November

Novr. 8.
Monday. I spent a very pleasant and agreeable Evening in the Country at the House of Lawyer White's, where the Nuptials of Miss James and John Fell Esqr. (of the Bombay Civil Establishment) were celebrated with great festifity [sic] mirth and good humour. —

Novr. 10.
Wednesday. In this Days General Orders, the very agreeable and pleasing intelligence, was announced to us, of our Regiments being order'd to hold themselves in readiness on the shortest notice to embark for immediate and actual Field Service. What made this Order the more agreeable, was, that we had almost despaired of being employed during the present War at all; — having at the commencement of it; put ourselves to very great Expence in providing Camp Equipage and Necessaries for the Field, and being buoy'd up with a full and certain hope of going on Service, we were all extremely mortified and much hurt, after all our Preparations, to be informed some months ago, that we were not going - but, this days Order, fortunately reversed that Cruel Decree, and agreeably dispelled all our doubts and fears. The 2d. Bombay Regt. Commanded by Colonel Frederick, 9th. and 12th. Battalions of Native Infantry, Commanded by Captains Riddell and Oakes, with One Company of European Artillery and Two Companies of Lascars, are also order'd to hold themselves in readiness for Service, in this days General Orders. —

Novr. 19.
Friday. Colonel Frederick with the 2d. Bombay Regt. 9th. Battn. N. Infy. and Half a Company of Artillery, Embark'd this day, and Proceeded to join (as is supposed) the Mahrattas and Captain Little's Detachment. —

Novr. 20. & 22d.
I wrote letters of this date to my Uncle Lochbuy, Broyr. Charles and Capt. Duncanson, and left them with Mr. Bruce to be forwarded by the first Ships for Europe; I sent my Uncle by this conveyance a Bill upon London for Eighty Five Pounds Sterling, to reimburse himself for the Money he was so good as to advance me; and with directions to give the Ballance [sic] remaining (after paying himself) to my Mother, Brothers and Sister; — I sent my Brother Charles, an another Bill for Thirty Pounds (drawn upon the Agents on accot. of my Arrears) upon London, for his own sole use and behoof, and advised the Agents, Messrs. Cox Cox & Greenwood, by Letter, of my so doing.

I appointed by Power of Attorney, on the 20th. Inst., Messrs. Bruce Fawcett & Co. my Agents and Attorneys, and Lodged on the 20th. Inst. One Thousand Rupees in their Hands. —

Novr. 24.
Wednesday. Early this Morning our Regt. (77th.) agreeable to General Orders, marched from Cantonments on Coolabah to Bombay, and embarked from the Dock Pier Head on board the Ship Hercules, Capt. Gallaway at Nine OClock; — The 12th. Battn. of Native Infantry, Commanded by Capt. Oakes; One Company of Artillery wh. Lascars, Commanded by Capt. Draper; and all the Army Followers and Baggage, were embarked on board of different Vessels at the same time; — I return'd on shore, after seeing the Men on board to pay some visits and take leave of my Friends at Bombay, — I lodged Two Hundred Rupees more in the Hands of Messrs. Bruce & Co. and embark'd at Twelve OClock; The Commander in chief Major General Abercromby, with all his Suit [sic] and Staff, embark'd on board the Drake Cruizer, Commodore Robertson; and Lieut. Colonel Balfour embark'd on board the Scorpion Cruizer, Capt. Montresor with his Lt. Infantry Company went in the Drake; the rest of the Regiment, commanded by Major Stirling, went all in the Hercules – a very fine large Ship, but not sufficiently large to accommodate Six Hundred and Fifty Soldiers and Twenty Four Officers, which number we consisted of, and consequently were prodigiously crowded; Mrs. Stirling made one of our Society, but had a Part of the round house allotted to her. At 4'OClock, The Fleet with the Commander in chief, and Troops for Service, Set Sail with a fair Wind out of the Harbour, Steering Southwardly. We spent our time on board the Hercules very pleasantly, the Captain being a very civil obliging, Gentlemanlike Man; he furnish'd us with a very good Table, and we lived during the Passage very well indeed: — the Officers, in order to make the expence easier for the Junior Ranks, agreed to pay for our own living according to Rank, by which means each Captain's Proportion for Eleven Days Diet on board the Hercules amounted to Fifty Eight Rupees. — Our Passage from Bombay was much longer than was expected – the winds proving contrary off Carwar Bay & Pigeon's Island for four or five days. —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 1: 15 December 1787 – 24 March 1792.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A768 pp.189–196. [Microfilm Reel CY299 Frames #100–104].