December

Sunday 1. Decr. 1822.
This being Sunday, we remained at Sittingbourne, and attended Divine Service at the Parish Church. —

Monday 2. Decr.
Set out from Sittingbourne at 9. a.m.; and Breakfasting and changing Horses at Canterbury, arrived at Dover at ½ past 2 P.M.; putting up at the Ship Inn. — As soon as we had settled ourselves comfortably at the Inn, I went to call on my highly esteemed friend and Brother in law Lieut. Colonel George R. P. Jarvis, who is now permanently settled at Dover as a Banker, being one of the Partners of Messrs. Fectors & Co. — I found him in his Office, and we had a most affectionate happy meeting after a separation of 15 years. — He accompanied back to the Inn to wait on Mrs. M., and afterwards walked out with Lachlan and myself to shew us the Fortifications erected on the High Hill commanding the Town of Dover. —

Tuesday 3. Decr.
Col: Jarvis accompanied Lachlan Mr. Meiklejohn and myself this morning after Breakfast to Dover Castle, to see the Works and Interior of that ancient Fortress. — We afterwards dine with him at his own House in company with his sister in law Mrs. Jarvis and her two Daughters. — Mrs. Macquarie not being able to venture out to Dinner dined at Home by herself at the Inn.

Wednesday 4. Decr. !
I wrote several Letters this morning to Friends in London and Scotland including my Brother Charles and Brother in law Sir Jno. Campbell in the latter Country, previous to our leaving old England. —

Having engaged a Passage for myself and Family yesterday, on the "Dasher" Steam Boat for Calais we embarked on board of that Vessel this day at ¼ before 1 P.M., and sailed out of Dover Harbour exactly at 1,O'Clock; the Wind blowing very fresh with a rough Sea. — We had a great number of Passengers on board of all Ranks and degrees. — Among the Passengers I was agreeably surprised to find my old friend and Brother Officer Major Genl. John Shaw – and also Mr. William Money eldest Son of my Friend Wm. Taylor Money Esqr. M.P.

Soon after leaving Dover Harbour the Wind blew a perfect Gale, and the Sea became very high and extremely rough, occasioning a most violent constant motion, in so much that almost every Person on board was Sea–Sick, and the Wind being nearly right against us made the motion of the Vessel still worse. — When we had got nearly halfway across the Channel, it came on a very heavy pour of Rain, which rendered the remaining part of the Passage most disagreeable and uncomfortable to every one; — my poor Mrs. M. suffered greatly on this occasion; for, not being able to remain in the Cabin below, on account of the number of Ladies and other Females who were Sea–Sick there, she was compelled to remain on Deck all the time exposed to this heavy Rain, and got wet to the Skin; — Our poor dear Lachlan also suffered much, and was Sea–Sick. — At ½ past 5. P.M. we completed our boisterous and most uncomfortable Voyage, having arrived at that Hour in Calais Harbour. — It was then quite dark, and still raining very heavy. — We landed however immediately, and were obliged to proceed, wet as we were to the Custom House to have our Baggage examined. — This Ceremony having been gone through, we proceeded as quick as we were able, on foot, through dirty wet Streets, to Dessin's Inn, or Hotel, in Rue Royale, where we took up our residence for the Night, and soon made ourselves comfortable with good fires and good fare. —

Thursday 5. Decr.
We remained all this day at Calais, to rest ourselves after our disagreeable Voyage of yesterday.

I engaged a Carriage (Coach) and Horses this day for 300 Francs to convey us to Paris, together with all our Baggage. —

Friday 6. Decr. !
At 1. P.M. left Calais, and commenced our Journey for Paris. Arrived at Boulogne at ½ past 5. P.M. — putting up at the Hotel de Londre; [sic] disce. 24 miles. — On our arrival at the Inn, I found my friend Genl. Shaw (– who resides with his Family at Boulogne –) and also another old friend Colonel West, waiting to receive us, and to ask us to dine at the House of the latter, who had engaged a Party to meet us. We found it necessary however to decline this kind invitation, as we wished to remain quiet at Home and go early to Bed. —

Saturday 7. Decr. —
I Breakfasted this morning (according to promise) with my friend Genl. and Mrs. Shaw, and took Lachlan with me there — but he and Mrs. Shaw did not at all agree. — Genl. Shaw accompanied us back to the Inn, where we took leave of him.

At 11. a.m. we set out from Boulogne, and arrived at the Town of Montreuil, at ½ past 4. P.M. — putting up at the Hotel De l'Europe — disce. 28 miles.

