. 7.
Friday! — General Cavert the Adjt. General of the Forces was so kind as to promise me today to get H.R. Highness the Comr. in Chief to place my Brother in law Capt. Jarvis of the 36th. Regt. on the Staff in Great Britain as Major of Brigade, providing he could obtain His Comg. Officer's leave to be absent from the Regt. – which is now in Ireland; and finding that Lord Cathcart is just about proceeding to Ireland immediately as Comr. in Chief, I have taken the liberty of speaking to His Lordship about George Jarvis, and begged of him to give his Sanction to his being allowed to quit Ireland and come to England to accept of the appointment in question – which His Lordship was so good as to promise to do in case he could be spared from the Duty of the Regiment.

I wrote to George Jarvis by this Day's Post to Ireland to give him the good news! —

Octr. 8.
Saty. — I dined today with Capt. & Mrs. Shaw.

Octr. 9.
Sundy. — I dined wt. Mr. & Mrs. Macdonald.

Octr. 10.
Monday. — I dined wt. Col. & Mrs. Cliffe.

Octr. 23.
Sunday! — I dined this day with Mr. & Mrs. Keirnan at their House in South Lambeth. —

I went in the Evening, by Special Invitation, to Lady Harrington's Party & Concert at her Ladyship's House, where I had the honor of meeting the Prince of Wales and the French Princes.

Octr. 24.
Monday. — I dined today with the Honble. Colonel Eden and the Officers of his Corps at the Thatched House Tavern, it being an Entertainment given by them to the Earl of Harrington and his Staff.

Octr. 26.
Wednesday!!! — The King at 10,O'Clock this morning, attended by the Queen and the whole of the Royal Family, Reviewed the 1st. Division of the London Volunteers, consisting of all the City Corps and others Situated East of Temple-Bar, amounting to Twelve Thousand four Hundred Men under Arms. — They were drawn up in three sides of a Square; the Right of the Line being on Bugden-hill (or Deer Park) – and the Left of it extending to the south side of the Serpentine River in Hyde Park. — This was a most noble, grand, and animating Spectacle. — The King and all the Branches of the Royal Family appeared highly gratified with the glorious and pleasing sight before them. — The whole of Hyde Park was as full of People as it could hold – but without noise or Tumult. — The Ground was kept exceedingly well indeed by the Life and Foot Guards, the 13th. Lt. Dragoons, and Surrey Yeomanry Cavalry. — His Royal Highness the Comr. in Chief Commanded the Line in Person, assisted by the Earl of Harrington as Commanding the District. — They both, with their respective Staff and Suites, received and Saluted His Majesty at the head of the Line – and afterwards preceded the King when he went in Grand Procession along the whole Line from right to Left. — The Review was not over till about 1.O'Clock, when the different Corps marched Home; highly delighted with the Sight, and flattering notice of their beloved Monarch.

Octr. 27.
Thursday! — I dined this day with Colonel Kensington at his very beautiful Villa at Putney, where he gave an elegant Entertainment to a large Party of Friends. —

Octr. 28.
Friday!!! — The King Reviewed the 2d. Division of the London Volunteers, consisting of all the Corps situated West of Temple-Bar, at 10,O'Clock this morning in Hyde Park, on the same Ground, and drawn up in the same order there as the 1st Division were on the 27th. Inst.; and the same Ceremony exactly was observed as on that day. — The Strength of the Division Reviewed this day was Fourteen Thousand Seven Hundred Men under Arms; there being upwards of 27,000 Men in the two Divisions. — The Day was unusually dark and foggy both before and immediately after the Review; but at 10,O'Clock as the King arrived on the Ground, it cleared up and remained for 3 Hours during the whole of the Review. — It was so excessively dark and the Fog was so thick at 9,O'Clock in the morning, that I lost my way in the Park two or three times, looking for the 13th. Regt. of Light Dragoons, in order to Station that Corps in proper Places to keep the Ground. —

This day's Spectacular was still a grander Sight than that on the 26th.; the Corps being finer ones, more numerous, and most of them Commanded by Noblemen or Men of very high Rank in Life. —

Source
MACQUARIE, Lachlan Journal No. 5 [12 September 1801 - 14 July 1804]
Original held in Mitchell Library, Sydney. ML Ref: A770 pp. 268-278 [CY Reel 300 Frames #191-196].