June

Tuesday 1. June !
I returned this forenoon, with Mrs. Macquarie and Lachlan, in the Carriage to Parramatta, where we have Mr. & Mrs. Wylde – and Mrs. King still on a visit to us. —

Wednesday 2. June !
The Govt. Brig Lady Nelson, having Mr. Oxley the Surveyor Genl. on board, arrived this forenoon in Sydney Cove from Port Macquarie, whither Mr. Oxley had proceeded lately to make a Survey of that Port. — His Report of the Harbour and adjoining Country of Port Macquarie, is highly favorable and satisfactory and which is corroborated by that of Lieut. King R. N. Comr. of H. M. Cutter Mermaid, who assisted Mr. Oxley in making the Survey of this Harbour which is perfectly safe and accessible for Colonial Craft of from 80 to 100 Tons Burthen. —

L. M.

Thursday 3. June 1819 !
I left Parramatta today at 11,O'Clock, in the Carriage, along with Mrs. M. Lachlan, and Mrs. Wylde on our return to Sydney, where we arrived at 1,O'Clock.

Friday 4. June !!!
This being the anniversary of the Birth of our beloved monarch, in which he completes the 81st. Year of his age, the same was Celebrated with the usual Demonstrations of joy and respect. — I held a Leveee at Govt. House at ½ past 1,O'Clock, and at 5. P.M. I entertained the Civil & Military officers and the other Gentlemen of the Colony at Dinner; Ninety two Persons having sit down to Dinner; many others having been prevented coming from the Country in consequence of the bad Weather.

At 1,O'Clock today (after the firing of the Troops in Hyde Park) I went to the Convict Barrack, accompanied by Lt. Govr. Erskine, Mr. Judge Advocate Wylde, Mr. Justice Field, Major Druitt, and my own Family, to see the Convicts sit down to their first Dinner, according to the New System, in the new elegant Barrack in Hyde Park.

This was a most highly gratifying and interesting sight; no less than 589 Convicts having sat down to a most excellent Dinner; Plum Pudding and an allowance of Punch being allowed to them, in addition to their regular meal on this auspicious Day. — I addressed them in a short plain speech, and was followed by Mr. Judge Advocate Wylde on one more at length. — Mrs. M. and myself, and the Friends who accompanied us drank to their Health & Prosperity.

They all appeared very happy and contented, and gave is three cheers on our coming away. — Every thing was in good order, and Major Druitt and Messrs. Hutchinson and Gandell exerted themselves to the utmost in making all the necessary arrangements for the whole of the Convicts, destined for the new Barracks, dining in them this Day, agreeablly to the orders issued on this head, on the 1st. of last month. —

The whole of the Government Carts and Trucks, with their respective Teams of fine Horses, in all Twenty Carriages with a Team of 3 Horses to each, were regularly paraded this day at 11,O'Clock at the Govt. Stables in the Brick-Fields, and were driven in regular Procession through George Street and the Govt. Domain to Hyde-Park – and thence back to their Stables; the Drivers being very smart and well dressed, the Horses in high condition, and the Carriages and Harness very clean and in good order; reflecting the highest credit on Major Druitt's judicious arrangements. —

The American Brig (Whaler) Genl. Gates Capt. Riggs, arrived in the Cove this day from Boston. —

L. M.

Saturday 5. June 1819 !
This Day being the anniversary of the Meetings of the Bible Society – and Benevolent Society, I attended and opened the meeting at the Court House, accompanied by the Lt. Governor, the two Judges, the Secry. to Government, the Chaplains, Sir John Jamison &c. – &c. – &c.

A New Institution, called the Savings Bank Society, was established at this meeting, at the recommendation of The Honble. Mr. Justice Field. —

The Meeting took place at 12 at Noon, and broke up at 3,O'Clock.

L. M.

L. M.

Wednesday 9. June 1819 !
I this day rode out with Mr. Judge Advocate Wylde to "Point Campbell" (on the East of Woolloomoolloo Bay) to examine the Grounds in the vicinity of the Point, with the view of fixing on a Suitable Place for a Cottage and Garden, for which purpose I had some time ago promised Mr. Wylde a Piece of Ground on Point Campbell. — Having rode over the Ground in all directions I fixed on a line running across the Neck of Land, from Elizabeth Bay to Woollloomoolloo Bay –; promising Mr. Wylde a Grant of *that part* of Point Campbell to the north of the Said Line, on condition of his building a neat handsome cottage thereon, within a given time from the date of the Ground being measured and marked out by the Surveyor for him, and which time is then to be finally fixed on. —

> L. M.

