August

Augt. 1. Thursday!
-- We crossed the Line again this afternoon, in East Longd. 48° 21' - and are now once more in North Latitude, making good progress.

Augt. 6. Tuesday!
-- At 8 OClock this morning the Greyhound Frigate parted company with us in what is called "The Nine Degree Channel" - steering directly for Madras - and leaving us to proceed direct for Bombay. -- Capt. Landon as the senior Captain became our Commodore on the Greyhound's departure, and accordingly as such took the charge and direction of the Bombay Division of Ships. -- At Noon we were in Latd. 8° 20' North and in East Longd. 59° 40'; and making rapid progress in our Voyage.

Augt. 11. Sunday!!!
-- At 1,O'Clock P.M. the Highland of Chowle a little to the Southward of Bombay, and soon afterwards the Islands of Hanary and Kanury were distinctly seen from the Deck. -- At 2 P.M. the Bombay Light-House was also clearly seen from the Deck distant about 25 miles ! -- We then stood in under an easy sail direct for the Land, and the Four Ships anchored safely in Bombay Harbour at 7,O'Clock in the Evening after a very pleasant and expeditious Passage of 3 months and 16 Days from England ! --

Being in very indifferent health, and also in exceeding low spirits on my arrival once more at a place where I had passed by far the happiest days of my whole life - a retrospect to which occasioned in my mind the most painful and mournful emotions and reflections on a most calamitous and irreparable event that can never be erased from my Heart; -- I felt little inclination to mix this Evening in the Society of any of my old Bombay Friends.

I therefore determined to stay and sleep this Night on board Ship, and accordingly wrote a Note by Mr. Shrapnell the Purser (-who was sent immediately on shore with the Company's Packet-) to my good Friends Governor Duncan, informing him of my arrival, and apologizing for not waiting on him this Evening.

Mr. Shrapnell returned on board about 9,O'clock at Night, and brought me a most kind invitation from my friend the governor to live with him during my residence at Bombay, and informing me that a Room in the Government-House had been already prepared for my reception. -- The only news that Mr. Shrapnell brought us from the Shore, was, that Marquis Cornwallis in the Medusa Frigate had arrived from England at Madras on the 18th. of July - and had sailed agan from thence for Calcutta on the 23d. of the same month; - that the Mahratta War is necessarily suspended for the present on account of the Monsoon, but that it is expected to be renewed again after the Rains are over, that Genl. Lord Lake, with the Grand Army, is cantoned at Muttea [?] near Delhi; and that Major Genl. Jones, in command of the Bombay Field Army, is now Cantoned at Tonk [?] in the North West Quarter of Hindostan ready to cooperate with the Grand Army in the event of the War with the Mahrattas being renewed.

The 86th. Regt., to which I belong, I find forms a part of the Bombay Field Army, and also H.M. 65th. Regt.

My old much esteemed Corps the 77th. Regt., I am happy to find is at present stationed at Bombay, as is also the 78th. Regt. -- The 84th. Regt. is at Goa; and Lieut. Genl. Nicolls still remains as Commanding Officer of the forces at Bombay. -- This is all the News Mr. Shrapnell brought off to us. --

Augt. 12. Monday!
-- Lieut. Colonel Skinner Commanding the 56th. Regt. came on board to Breakfast with us this morning. -- At 10,O'Clock Capt. Landon, Lt. Colonel Skinner, and myself, took leave of our friends remaining on board the City of London, and landed immediately afterwards at Bombay. I had the pleasure of meeting my Nephew Lieut. Hugh Maclaine of the 77th., and my Cousin Lieut. Lachn. McQuarie of the 86th. Regt. waiting to receive me at the Dock-Pier-Head on my coming on shore. -- We all walked together direct to the Government-House where my much esteemed and highly respected good friend Governor Duncan received and welcomed me in the kindest and most affectionate manner possible, conducting me himself immediately to one of the most elegant Rooms in the House already fitted up for my reception, and in which he kindly insisted on my taking up my abode as long as I might find it either convenient or agreeable to remain at Bombay. -- I made my best acknowledgements to the Governor, and most readily accepted of his very friendly and hospitable invitation.

Having delivered my Letters to Mr. Duncan, and introduced both Capt. Landon and Colonel Skinner to him, I took my leave for the present, and then accompanied these two Gentlemen to wait on the three Members of Council, namely, Lt. Genl. Nicolls, Mr. Corkran, [?] and Mr. Lechmere - all of whom we found at Home. -- After parting with Capt. Landon and Colonel Skinner, I called on my Niece Mrs. Macquarie, Mr. & Mrs. Forbes, Mrs. Nesbitt, and many other old friends in Bombay - who were all very happy to see me here again.

I dined with the Governor at Mr. Leckie's; and in the Evening accompanied him to a Ball & Supper given by Colonel Colman and Brigade Major Mc.Lachlan at the Theatre, where I met most of all my Bombay Friends.

Augt. 13. Tuesday!
-- After Breakfast today I had a long and confidential conversation with my friend Governor Duncan respecting his Family at Home, his own Private affairs, and present and future Plans.

He assures me that he has resolved on resigning this Government and returning to England in January 1808 at farthest; that it is his intention to proceed then overland, and expressed his most earnest wish that I should accompany him Home by that Route if possible; that with this view, it was his wish and intention, if it was agreeable to me, to make such an arrangement as would admit of his re-appointing me to my former situation in his Family as his Military Secretary, as soon as he could make a suitable provision for Captain Marston, who at present holds that situation; at the same time expressing his sincere regret that he had it not in his power to give me some better and more lucative office.

I returned the Governor my most grateful acknowledgement for his very kind and flattering offer, and acquiesced most cheerfully and readily in his wishes of my once more making one of his Family, as soon as the present approaching Mahratta War should be over. -- I also readily agreed to accompany him Home overland in Jany. 1808 in the event of his going at that time providing I could possibly procure Leave of absence from my Duty in this Country so soon, which I doubted not I should be able to effect, since it was not my wish to remain longer in India than the period he had mentioned; and that indeed it was my most anxious wish not to prolong my stay in India beyond Jany. 1808 on any account.

In consequence of what passed in this conversation I now consider myself as bound in honor to accompany my friend Governor Duncan Home overland at the the time he has thus fixed for leaving India, in case I can possibly obtain leave to do so!

Augt. 16. Friday!
-- The Cuddy Passengers of the City of London gave this Day at the Bombay Tavern a very elegant Entertainment to Capt. Landon and the principal officers of that ship, as a testimony of our high esteem for them - and of the civility and attention we all experienced from them in the course of the Voyage from England.

We sat till a very late hour, and spent a jovial merry day. -- I sat as President, and as such was under a necessity of drinking more wine than was agreeable to me, in order to shew a good example. -- We all parted good friends and highly pleased with one-another. --

Augt. 18. Sunday!!!
-- This day immediately after Breakfast I visited the sacred Tomb containing the Remains of my late most beloved and best of wives, where I gave free vent to the sorrows and overflowings of my Heart, in which her adored and revered memory is still and ever will be deeply engraven! --

Augt. 21. Wednesday!
-- Accounts were received by this day's Post that Marquis Cornwallis had arrived at Calcutta, and assumed the Exercise of his functions as Governor General and Commander in Chief of British India, on the 30th. of July ! --

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 6 July 1804 - 16 March 1807.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A770 pp.243-256. [Microfilm Reel CY300 Frames #363-#370].