October

Saturday 2. Ocr. 1819
The Honble. Commissioner returned this day to Sydney, in my Chariot and 4 Horses, attended by Lt. Macquarie A.D.C. — I have shewn Mr. Bigge as much of the Country in the Neighbourhood of Windsor, as the short [time] he has remained with us would admit of, and he is quite delighted with it, and the abundant appearance of the Crops. —

Lt. Govr. Erskine – and Mr. and Mrs. H. Mc.Arthur have been passing some days with us at Windsor – but have left us this morning. —

Monday 4. Ocr. —
I closed the Genl. Muster at Windsor.

Tuesday 5. Ocr. —
Mrs. Macquarie, Lachlan, and myself set out in the Carriage after an early Breakfast, from Windsor, by the New Richmond Road for Parramatta – where we arrived at 12,O'Clock at Noon. —

Thursday 7. Ocr. 1819 !!!
This day being appointed for the reading and Publishing the Commission of H. R. H. The Prince Regent under the Great Seal to The Commissioner appointed for the affairs of N.S. Wales, in the presence of all the Civil, Clerical, and Military Officers of the Colony; I went down to Sydney early in the morning for this and other purposes. — At Ten I paid a Visit of Ceremony to the Commissioner, who accompanied me to inspect the Male Convicts landed this morning – at the Jail Yard.

At 1. P.M. the whole of the Civil and Military Officers of the Colony being assembled at Govt. House, the Commission of the Commissioner was read by the Judge Advocate, and who also administered the usual Oaths of Office to him, at the Conclusion of which a Royal Salute was fired in honor of the occasion. — The Commissioner then addressed the meeting in a very beautiful appropriate Speech, pointing out the principal objects of his mission to this Colony; after which I introduced the several Civil and Military Officers to him; Wine and Cake having been handed round afterward to all present.

At 2. P.M. The Commissioner and the Lt. Govr. & Judges – with a great many other Gentlemen, accompanied me to the Scite [sic] of the New Court House in Hyde Park, for the purpose of laying the Foundation Stone thereof; – which Ceremony being performed, we then proceeded to the Convict Barrack to inspect it – with all which The Commissioner expressed himself highly gratified. —

At ½ past 3. P.M. I set out along with the Commissioner & Mr. Scott in my own Carriage for Parramatta, whither I had asked a Select Party of the principal Officers of Government to meet him at Dinner. — On our way we called at the new and recently finished Convict Barracks at the Brickfields, to inspect them also, and were much pleased with them, being very commodious, and well finished. We reached Parramatta at Half past 5,O'Clock – and Sat down to Dinner at Half past 6,O'Clock, Eighteen Persons in number including Family. —

Friday 8. Ocr. !
The Commissioner & Mr. Scott returned to Sydney; the former with Lt. Govr. Erskine, and the latter with Major Druitt, in their respective Gigs. —

Thursday 14. Ocr. !
The Commissr. & Mr. Scott returned to Sydney this Evening after Dinner in my Carriage. —

Monday 18. Ocr. !
The Comr. &c. left Parramatta early this morning for Sydney. — I went thither also to transact business – and returned to Parramatta to Dinner. —

Tuesday 19. Ocr. 1819 !!!
Arrived in Sydney Cove The Ship Atlas Transport, Commanded by Capt. J. Short, with 167 Male Convicts from England – whence She Sailed on the 17th. of June, touching at the Cape of Good Hope; Mr. — [name omitted] Duke R. Navy being Surgeon Supdt., and the Guard consisting of 31 Soldiers of the 24th. & 59th. Regts. being Commanded by Lieut. Ewing of the former Corps. — The Guard and Convicts have arrived in good Health – and only one of the latter having died on the Passage. —

John Short, Pensioner, is the only Passenger by the Atlas. —

I have received no Public Dispatches by this Ship. — She has brought 12 Male Convicts from the Cape of Good Hope. —

Wednesday 20 . Ocr. 1819.
Set out this day after Breakfast on Horseback to Liverpool, for the purpose of taking the General Muster there tomorrow and the ensuing days; – Mrs. Macquarie, Mrs. King, and the Children going thither in the Carriage. — We took up our Quarters at Mr. Moore's at Moore-Bank. —

Thursday 21. Octr. 1819 !
The Honble. Commissioner Bigge and his Secry. Mr. Scott, joined me early this morning at "Moore-Bank" for the purpose of attending the Genl. Muster at Liverpool – which commenced there this morning at Ten OClock. —

Arrived in Sydney Cove The Ship Grenada Transport, commanded by Capt. Andw. Donald, with 152 Male Convicts from England, whence She sailed on the 12th. of May last, touching at Rio de Janeiro; Mr. — [name omitted] Lazzaretto R. Navy being Surgeon Supdt., and the Guard consisting of 33 men of the 87th. Regt. Commanded by Lieut. William Dunlevie of the same Corps. — The Guard & Convicts have all arrived in good health – none of either having died on the Passage. — The Grenada left the Malabar Male Convict Ship, and Regalia Private Merchant Ship at Rio de Janeiro.

The Ship Adml. Cockburn Capt. Briggs returned this day from the Derwent; and the Colonial Brig Jupiter Commanded by Capt. Risk, arrived on the 19th. Instant from Port Dalrymple. —

Monday 25. Octr. 1819 !!!
This day Doctr. Bowman assumed the Duties of Prinl. Surgeon at Sydney in the room of Doctr. Wentworth resigned. — Doctr. Redfern Asst. Surgeon, having resigned his Situation as such, ceased doing Duty on and from yesterday. —

I have appointed Mr. Christopher Tattersall to act as Asst. Surgeon on the Medical Establishment of this Colony, at the recommendation of Doctr. Bowman, until the pleasure of H. R. H. Highness The Prince Regent shall be known, with a Salary of Five Shillings per Diem, commencing on and from this date.

The Genl. Muster at Liverpool having closed on Saturday last, I returned with my Family from "Moore-Bank" early this morning to Parramatta; the Commissioner and Mr. Scott having accompanied us to Dinner; having proceeded to Sydney in the Evening. —

Tuesday 26. Octr. 1819 !!!
I went down to Sydney early this morning to transact Business – returning in the afternoon to Parramatta. —

The Govt. Brig Prince Leopold, having the Mr. Youl & Family, and a number of other Passengers on board, sailed this morning for the Settlements of Port Dalrymple and the Derwent. —

Wednesday 27. Octr. !
I had a Conversation this day with Messrs. Peyton & Watkins, Contractors for the Govt. Factory now erecting at Parramatta and in consideration of the long series of bad weather and other unforeseen impediments which have occurred to prevent their going on so rapidly with the work as was at first contemplated, I have been induced to indulge them with an extension of their Contract to three months beyond the term Stipulated for thus making the whole time 24 months instead of 21 months. — They have in consequence pledged thenmselves to complete their Contract within the said period of 24 months from the original date thereof, namely, the [date omitted] of May 1818 –; on condition however of receiving the following assistance in Mechanics (– off the Store) from Government; vizt. Two House Carpenters, Two Stone Masons, and an additional Pair of Sawyers (having already had One Pr. of Sawyers assigned them), to enable them to carry on the work with more rapidity; – which assistance I have promised to grant them in the course of a week from this date ! —

L. M.

The Guard and Convicts have all arrived in good Health, none of either having died on the Passage. — This Ship brings no Dispatches or Passengers. — She left the Regalia Private Merchant Ship, at Rio Janeiro. —

L. M.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Diary 9 July 1818 – 28 February 1821.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A774 pp.70-78. [Microfilm Reel CY301 Frames #472-480].