March

Mar: 15.
Sunday! — This day at Noon Capt. & Mrs. Mc.Quarie of the 86th., along with Lieut. Archibald Maclean of that Corps Embarked for Goa to join the Regiment; – Capt. Mc.Quarie having, by my advice resigned his Situation of A.D.C. to the Governor!!!

Mar: 16.
Monday! — I this morning before Breakfast paid my last and final melancholy visit to the Tomb containing the beloved and honored sacred Remains of my late Angelic Wife – giving it the Tribute of my Tears!

This forenoon, I sent off the remaining part of my Baggage for England, on board the H.C. Extra Ship Northumberland, which sails hence tomorrow, preparatory to my own departure for Bussora. —

[Start of the 1807 Diary from Bombay to London, via Basra, Baghdad, Qazvin, Astrakhan, Moscow, St. Petersburg & Copenhagen].

Wednesday 18th. March 1807.
The Bengal and Madras Dispatches having arrived, and the Benares Cruizer being ordered to sail with them tomorrow for Bussora, I took leave this forenoon of all my good friends at Bombay.

I dined at home with the Governor, who was kind enough to ask my excellent and highly esteemed friend Mr. Charles Forbes, and his two lovely Boys, John and Charles, to dine with us. — After Dinner I took leave of my amiable good friend Mr. Duncan, and went with Mr. Forbes to his House to take leave of Mrs. Forbes and the Children.

At 10,O'Clock at Night, accompanied by my friends Mr. Forbes – and Mr. Newnham, I embarked on board The Hon'ble Company's Cruizer Benares Commanded by Lieut. William Nesbitt; my Baggage having been put on board in the course of the day, but my Servt. Boy George went off with myself. — After seeing me safe on board and staying a few minutes with me, my friends Forbes and Newnham took leave and returned on Shore.

I found Assistant Surgeon Thomas, and Lieut. Brande of the Bombay Marine, on board before me.

These two Gentlemen are Prisoners of War, and are going home for the purpose of being Exchanged; and we have agreed to travel together Overland to England. — I find I have excellent accommodation on board the Benares, which is a fine new Vessel – and only lately Launched. —

Thursday 19th. March 1807.
At 6,O'Clock this morning, we weighed anchor and stood out of the Harbour; –but the wind being ahead, we were obliged to work out, and were all this day in sight of the Light House and Malabar Point, making very little way.

Source
Lachlan Macquarie. Journal No. 6 July 1804 - 16 March 1807.
Original mss. held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Reference: A770 pp. 367-368. [Microfilm: CY Reel 300 Frames #425-#426].

Lachlan Macquarie. Journal 18 March 1807 - 17 October 1807.
Original mss. held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Reference: A771 pp. 1-5 [Microfilm: CY Reel 300 Frames #430-#435].