May

Tuesday 4. May !!!
I this day inspected the 48th. Regt., Commanded by Lieut. Colonel Erskine C.B. in the Barrack Square; the Weather being too bad and the Ground in Hyde Park being too wet, to admit of the Corps being regularly inspected there. — I had the whole of the officers of the 48th. Regt., and the other principal Civil & Military officers in Sydney to dine with me at Government House, amounting in all to 42 Persons.

This being the anniversary of the fall of Seringapatam – this Day 20 Years! I inspected the 48th. Regt. and gave a Dinner as above in honor of the Day. —

Friday 7. May !
I this day Purchased a Dun-coloured Horse, named Sultan, aged 6 years and 15½ Hands high, from Capt. John Piper, paying Him Seventy Guineas for the same – for my own Riding as a charger; and promising to give Capt. Piper the refusal of the said Horse at whatever time I part with Him. —

L. M.

Saturday 8. May 1819 !
This morning at 7.O'Clock, H. M. Cutter Mermaid, Commanded by Lieut. P. P. King R. Navy, accompanied by the Lady Nelson Govt. Brig having Mr. Oxley the Surveyor Genl. of Lands on board; – the former Vessel proceeding on the Surveying Service on the Coasts of this Country and to circumnavigate Australia, which Service it is supposed will occupy between 8 and 9 months, and for which last period She has been victualled. —

The Lady Nelson proceeds with Mr. Oxley to "Port Macquarie" for the purpose of taking a Survey of that Port, its Entrance, and of the River Hastings flowing into; together with its Soil, and Capabilities for a Settlement being established there at some future time.

L. M.

Thursday 13. May 1819 !
The Schooner "Little Mary" Commanded by Capt. J. R. Rolls, anchored this afternoon in the Harbour from the Isle of France which She left on the 27th. of February last, touching at the Derwent – which Settlement She sailed from on the 4th. Inst. bringing me Dispatches from Lt. Govr. Sorell.

The Little Mary is ladened with sundry merchandize from the Mauritius for this Colony and has brought Two Male Convicts under Sentence of Transportation from that Colony to this. — I have received Dispatches by this Conveyance from my old acquaintance (and Brother Staff in the London District in 1803 & 1804) Major Genl. Ralph Darling, who is at present Acting governor and Commander of the Forces in the Isle of France.

Saturday 15. May 1819 !
I this day accepted of a Tender made by Capt. Raine the Comr. of the Ship Surry, to convey in her to England the Detachment of the 84th. Regt. now here, or any other Troops going Home at the rate of Twelve Pounds & Fifteen Shillings Passage Money for each Man or Woman, Government furnishing Provisions. —

N. B. The Surry is to sail on 1st. July next. —

L. M.

It having been reported to me that a Banditti of about Twenty Armed Runaway Convicts had within the last two days made their appearance near the Stone-Quarry-Creek in the Cow-Pastures, I this day at 1. P.M. Sent off a Detachment of 22 Soldiers of the 48th. Regt., Commanded by Lieut. Close, with 7 days Provisons in pursuit of this Banditti, with Instructions to scour every part of the Cow Pastures, and to apprehend or destroy these Violators of the Public Peace. —

Monday 17. May 1817 ! [sic]
This afternoon anchored in the Harbour, the Ship Foxhound South-Sea-Whaler, from the Fisheries, with 240 Tons of Oil !

N. B. The Foxhound is Commanded by Capt. Wm. Watson.

L. M.

Thursday 20. May 1819 !
This day – as a beginning and experiment – 130 Convicts were lodged and slept for the first time tonight in the New Convict Barracks in Hyde Park, in which that number now also commences to mess; it not being intended to lodge the whole of the Convicts in the new Barracks until the 4th. of June ! —

Saturday 22. May !
The Colonial Schooner Sindbad sailed this day for Port Dalrymple, having Lieut. Waddell of the 48th. Regt. on board as a Passenger, and by whom I have sent Dispatches to Lt. Govr. Sorell and Major Cimitiere. —

Tuesday 25. May !
Set out this forenoon at 11,O'Clock, in the Carriage with Mrs. M., Lachlan, Mrs. Wylde, and her son Clarence, for Parramatta, where we arrived a little before One O'Clock, intending to pass some days there. —

L. M.

Saturday 29 May !!!
I this forenoon returned to Sydney with Mrs. M. and Lachlan in the Carriage; leaving Mrs. Wylde and her Husband & Son, and Mrs. King at Govt. House Parramatta till our return thither early next Week.

On our arrival at Sydney at 12,O'Clock, learnt that the Ship Mary commanded by Capt. Orman from Bengal had anchored in Sydney Cove about Half an Hour before. — This Ship touched at the Derwent, where She left the Hibernia Male Convict Ship, which had arrived there from England on the 12th. Inst. with 157 Male Convicts for the Settlements in Van Diemen's Land, and which have been accordingly landed at the Derwent. — It appears the Hibernia has had a very tedious Passage from England, having Sailed from that Country on the 18th. of November last. —

The Hibernia brings the afflicting accounts of the Death of the Queen, which mournful event took place at Kew on the 17th. of November last.

As none of my Public or Private Letters from England make any mention of this mournful event, and as the Ship Baring may now be daily expected with the Official accounts of this Public Calamity, I have determined on taking no notice of this event till the arrival of this Ship; the more especially as the Anniversary of the Birth of our beloved Sovereign is so very near at Hand. — The Dispatch Bag which which came for me by the Hibernia was forwarded to me by Lt. Govr. Sorell per the Ship Mary Capt. Orman. —

L. M.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Diary 9 July 1818 – 28 February 1821.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A774 pp.39-45. [Microfilm Reel CY301 Frames #441-447].