September

Friday 1. Septr. !
I went up to Parramatta this Evening to see my Family – remained there all night – and returned to Sydney to Breakfast the following morning.

Sunday 3. Septr. 1820 !
The Ship Neptune sailed for Batavia and the Govt. Brig Princess Charlotte sailed again this Day for the Derwent. —

Tuesday 5. Septr. !
I this Evening finished and closed my Public Dispatches to go by the Private Merchant Ship Tuscan – in charge of Doctor Brydone of the R. Navy. —

Wedy. 6. Septr. !
I returned to Parramatta this day between 2 and 3,O'clock in the afternoon.

Before I left Sydney the Ship Eliza, Capt. Hunt, had arrived in the Harbour from the Derwent; which She left on the 29th. Ultimo.

Friday 8. Septr. !
This day after Breakfast I set out in my Carriage, accompanied by Major Druitt, Acting Chief Engineer, to Inspect the Govt. Public works now in progress at Windsor. — We arrived there at 1,O'Clock and completed our Inspection by 4,O'Clock, and from all appearances there is at least three months work still to be done on the New Church ("St. Matthews") before it can be used. — It will also take about the same time to complete the new Convict Barrack. — I slept this Night at Windsor. —

Saturday 9. Septr. !!!
Having taken an early Breakfast at Windsor, I set out, accompanied by Major Druitt, in the Carriage for the purpose of visiting & Inspecting the Agricultural Establishment on Emu Plains on the left Bank of the River Nepean, travelling thither by a very rough bad Road of 15 miles through the Bush as a short cut – but which we found extremely bad. — We arrived at the Ferry to Emu Plains by ½ past 11,O'Clock, crossed the Nepean in the Govt. Boat, and then rode over the whole of Emu Plains, accompanied by Mr. Richd. Fitzgerald – then mustered the Gangs, and Pitched on a Beautiful Bank, nearly in the Center of the Plains for erecting the Supdt's. House, and Barracks for the Gangs on – it being a fine beautiful Situation – and commanding an extensive view of nearly the whole of the Plains.

I read the Report of the Special Bench of Magistrates, on the charges preferred by sir Jno. Jamison against Mr. Fitzgerald to the several Gangs (about 200 men) now employed in the Govt. Agricultural Establishment on Emu Plains, in order that they might know how malicious and unfounded these charges were and which were so creditably to himself refuted by Mr. Fitzgerald.

I paid a short Ceremonial Visit to Sir Jno. Jamison at his Seat at Regent Ville –; crossing the River thither in his own Boat, and then walked to where we had left the Carriage at the Ferry – and set out on our return to Parramatta by the Western Road – arriving at Parramatta at Half past 5,O'Clock. — I found the Gangs at the Agricultural Establishment all in good Health, Clean, and in good Order – being all well Clothed. —

Saturday 9. Septr. 1820 !
This afternoon the Private Ship Tuscan commanded by Capt. — Dagg and belonging to the House of Birnie & Co., sailed from Port Jackson for England; Doctors Brydone & Morgan being the only Gentlemen Passengers. — I gave Doctor Brydone charge of my Dispatches for England – taking his Receipt for the same. —

Tuesday 12. Septr. !
This Evening (late) The Ship Morely, [sic] Commanded by Capt. R. R. Brown, with Female Convicts from England anchored in the Harbour, having touched at the Derwent – where she landed (by orders from Home) 50 of her Convicts, bringing on the remaining 71 Convicts here, besides some free Women and a number of Children; – all arriving in excellent Health; – Doctr. Thos. Reid being the Surgeon Supdt. — The Morley sailed from England on the 22d. of May, and has only been 99 days making her Voyage to the Derwent. — The Revd. Mr. Reddall Chaplain for the Colony, his wife and Seven Children. —

Wedy. 13. Septr. 1820 !
This Day Doctr. Reid of the Morley, and the Revd. Mr. Reddall, waited on me at Parramatta – and I received my Dispatches per Morley at the same time. —

Friday 15. Septr. !
I went down to Sydney on this day, and visited the Female Convicts on board the Morley, accompanied by Commissioner Bigge. — We were both much pleased with the clean and healthy looking State we found the Female Convicts in, as well as the Ship itself – which was not only remarkably clean – but also in very fine order. — I returned in the Evening to Parramatta.