Sunday 8. Decr.
At 10. a.m. Set out from Montreuil , and passing over the memorable Plains of Cressy, arrived at the Town of Abbeville at 4. P.M., putting up at the Hotel La Tete de Boeuf; disce. 28 miles. —

Monday 9. Decr. —
Set out from Abbeville at ½ past 9. a.m., and arrived at the Village of Poix at 5. P.M. — putting up at a very common indifferent Inn, but the People who kept it very civil, disce. 30 miles from Abbeville. —

Tuesday 10. Decr.
At ½ past 8. a.m. Set out from Poix, Halted and Breakfasted at the Town of Grandvilliers at ½ past 10; resumed our Journey at 12, and arrived at the large Town of Beauvais at 4. P.M. —; Putting up at that excellent Inn, or Hotel, "L'Ecu de France" — disce. 28 miles from Poix. — At this Hotel, we experienced the most kind and marked attention; and the Landlady not being able to give me Cash for one of my Small Bills of Exchange on England, not only gave me Credit for the amount of my **Expences [sic] at her House, but also advanced me as much money as I required to defray our expences to Paris! — What an instance of confidence, and liberal generosity to a Stranger and a Foreigner !!! —

Wednesday 11. Decr. !
At ½ past 9. a.m. Set out from Beauvais, and arrived at the small Town of Beaumont at 4. P.M. disce. 27 miles; putting up at a very miserable Inn (the best in the Town –) called the Hotel de Serf; a very dirty filthy House.

Thursday 12. Decr. !!!
Set out from Beaumont at 10. a.m. and arrived at the celebrated and grand City of Paris at 3. P.M. disce. from Beaumont 27 miles. — We took up our residence at the "Prince Regent Hotel", Rue Hyacinthe, Rue St. Honoré, at the recommendation of young Doctor Somerville. — The People are civil, and the apartments we occupied are good, but on the whole we consider the charges of this Hotel rather high and even extravagant. —

Friday 13. Decr. —
I this day engaged a Valet de Place and also hired a very good Job Carriage (– a new Coach) and Pair of Horses. —

Sunday 15. Decr. —
We set out today at 12,O'Clock, in our Job Coach for the purpose of visiting St. Cloud, Versailles &c. stopping first to see the grand and beautiful Palace of the former and putting up for the Night at the latter City at a very good Hotel.

Monday 16. Decr.
This morning immediately after Breakfast we proceeded to see the Interior of the Royal Palace of Versailles, and the Royal Gardens at this delightful Place, with the extent, magnificence and majestic grandeur of both we were highly gratified. —

Having satisfied our curiosity here, we set out at 12,O'Clock on our return to Paris; and on way back called and stopt [sic] for some time at the Village of Sevres to see the Celebrated Porcelaine manufactory at that Place, with which we were much gratified. Lachlan purchased here the Bust of the Duchess of D'Angouleme, [?] which was the only article we took away from this grand Repository. We arrived at our Hotel at Paris a little after Sunset. —

Wednesday 18. Decr. —
We set out this morning soon after Breakfast to visit the beautiful Villa of "Mal–maison" (8 miles from Paris), once the favorite [sic] residence of the Emperor Napoleon and his empress Josephine, in the days of their glory and Prosperity. After examining all the apartments, we walked in the Garden & Shrubery, [sic] and were much pleased with our Visit to this Villa. — We returned to Paris to Dinner. —

Before we left Paris, we went to see the Pictures & Statues at the Palace of the Luxemburg, and Louvre; the Gardens of the Thuilleries; [sic] the celebrated Factory of the Goblin Tapestry; La Jardin du Plants; — the Site of the Bastile; [sic] the Elephant Fountain, and L'Ecole Militaire; and also a Private Collection of very fine Pictures, the Boulevards, Champs Elyse, [sic] Champs de May, Monte Martre,[sic] the Equestrian Statue of Henry the 4th., & the grand Column of Place Vendome.

Saturday 21. Decr.
Having now made all the necessary arrangements for our departure for the South of France, and hired a proper Travelling Coach with 3 Horses for that purpose, with sufficient accommodation for ourselves, our Servants and Baggage; we set out from Paris at 11, O'Clock this forenoon on our Journey for our Winter Quarters.

