January

Jany. 1.
Thursday! — I made my much esteemed friend Mr. Chas. Forbes of Bombay, a Present this morning of my elegant new Saddle & Bridle and Military Horse-Furniture, as a New Year's Gift and a small testimony of my friendship and regard.

The Governor entertained a Select Party of Ladies and Gentlemen this day at Dinner to celebrate New Year's day – which we all spent most pleasantly and sociably. — I hope however that this is the last New Year's Day I shall ever spend in Bombay! —

Jany. 5.
Monday! — This day's Post from Bengal brought some Promotions from the Comr. in Chief of His Majesty's Forces in India, which announce the Promotion of my Cousin Lieut. Mc.Quarie (the Governor's Aide-de-Camp) to a Company in the 86th. Regiment without Purchase – his Commission bearing date 1st. of last month. This young man has reason to reckon himself very fortunate in thus early succeeding to a Company without Purchase – having not yet served Six Years in India! —

Jany. 11.
Sunday! — This day anchored in the Harbour the Extra Indiaman Huddart from England, which she left on the 10th. of June last, having been thus 7 months on her Passage. — I have not had the good fortune to receive a single Letter from any of my friends at Home by this opportunity. —

Jany. 15.
Thursday! — I paid a mournful and most affecting visit this morning after Breakfast to my late beloved and Angelic wife's Tomb; this day completing the Tenth Year since her much honoured Remains were deposited there! — I have ordered the Iron Railing round the Tomb to be new Painted, the Mason work of the Tomb itself to be white-washed and the whole repaired where necessary, in the neatest manner, immediately –; in order that, I may have the melancholy pleasure of leaving my Angelic Jane's Tomb in the same elegant state it was originally, on my speedy approaching final departure from this Country. —

This forenoon the Wasp Cruizer arrived from Bussora, bringing an Overland Packet containing Letters and Newspapers down to the 5th. Septr. from England, and Continental ones to the 26th. of the same month. — A new Coalition of the Continental Powers of Prussia, Russia, Sweden and England had been just formed against the French and her upstart Emperor Bonaparte!

That great Statesman and Orator the Right Honble. Chas. Jas. Fox, Prime Minister of Great Britain, departed this Life on the 13th. of Septr. last! — Thus not surviving his great and glorious Predecessor Mr. Pitt above 8 months!!! —

By this opportunity I have received a Letter from my friend Mr. Manesty the British Resident at Bussora, in reply to a Letter I wrote him in Octr. last. — In this Letter Mr. Manesty gives very favourable and pleasing accounts of the safety and practicability of Travelling by that Route to England, and holds out every encouragement to me to adopt it. — I have accordingly resolved this very day to do so, and to set out from Bombay for Bussora by the ensuing March Packet.

Colonel Capper of the Madras Military Establishment, and Mr. Strachey of the Bengal Civil Service, have arrived here on the Wasp from England – having come overland through Russia, Georgia, and Persia!!! —

Jany. 16.
Friday! — I acquainted my friend Govr. Duncan this morning that I had resolved on proceeding home Overland; and that it was my intention to leave for Bussora in the March Packet providing it met with his approbation – which I was happy to find it did.

I wrote of this date overland to my beloved Elizabeth to inform her of the above resolution – and that I hoped to have the happiness of seeing her in England in all July next. —

I also wrote to Mr. Manesty of this date to inform him of my intentions. —

Jany. 22.
Thursday! — I wrote by this day's Post to Calcutta, to report to the Right Honble. General Lord Lake Comr. in Chief in India, my intention of going home overland in March next by way of Bussora & Constantinople, and signifying that I shall be happy to take charge of any Public Dispatches or Private Letters for England that His Lordship may be pleased to honor me with at the time of my departure.

I wrote likewise of this date to Lt. Col: Sir Wm. Keir Adjt. Genl. King's Troops, and to Capt. Harvey A.D.C. to Lord Lake, at Calcutta to inform them also that I am going home overland.

Source
Lachlan Macquarie. Journal No. 6 July 1804 - 16 March 1807.
Original mss. held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Reference: A770 pp. 355-362 [Microfilm: CY Reel 300 Frames #419-#423].