Wedy. 20. Septr. !
The Ship Dorothy – Capt. Hargreaves, with 190 Male Convicts, arrived this day at Port Jackson from Ireland, whence She sailed the 5th. of May last – touching at Rio de Janeiro; Doctr. Espie R. Navy being the Surgeon Supdt., and the Guard consisting of 30 Soldiers of the 48th. Regt. being Commanded by Lieut. Hildsworth of the 82d. Regiment, who has his Wife on board. — Mr. George Espie Free Settler, his Wife and 3 Children have come out Passengers in the Dorothy. — The Convicts have arrived all in good Health. —

Thursday 21. Septr. 1820 !
The Russian Imperial Ship Wostok, Capt. Bellingshausen, on a Voyage of Discovery, arrived this day at Port Jackson from Otaheite, New Zealand &c. &c. having been 4 months absent on their last Voyage. —

Friday 22 Septr. !!!
This forenoon anchored in Port Jackson, the Ship Agamemnon, Capt. Robt. Surtees, with 178 Male Convicts from England – whence She sailed on the 3d. of May last, touching at Rio de Janeiro; Doctr. — Hall R. Navy being the Surgeon Supdt., and the Guard consisting of 31 Soldiers of the 48th. Regt. being Commanded by Lieut. Keays of the 47th. Regiment. — One Convict was relanded, and one died on the Passage; the rest arriving in good Health. — No Passengers. —

On the same day anchored in Sydney cove the Russian Imperial Ship Mernoy, Capt. Larzaroff, the Consort of the Wostok – from Otaheite &c. &c.

Saturday 23 Septr. 1820.
I went down to Sydney early this morning in my Carriage to transact Business – returning to Parramatta to Dinner. —

The Commissr. of Enquiry – and a Party of Friends dined with us today.

Sunday 24. Septr. !
The Surrey, Private Mercht. Ship, Commanded by Capt. Raine, arrived this morning in Port Jackson from England – whence she sailed on the 4th. of April last, with a large Cargo of Private Goods & Merchandize for this Colony – touching at Madeira, Rio de Janeiro, and the Derwent; for which last Place She has brought out a number of Free Settlers. —

Tuesday 26. Septr. 1820 !
The Ship Shipley, Commanded by Capt. Moncrief, with 146 Male Convicts from England anchored in Sydney Cove on the afternoon of this day; Mr. — Ryan R. Navy being the Surgeon Supdt., and the Guard consisting of Detachments of the 48th. 53d. & 69th. Regts., being Commanded by Lieut. Windsor of the latter Corps.

The Shipley sailed from England on the 5th. of June – being only 3 months & 21 Days in performing the voyage. — Three Convicts died on the Passage – and one Convict was drowned by accident. —

Mrs. Cartwright, the wife of the Revd. Mr. Cartwright, has arrived as a Passenger on board the Shipley. —

I went down early this morning to transact Business at Sydney – and to remain there a few days. —

Thursday 28. Septr. 1820 !
I visited all the Public Works in progress at present at Sydney.

I dined this day with The Honble. Commissioner Bigge at his residence at Sydney. —

Friday 29. Septr. !
This morning the Male Convicts recently arrived in the Ships Dorothy and Agamemnon, were landed, mustered – & distributed in the usual manner. —

I dined this day with Colonel Erskine at the 48th. Mess ! —

Saturday 30. Septr. 1820 !
This forenoon, the Ship Guildford, Commanded by Capt. Johnson, with 194 Male Convicts from England and the Cape of Good Hope, anchored in Sydney Cove; Mr. — Walker R. Navy being the Surgeon Supdt., and the Guard consisting of Detachments of the 46th. & 48th. Regts. under Lieut. Dawe of the former Corps; Ensign Codd of the 48th. Regt. having coming out a Passenger in same Ship. — The Guildford sailed from England on the 14th. of May, touching at the Cape of Good Hope, where She remained for 14 days – and from whence She brought 4 Male Convicts – 190 having embarked in England. — They are arrived all in good Health – none having died during the Voyage. — Five of the Cato Street Conspirators – tried for & found guilty of High Treason – have been sent out in the Guildford – their Sentences having been Commuted from Death to Transportation for Life. —

I returned to Parramatta this afternoon after I had received my Dispatches per the Guildford; — bringing up Major Taylor in the Carriage with me to Parramatta. —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Diary 1 March 1820 – 8 March 1821.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A774 pp.155-166; [Microfilm Reel: CY301 Frames #561-572].