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34. Duke Street, St. James's,
London 13th. Octr. 1804.
My dear Sir,
I only returned about Twenty days
ago from Scotland, where I had been for three months
on Leave of absence to see my friends and arrange
some Domestic Concerns. — I have again resumed
my Situation on the Staff as Asst. Adjt. Genl.
of the London District; His Royal Highness the
Commander in Chief having been pleased to grant
me a renewal of my leave of absence from India
for six months longer, of which circumstance
I think it my Duty to apprise you as my Colonel.
I have not received any Letters from any
of my Friends of the 86th. Regiment for a great while,
so that I know very little more of what state and
condition they are in than when I left them in Jany.
1803. — I lately however received a letter overland
from my friend Govr. Duncan of Bombay, in which
he mentions that the 86th. Regt. were about marching
from ther Guzeratt into Malwa to act against
Holkar with whom we are now at War. —
I have the pleasure to enclose
you herewith a Letter from your old American
acquaintance my poor old Chief and Cousin
Mc.Quarie of Mc.Quarie. — His Letter encloses
a Memorial to the Duke of York, which he hopes
you will have the kindness to give your Support
to, by recommending to the favourable consideration
of His Royal Highness the Commander in Chief.
The poor old Gentleman has very lately been
deprived by his merciless Creditors of a small
Remnant of his Estate, which had been spared him
when the principal Part was sold previous to his
going to America, and this reduces him now
to his base Half Pay as Lieutenant. —
Considering his very advanced period of Life
(being now Eighty two years of age) Mc.Quarie
is wonderfully stout and active, but still I fear
too old for ant active Employment. — The only
thing therefore that would suit him best would
be to place him upon Full Pay in one of the Royal
Veteran Battalions, and obtain him the King's
Leave to remain always absent. — Of this
there is a very recent instance in the case of Lieut.
Colonel Alexr. Stewart of the 42d. Regt., who lately
sold out, and was immediately afterwards appointed
Lieutenant in the manner I have already mentioned.
If this could possibly be obtained for poor old Mc.Quarie
through you kind good offices, it would really be
a great act of humanity, and would make him
very comfortable during the few remaining years
of his life, as well as confer a lasting obligation
upon both himself and me. —
I have the honor to be with great respect,
My dear Sir,
Your most obedt. and most
Faithful Humble Servt.
L. Macquarie.
[To]
Lieut. Genl.
Sir Jas. Hy. Craig
K.B.
Provenance
Copy of a letter sent: 'Lachlan Macquarie to Colonel James Henry Craig' 13 October 1804.
MACQUARIE, Lachlan. Letterbook 24 July 1804 - 15 May 1807.
Original held in Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A793 pp.8a-8b [Microfilm CY Reel 305 Frames #426-427].
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