April

Monday 12th. Apl. 1813 —
Went up this day from Sydney to Parramatta. —

Tuesdy. 13th.
Went to Windsor — Travelling by the old Road through the Seven Hills and by the South Creek, which we crossed at Mr. Lange's & Mr. Rouse's Farms – where a Water Mill might be safely erected. —

Wedy. 14th.
Rested at Windsor – and examined the New Bridge erecting over the South Creek.

Thursdy. 15th. —
Set out early in the morning for Emu Island. — Breakfasted at Capt. Woodriffe's Farm on the Nepean – which we afterwards crossed in a Boat – sending on our Horses across by the Ford a little below where we Breakfasted. — Travelled on Horseback all over Emu Island – which runs about three miles along the River from North to South, and about Two miles in, West, towards the mountains. — This is a fine Tract of Land well watered – and capable of grazing between 4 and 500 Head of Horned Cattle all the Year through.

Returned home in the afternoon by Castlereagh at which Township we Stopt [sic] for half an Hour to examine the Grounds and Scite [sic] intended for erecting the Parsonage House upon – a very beautiful Spot. — Our Party on this Excursion besides Mrs. M. and myself were Revd. Mr. Marsden, Mr. Cox, Mr. Geo. Palmer, Mr. Fitzgerald, and Major Maclaine & Capt. Antill. —

Friday 16th.
Rested at Windsor, being Good Friday.

Saty. 17th. —
Set out early this morning accompanied by the same Party as above, with the exception of Messrs. Palmer & Fitzgerald and addition of Lieut. Maclaine, on an Excursion to Grosse's [sic] Head. — Breakfasted at the confluence of the Grose & Nepean Rivers; crossed the latter on Horseback by an easy Ford close to our Breakfast Place, and ascended the mountain to the Summit, which we reached about Noon – the distance thither from where we crossed the Nepean being about Five miles. — From the Summit of Grose's Head we had a most picturesque grand and extensive prospect in every direction; being here about 600 Feet above the level of the Grosse [sic] River in a perpendicular direction. — The windings of the river below us appeared beautiful – with one very fine Straight Reach a quarter of a mile long. —

Returned Home in the afternoon by Richmond at which township we halted to look at the New School House, now nearly finished, and which is to be used as a temporary chapel till a proper Church is built for this District.

Sunday 18th.
Rested & went to Church at Windsor.

Mondy. 19th.
Returned to Parramatta.

Tuesdy. 20th.
Rested at Parramatta – visited the Store & other works going on there. —

Wedy. 21st.
Returned to Sydney to Breakfast. —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Memoranda & Related Papers. 22 December 1808-14 July 1823.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A772 57-59 ff. [Microfilm Reel CY301 Frames #63-65].