June

Tuesday 3. June 1823
Having now seen most of the Wonders and fine Sights of Venice, we set out from this most interesting City in a Gondola this day at 1. P.M. and landed at Mestré (where we had left our Carriage) at ½ past 2,O'Clock. – At ½ past 3. P.M. set out from Mestré, and arrived at ½ past 8,O'Clock at Padua; disce. 25 miles. –

Wednesday 4. June –
Breakfast at Vicensa, and Sleep at Torre di Confini; disce. 32 miles.

Thursday 5. June –
Breakfast at Verona (- which is a beautiful City -) and Sleep at Peschiera disce. 32 miles. –

Friday 6. June –
Breakfast at Brescia – and Sleep at Chiari; disce. 31 miles. –

Saturday 7. June 1823.
Breakfast at Casana – and arrive at the beautiful City of Milan at 5. P.M. – Here we intend remaining for a couple of days, and took up our residence at the Hotel de la Grande Bretagne. – The length of this day's Journey was 42 miles.

Sunday 8 June –
We this day went to see, and visited the following Public Places; namely -; the Cathedral (- most beautiful and singular in outside architecture); the Church of St. Lorenzo, with its' [sic?] ancient Columns; The Royal Palace; The Grand Amphitheatre (- built by the Emperor Napoleon in honor of his Son); The Theatre of La Scala; The Simplon Gate; The Marengo Gate; The Promenades of the Public Gardens, the Ramparts and the Corso; on the last of which there was a very grand display of Carriages, Equestrians, and Pedestrians. – We also visited the Esplanade – or Place D'Arme and drove round a great part of this magnificent City. –

Monday 9. June 1823.
At 5. a.m. Set out from Milan; Breakfast at Cassino Buon Gesu [Cassina Buon Gesù]; At 5. P.M. we arrived at the Town of Sesto Calando [Sesto Calende], on the Left Bank of the beautiful Lake Maggiore in the Milanese Territory – and immediately crossed it in a "Pont Volant" – to the opposite Bank into the Piedmontese Territory; the River Ticino commencing here to flow from the Lago Maggiore all the way to the City of Milan. – We arrived at the Town of Arona, on the Left Bank of the Lake Maggiore at 7. P.M. disce. 35 miles from Milan.

Tuesday 10. June 1823 –
Set out from Arona at 5. a.m., and Breakfasted at Arnavas. – At the disce. of 7 miles from Arnavas, we crossed the large and Rapid River La Forsh, over a very fine Bridge; this fine River flowing through a most beautiful, rich and romantic Valley. – At 5. P.M. arrived at Domo Dossola, disce. 34 miles. – This is a small Town, and we put up at a very good Hotel – called Hotel D'Espagne.

Wednesday 11. June –
It having rained very heavy all last Night and this morning we staid to Breakfast at Domo Dossola, and set out from that Town, at 9. a.m. to ascend the much famed and highly celebrated Italian Alp called "the Simplon," the next in magnitude and Height to Mount Blanc, and which divides Italy from Domo Dossola, we commenced to ascend the Simplon near a Post called Isella – which is the last Station belonging to the Piedmontese Territory, and the Barrier between it and Switzerland. – The beautiful and Grand Military Road constructed over the Simplon by the late Emperor Napoleon is the wonder of every Traveller – and we were all much struck with it. – The Scenery is most Picturesque, grand, and romantic in the whole of the ascent of the Simplon - abounding in all the grand & striking Features of Nature – immense lofty mountains covered with Snow, Torrents, Cataracts, Water-falls, and large Rocky Rivers. We reached the Inn at the Village of the Simplon (- near the summit of it -) at 5. P.M., and found very comfortable Quarters there, after a Journey of 24 miles, in very heavy Rain the whole way. –

Thursday 12. June 1823.
It rained all last Night - and this morning very heavily and incessantly. – We therefore did not think it prudent to move until the Weather should clear up a little, which it did a little about 1. P.M.

We then pursued our journey to cross this grand Alp – and arrived at the summit of about 2, O'Clock, at a Barrier where a Toll is collected by the Swiss Government. – Here we commenced the descent on the Swiss side of the Alp, and arrived at the Town of Brigue at 6. P.M. after a Journey of 20 miles.

Friday 13. June 1823.
Breakfast at Tourtemagne, and Sleep at the Town of "Sion" on the Right Bank of the Rhone. – This being the anniversary of my dear good wife's Birth-Day, we drank her Health in a Bumper of good Champagne. Sion is distant from Brigue 38 miles.

Saturday 14. June –
Breakfast at Martigny – and passing thro' the beautifully situated Town of St. Maurice, we slept at the pretty little Town of Bex – disce. 38 miles.

Sunday 15. June –
Breakfasted at Bex - and leave it at 10. a.m.; – At ½ past 1. P.M. we came in sight of the grand and beautiful Lake of Geneva, and near the Head of it we stopt [sic] to see the old Chateau of Chillon. – At 4. P.M. we arrived at the very pretty Town of Vevay - on the Right Bank of the Lake; disce. 20 miles.

