August

Sunday 3. Augt. 1817 !!!
This forenoon anchored in Port Jackson the Ship Matilda Transport Commanded by Capt. Somerville, having the 1st. Division of the 48th. Regt. Commanded by Lt. Coll. Erskine (and also Lt. Govr.) on board; having Sailed from Cork on the 28th. of March last – being 4 mos. & 7 days.

Lt. Coll. Erskine Comg. the 48th. Regt., accompanied by Secry. Campbell arrived at Parramatta, to wait on me and report the arrival of the 48th. Regt. – and that he is appointed to succeed Col: Molle as Lt. Govr. of the Territory. — Lt. Coll. Erskine remained with us at Parramatta all this Night.

Monday 4. Augt.
Set out for Sydney at ¼ past 7 this morning, along wt. Lt. Coll. Erskine & Secry. Campbell, Capt. Antill & Lt. Watts & arrived there at ¼ after Ten. — Breakfasted, and afterwards, went to inspect the Convicts landed this morning from the Chapman, all of whom complained loudly of the cruelty & barbarity of the Capt. & Surgeon towards them during the Voyage. —

After transacting the business of the day at Sydney returned to Parramatta in the Evening.

Tuesday 5. Augt.
Mr. & Mrs. Wylde left us for Sydney – having gone thither by water in my Barge. —

Wedy. 6. Augt. !!
The Ship Canada Capt. Grigg wt. 89 Female Convicts arrived this forenoon in Port Jackson, having sailed from Cork on the 25th. of March & touched at Rio. —

Mr. Justice Field & Lady came to us this day a little before Dinner to pass a week with us at Parramatta. —

Thursday 7. Augt. !
I went down to Sydney after Breakfasting at Parramatta this morning, accompanied by Mr. Justice Field &c., and arrived at the former at 12. At 2. P.M. The Hd. Quarter Division of the 48th. Regt. under Lt. Col: Erskine landed from the Matilda Transport at the King's Wharf – and marched to the Barracks; Lt. Coll. Erskine having been Saluted wt. 13 Guns as Lt. Governor of the Colony. — The Officers and Men of the Division looked remarkably well on landing altho' it rained very heavily. — I stood on Mr. Justice Field's Terrace to see them pass. — Lt. Coll. Erskine and all his Officers (13 in number) dined with me at Govt. House in the Evening; Mr. Judge Advt. Wylde, Mr. Justice Field, & Dr. Redfern having also dined with me — The 48th. Band (a most excellent one) attended & played for us after Dinner. —

I this day notified in General Orders that the 46th. Regt. should hold themselves in readiness to embark on the shortest notice for Madras in India on the same Transports which bring and have brought the 48th. Regt. to this Colony; leaving it optional with Coll. Molle to go in which ever Ship he chuses [sic] to prefer. —

Friday 8. Augt. !
The Male Convicts – 120 in number – recently arrived in the Pilot Transport – were this morning landed from that ship, and inspected by myself in Person in the Jail Yard. — They all look well and healthy – and speak well of the Comr. and Surgeon – by whom they were kindly treated during the voyage. —

At 3. P.M. I set out for Parramatta in the Carriage accompnaied by Mr. Justice Field – & arrived there in 1 Hour & 3 quarters.

N.B. It has rained almost incessantly since 2,O'Clock yesterday till 4 O'Clock this afternoon. —

Saturday 9. Augt. !
Recd. a Report from the Naval Officer at 11. a.m. that the Brig Jupiter, which had sailed some days since for the Derwent had returned again to Port yesterday afternoon very much damaged by the Lightning of the preceeding [sic] night, and that one Convict had been killed by it and several others much hurt.

The Female Convicts (89 in number) were landed at Sydney, or Transhipped, from the Canada to the Elizabeth Henrietta; on which Vessel I have sent 50 of them to the Derwent from the Chapman.

Sunday 10 Augt. !
Lt. Coll. Erskine & Capt. Gill came from Sydney and passed this day with us at Parramatta **** **** ****

Tuesday 12. Augt. 1817.
I Released 12 Felons this day from Parramatta Jail. I went down to Sydney early this morning in the Carriage to be present at the Parading of the two Regts. in Hyde Park to fire 3 Vollies on Honor of the Day – which was celebrated with the usual demonstrations of Joy and respect to H.R.H. The Prince Regent's Birth-Day, being now 55 years of age! —

Lt. Col. Erskine returned with me in the Carriage to Parramatta to Dinner; Major Druitt & Capt. Gill having come hither by Water, bringing the 48th. Band with them to play for us. — We entertained the principal Ladies & Gentlemen of Parramatta at Dinner today at Govt. House in honour of the day.

Wedy. 13. Augt.
Coll. Erskine, Major Druitt & Capt. Gill and Mr. & Mrs. Field returned by Water to Sydney, Mrs. & self conveying them to Kissing Point. Mrs. M. & self rode on Horseback from Kissing Point to Parramatta, and had a most pleasant ride. —

N.B. The Govt. Brig Elizabeth Henrietta, & also the colonial Brig Jupiter sailed early this morning for the Derwent. —

This day (13th. Augt.) a general meeting of the Magistrates of the colony took place at Sydney, to take into consideration various Pointed [?] connected with the improvement and internal Policy of the country which I had submitted for their decision thro' the Judge Advocate.

Saty. 16. Augt. 1817.
Lieut. Marshall 48th. and Lt. Franklin 69th. Regt. came up on a visit to us from Parramatta. —

Sunday 17. Augt.
Lt. Coll. Erskine came up on a visit to us this day.

Mondy. 18th. do.
I went early in the morning to Sydney to transact business, and returned to Dinner. —

Wedy. 20. Augt. !
Brevet Major Taylor and Capt. Morrissett of the 48th. arrived today from Sydney to pass some days with us at Parramatta; and Lieut. Marshall 48th. & Lt. Franklin 69th. Regt. left us to return to Sydney.

Friday 22. Augt.
Lt. Coll. Erskine returned this day to Sydney.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Memoranda & Related Papers. 22 December 1808-14 July 1823.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A772 87-90 ff. [Microfilm Reel CY301 Frames #99-102].