We arrived at the Town of Melun at ½ past 6. P.M. after a long fatiguing Journey of 30 miles; the Road being very rough and bad. — We put up at the Hotel de France, a very cold uncomfortable Inn. —

Sunday 22. Decr. —
We set out from Melun (– situated very prettily on the Right Bank of the Seine) at 10. a.m.; and having promised our much esteemed friends Mr. and Lady Emily Drummond, to visit and spend a Couple of days with them at their present Place of residence in this part of France, at the Chateau de Courbeton, close to the Town of Montereau, and which lies directly in our Route, we drove thither accordingly, and after a pleasant Drive of 16 miles arrived at the Chateau de Courbeton at 2. P.M. — Here we were received by our good friends Mr. Drummond and Lady Emily with the kindest and most friendly welcome. We found them surrounded by their charming and delightful Family consisting of 5 Boys and two Girls, with a Tutor and a Governess to attend them. — The Chateau de Courbeton is beautifully situated on the Right Bank of the Seine, and only distant about a mile from the Town of Montereau. The Weather, tho' fine, was exceedingly Cold when we arrived at Mr. Drummond's, but we were son made comfortable by good fires in our Bed–Rooms, which we found ready prepared for our reception.

Tuesday 24. Decr. !
Having spent the last two days most agreeably and pleasantly with our good and amiable friends at the Chateau de Courbeton, we took a cordial and affectionate leave of them at 11, O'Clock this forenoon, and prosecuted our Journey; the weather being excessively cold, and threatening Snow. — We reached Sens – which is a pretty large Town at ½ past 4. P.M. – disce. 25 miles. We put up at the Hotel a la Bouteille, a tolerable good Inn, and took a walk through the Town before Dinner, and to see the Cathedral, which is a very large fine ancient ancient Building.

Wednesday 25. Decr. ! —ve
Set out from Sens at 7. a.m. –; and Breakfasting at the Town of Joigny, arrived at the Town of Auxere at 5. pM. – disce. 30 miles. — This is a large fine looking Town, with 4 Handsome Churches and other fine Buildings. The Town is prettily situated on the Left Bank of the River Yonne. — We put up at the Hotel de Beaune. —

Thursday 26. Decr.
Left Auxere at 10. a.m. –; and Halting to Breakfast at Town of Vermonton, arrived at Lucy–le–Bois at Half past 6. P.M. – disce. 27 miles. — This is a small Town, but the Inn, called Hotel on Poste des Chevaux, is a tolerable good one. — Hitherto the Country all the way from Paris as far as Auxere, is generally level, with large extensive Plains, and fine rich Land. — But this day's Journey was through a very Hilly barren Country; but abounding in Vineyards. —

Friday 27. Decr. —
Set out from Lucy–le–Bois at ½ past 6. a.m., and arrived at the Village of Rouvray at 11, O'Clock, where we halted to Breakfast and to rest the Horses till 1, O'Clock, when we resumed our journey, and arrived at the Town of Salieu at 5. P.M. – disce. 40 miles; putting up at the Hotel du Poste.

Saturday 28. Decr. —
At 6. a.m. set out from Salieu, and at ½ past 10. arrived at the Village of Arnel–Duc; where we Breakfasted, and halted to rest the Horses till ½ past 12 O'Clock; when we resumed our Journey; the Weather being bitter Cold, with intense Frost, accompanied with slight falls of Snow; which, added to the roughness of the Roads from the late heavy falls of Rain, renders Travelling extremely unpleasant as well as very fatiguing. — At this Stage, owing to the negligence and stupid forgetfulness of our Maid Servant Fanny, our Provision Basket was left behind. — At ½ past 5. P.M. we reached our Night's Stage at "La Roche–Pot"; disce. 40 miles.

We put up at the only Inn at this Place, the name of which I forgot to take down, but it was a very indifferent one, tho' the People were very civil to us. —

Sunday 29. Decr. —
At 7. a.m. Set out from La Roche–Pot, and at ½ past 11. O'Clock arrived at the Town of Chalons sur Saone where we Breakfasted – and Halted for some time to rest our Horses. The fine large River Saone is first met here, and has a very fine 5 arched Stone Bridge across it at Chalons. — At 2. P.M. we resumed our Journey, and at ½ past 6, arrived at our Nights Quarters at the Town of Tournus disce. 40 miles. — We put up at the Hotel du Pheasant, a tolerable good Inn. —

Monday 30 Decr. —
We Breakfasted this morning at Tournus, and set out from thence at 11. a.m. — At ½ past 3. P.M. we arrived at the Town of "Mâcon", which is beautifully situated on the Right Bank of the River Saone. Here we took up our Quarters for the Night at a remarkable fine large Inn called Hotel de l'Europe; disce. 20 miles from Tournus.

Tuesday 31. Decr. —
At ½ past 10. a.m. we set out from Mâcon, and at ½ past 3. P.M. arrived at the Village of Ville Franche, where we took up our Quarters for the Night, putting up at the Hotel Du Parc; the disce. from the last Stage being 25 miles. —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal 30 November 1822 – 7 July 1823.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A776-1 ff.2a-12b [Microfilm Reel: CY302 Frames #143–164].