Monday 16. June 1823. –
Breakfast at the large and fine City of Lausanne - and sleep at it also in the Hotel D'Angleterre: disce. 15 miles.

Tuesday 17. June –
Set out from Lausanne at 6. a.m.; Halted for 2 Hours at Nyon, where we Breakfasted and arrived at the celebrated City of Geneva at 5. P.M.: disce. 40 miles; putting up at Hotel de la Balance. –

Friday 20 June 1823.
Set out at 6. a.m. from Geneva for the purpose of visiting Mount Blanc. – Breakfasted at the Town of Bonneville after a very pretty ride thro' a fine rich Country, leave it at ½ past 12, and after a most delightful Picturesque and interesting Ride arrive at 5. P.M. at the village of St. Martin, disce. 38 miles from Geneva. – We get a sight of Mt. Blanc before we reached St. Martin - but not clearly on account of the Weather being very cloudy and rainy.

Saturday 21. June –
The morning being very clear, we had a very fine and delightful view of the celebrated Mt. Blanc at Sunrise, and after feasting our Eyes upon it for some time, we set out from St. Martin for Geneva; Breakfasting again at the Town of Bonneville, and arriving at Geneva at 6. P.M.

Sunday 22. June 1823.
I took a Drive into the Country as far as Madame Muniere's House - a pretty Place - 4 miles from Geneva. –

In the Evening we all went and Drank Tea at Professor Pictet's - a fine & pleasant Family.

Monday 23 June –
Mrs. M. Sat for her Portrait to Madame Muniere and had it completed. – Professor Pictet afterwards accompanied us to the Museum, and some other Public Places. In the Evening he called again on us, and accompanied us to see the Botanic Garden and a very pretty House adjoining it belonging to one of his Nephews; when we took leave of this worthy man and valuable acquaintance.

Tuesday 24. June –
At 7. a.m . Set out from Geneva - and in an Hour afterwards entered the French Territory at Ferney. – Halted at the small Town of Gex to have our Passports examined, where mine was left & a Receipt given for it to be produced on my arrival at Paris at the Police Office there. Immediately on leaving Gex, we commenced the ascent of the Jura Alps; but the weather being very hazy we were a good deal disappointed in not having a good view from their Summit of Mount Blanc &c. &c.; but we saw the Lake of Geneva, the Town, and the low grounds very distinctly.

Breakfasted at the Solitary Inn of La Vattay - and slept [in] the small Town of Morez situated in a beautiful romantic Valley; disce. from Geneva 35 miles. – This Village being famous for making excellent House Clocks we Purchased a small one for 100 Francs.

Wedy. 25. June
Set out from Morez at 7. a.m.; Breakfasted at Champagnole; and sleep at the Town of Poligny at the foot of the Jura Alps; disce. 37½ miles; and putting up at the Hotel de Tete D'Or, a very good Inn.

Thursday 26. June –
Leave Poligny at ½ past 5. a.m. – Breakfast at the large Town of Dole; after crossing a fine large River 24 miles from Poligny. We are now once more in France and Travelling thro' a very rich fine beautiful Country. – Halted for 3 Hours at Dole - and then resumed our Journey, and slept at the Town of Auxonne, disce. 34½ miles; Putting up at the "Hotel du Grand Cerf." –

Friday 27. June –
Breakfast at Dijon – the Capital of the Province of Burgundy – and a fine large Town. – Sleep at the small Town of Pont de Pany - disce. 31¼ miles; putting up at the Hotel de la Poste. –

Saturday 28. June –
Set out at 6. a.m. from Pont de Pany - and Breakfast at the Village of Vittaux [Vitteaux]. –

Sleep at the small Town of Rouvray disce. 36½ miles -; the Road all this day being very bad and greesy, [sic] in consequence of heavy falls of Rain for the last two days. We put up at the Hotel de la Poste, a good Inn - & very civil People. –

Sunday 29. June 1823.
We remained to take Breakfast at our last Night's Hotel - and set out from Rouvray at 10. a.m. – Passing thro' the Town of Avallon, we Halted at the Town of Lucy le Bois, to refresh and rest our Horses for 3 Hours. We then resumed our Journey - and arrived at 7. P.M. at the Town of Vermanton [Vermenton] – disce. 26¼ miles. – We put up at the "Hotel De Diligence", kept by an old Cook of the late Emperor Napoleon, – A very good Inn, and very Civil attentive People.

Monday 30. June –
Set out from Vermanton [Vermenton] at ½ past 6. a.m. -; and passing thro' the small Town of Saint Bris, we Halted to Breakfast at the large & fine Town of Auxerre on the Left Bank of the River Yonne. – Here we remained for 3 Hours - and visited the Cathedral which is a very fine large Gothic Building - with Painted Windows. –

Left Auxerre at 1½ P.M., and arrived at the Town of Joigny at 6½ P.M.; putting up at the "Hotel des Cinq Mineurs" – disce. 32½ miles. –

Source:
MACQUARIE, Lachlan. Journal. 30 November 1822 - 7 July 1823.
Original held in Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref. A776-1 pp.60b-64a and 70a-72b [Microfilm CY Reel 302 #Frames 260-267 and 278-283].

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