April

Friday 4. April 1817 !!!
This Forenoon Jno. Oxley Esqr. Surveyor Genl. of Lands, whom I had recently appointed to command the Expedition of discovery to the Western Coast, set out from Sydney to join and assume the Command of the said Expedition at Bathurst in the new discovered Country; Mr. George Wm. Evans the second in command of the Expedition having set out for Bathurst two days before in charge of the last Convoy of Stores & Provisions for the Dêpot established on the Banks of the River "Lachlan"; from which Point the Expedition takes its fiscal Departure for the Western Coast. —

L. M.

Wednesday 9. April !!!
This day between 11 and 12,O'Clock, H. M. Colonial Brig Kangaroo – Commanded by Lieut. Charles Jeffreys Royal Navy – Sailed from Port Jackson for England; having Capt. Schaw and Lieuts. Dawe & Parker of the 46th. Regt., Mr. Thomas Hassall, 15 Discharged Soldiers, 8 Free Men (formerly Convicts) and 10 Free Women formerly Convicts, 3 wives of Soldiers & 1 child, went Home as Passengers on board the Kangaroo to England. —

I gave charge of my Public Dispatches for H. R. Highness The Comr. in Chief to Capt. Schaw – and of those for the Secry. of State to Lieut. Parker of the 46th. Regt. —

L. M.

Thursday 10. April 1817 !!!
This morning at Daybreak the Naval Officer reported to me that the American Ship Enterprise, Commanded by Capt. Coffin, which lay at Anchor in Neutral Bay, had ran out of the Harbour in the Course of the preceding Night, and had proceeded to Sea without a Port Clearance. This is not only a breach of the Port Regulations of this Colony – but also a breach of the Law of Nations, and highly disgraceful to this American – to whom every kindness and attention has been shewn.

It was also reported to me this forenoon by both the Naval Officer and the Supdt. of Police that there was a good reason to believe that Mr. Garnham Blaxcell Mercht. of Sydney, had made his escape in a Clandestine manner from the Colony on board the Kangaroo; it being said that he was concealed in the Cabin of Mr. Noble the Surgeon of that Vessel – but which of course could not well have been done without the knowledge and connivance of Lieut. Jeffreys – to his great shame and eternal disgrace! —

This afternoon at 2,O'Clock, anchored in Sydney Cove the Ship Morley, Commanded by Capt. R. R. Brown, with 175 Male Convicts from England on board guarded by a Detachment of the 46th. Regt. under the Command of Lieut. Purcell of the same Corps; Mr. — Espie being Surgeon & Supdt. of the said Ship. — The Convicts have arrived here all in good Health – none having died during the Passage. — Mr. Amos Free Settler – and some other Passengers of inferior note have arrived in the Morley. — The Morley Sailed from England on the 18th. of Decr. last – touching at the Cape of Good Hope – where she remained 8 Days !, including which this Ship has been only 16 weeks from England – which is a surprising quick Passage ! —

L. M.

Friday 11. Apl. !!!
I went by Water this morning to the South Head to see the Tower – the foundation of which I saw laid this day Nine Months – which was the time then limited by Mr. Greenway for its final completion, but which a long series of tempestuous rainy weather combined with other Causes have unavoidably retarded. — The Tower is now 33 Feet High from the Ground – which leaves 32 feet yet to complete. — The work is excellent hitherto – and Mr. Greenway says the whole will now be completed in Four Months from this date. —

L. M.

Sunday 13. April 1817 !
The Ship Hunter commanded by Capt. William Hodges, ladened with sundry India Goods, arrived this day in Sydney Cove from Bengal, having Eight Male Convicts from different parts of India on board for this Colony. — The Hunter touched at Port Dalrymple on her way hither, and carried away two of her masts in a gale of Wind. —

L. M.

Tuesdy. 15. Apl. !
I drew a Draft of this day's date on the Police Fund for £100 Str., in favor of Wm. Watkins, Stone Mason – being his 2d. Instalment in part payment of his Contract for repairing the Parramatta Jail.

L. M.

Thursday 18 April 1817 !
The 175 Male Convicts recently arrived from England in the Morley Transport were landed this morning, and after being inspected by myself in Person in the Jail Yard in the usual manner, were Distributed. —

L. M.

Thursday 24. April 1817 !
Early this morning anchored in Port Jackson the Shipley Male Convict Ship, Commanded by Capt. L. W. Moncrief, with 125 Male Convicts from England, guarded by a Detachment of the 46th. Regt. under command of Ensn. Mc.Pherson of same Corps, Mr. George Clayton being Surgeon & Supdt. of the said Ship. — The Shipley sailed from England on the 20th. of December last; all her Crew, Soldiers, & Convicts have arrived in good Health, none of the latter having died on the Passage. — Passengers Messrs. Williamson (late Dy. Comy. of N.S.W.) Smith, Bentley, and Eades, as Free Settlers. —

L. M.

Friday 25. April 1817 !
Drew a Draft of this day's date on the Police Fund, in favor of Mr. Jas. Smith, Builder, Contractor for erecting the Parsonage House &c at Parramatta, for the sum of Five Hundred Pounds (£500), in part payment of the said Contract, being the 4th. Instalment thereof. —

L. M.

Tuesdy. 29. Apl.
I this day drew a Draft on the Police Fund for Five Pounds (£5.) Sterling in favor of James Watson, Overseer of Road–Makers in new discovered Country, in part of his annual Salary in that Capacity. —

L. M.

Wedy. 30. April 1817 !!!
I this day promised Mr. Justice Field to give him a Grant of 2000 acres of Land, to victual himself & Mrs. Field for 18 months, to assign him 10 Government Men for the like period of time, and to give him 15 Cows from the Government Herds on a credit of 3 years to be paid for in kind at the expiration of that period; with which offer he expressed him as very highly pleased and thankful. —

L. M.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Diary 10 April 1816 - 1 July 1818.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A773 pp.95–99. [Microfilm Reel CY301 Frames #328–332].