Letter

To Sir James Henry Craig,
10 February 1805

34. Duke Street, St. James's,
London 10th. Feby. 1805.

Sir,
Having lately received orders
from His Royal Highness The Commander
in Chief, through the Depy. Asst. General of the
Forces, to proceed to India by the Ships of the
ensuing Spring to join my Regiment there;
I take the liberty to report the same to you, and
to entreat that you will have the goodness to
Solicit His Royal Highness the Commander
in Chief to be graciously pleased to grant
me a renewal of my Leave of absence for
three months longer; or, until the last Ships
of the Season are despatched, which will probably
take place some time in May or beginning
of June next; having private concerns of the
utmost importance to my interest to arrange
and settle in this Country, which will necessarily
require the time mentioned; and my going
any sooner will be attended with infinite loss
and inconvenience to me. —

The Grounds on which I presume to
solicit this indulgence are the following,
namely: — that I have served no less than
Fifteen Years in India without ever having
been at Home, or for one day absent from my
Duty while there; — that I was compelled to quit
India at the time I did inconsequence of
extreme bad health, which was very much impaired
by so long a residence in that Country – and which
is still far from being re-established; – that
I have only been yet little, more than Eighteen
months at Home; – and that I have all
that time (– excepting two months leave I had to
go down to Scotland last Summer –) employed
on the Staff in this Country. —

In consideration of these circumstances,
I indulge a hope, His Royal Highness the
Commander in Chief will be graciously pleased
to grant me the Leave now Solicited; – at
the expiration of which I shall most cheerfully
and readily proceed to join my Regiment
in India. — Trusting you will have the
goodness to give your Sanction and Support
to this application, I remain with the
most respectful esteem and regard,
Sir, Your most obedient and
most faithful, hble Servt.

L. Macquarie Lt. Col:
Major 86th. Regt.

[To]
Lieut. Genl.
Sir Jas. Hy. Craig K.B.
Colonel 86th. Regt.
Colchester

Provenance
Copy of a letter sent: 'Lachlan Macquarie to Colonel James Henry Craig' 10 February 1805.
MACQUARIE, Lachlan. Letterbook 24 July 1804 - 15 May 1807.
Original held in Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A793 pp.18b-19a [Microfilm CY Reel 305 Frames #447-448].

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