[** Supposed about 50 acres.*]

I received Reports this afternoon from Windsor that the Rivers Hawkesbury and Nepean had suddenly overflowed their Banks on last Sunday Night and that on Monday morning there was an immense Inundation of both those Rivers, from the Torrents of Rain which had fallen on Saturday and Sunday last, especially on the Night of the latter – when there was also one of the most severe Gales of Wind, or Storm – both at Sydney and in the Interior, – ever known in the Colony. — On Tuesday (yesterday) the Flood was at its full height at Windsor – the Water being quite still and smooth – covering the whole of the Low country along the Banks of the Hawkesbury for a great distance. — The injuries occasioned by this Flood has not yet been ascertained, but they must be very considerable. —

L. M.

Sunday 13. June 1819 !!!
This day about 2,O'Clock, the Ship Foxhound, South Sea Whaler, Commanded by Capt. W. Watson, sailed direct for England, from Port Jackson; having Mr. Andw. Allan late Staff Clerk in the Commisst. Department, and Mr. Robt. Fopp, my late Butler, as Passengers on board. — I gave charge to Capt. Watson of a small Box, Containing Public Dispatches for Earl Bathurst &c. &c. which he has been instructed to deliver immediately on his arrival in London. —

N. B. Capt. Watson expects to arrive in England in 3½ months from the time of his departure hence. —

Friday 18. June !
At a late Hour this Evening The Ship Hibernia Commanded by Capt. Lennon, entered the Heads, and anchored in Port Jackson Harbour; having on board the Revd. Richard Hill recently appointed a Chaplain for this Colony, his wife Mrs. Hill, Lieut. Mee of the 83d. Regt. in command of Detachmts. of that Corps & 47th. Regt. forming the Guard over the Convicts which came out on board of this Ship to the Derwent, Mr. Carter R. N. Surgeon Supdt. of the same Ship, Mr. Wm. Smith Settler from England, as Passengers, together with several other Passengers, from the Derwent, whence the Hibernia Sailed on the 7th. Inst.

Saturday 19. June !!!
Having received from Lt. Govr. Sorell a Copy of the London Gazette of date 17th. Novr. last, announcing the greatly lamented demise of Her gracious Majesty The Queen on that day; I deemed it proper and decorous to act on the authority of this Gazette – tho not officially sent to me – by announcing officially to the Public at large in this Territory – in a Sydney Gazette Extraordinary of this day's date – the irreparable loss the British Nation has thus sustained by the Death of their good and amiable Queen; directing the usual Demonstrations of respect, grief and sorrow to be duly observed by all Classes of the Inhabitants of this Territory – as fully detailed in the said Gazette Extraordinary.

On this same day arrived in the Harbour the Brig Lynx Commanded by Capt. Siddons – with a Cargo of Merchandize from Calcutta. —

Tuesday 22. June 1819 !
I set out this morning after Breakfast in the Carriage with Mrs. Macquarie and Lachlan for Parramatta, where we arrived between 1, and 2,O'Clock.

Saturday 26. June 1819 !!!
I returned to Sydney today with my Family for the purpose of attending Divine Worship tomorrow being the first day appointed for the general State Mourning for Her late gracious Majesty. —

I arrived in Town at 1,O'Clock and found the Transport Ship Baring, commanded by Capt. John Lamb, with Male Convicts from England, had anchored in the Harbour about an Hour before my arrival from Parramatta.

The Baring sailed finally from England with 300 Male Convicts, on the 27th. of January last; having touched at Madeira and the Derwent. — Doctr. David Reid is Surgeon Supdt. of the Baring; and the Guard consisting of one Ensign (White) and 52 Soldiers of the 48th. Regt. is commanded by Capt. Coates of the 89th. Regt. — Five of the Convicts died on the Passage, Five were landed sick at the Derwent, and 290 have arrived here in good Health. —

The Revd. Mr. John Cross, Chaplain for this Colony, and his Family; The Revd. Mr. John Butler Missionary Clergyman, with his Family, and two other Missionaries; together with Mrs. Capt. Coates & Family, and some few other Persons, have come out as Passengers on board the Baring. —

I have received some few Public Dispatches from the Secry. of State of as late dates as the 16th. of Decr. last, but containing nothing of interest. —

L. M.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Diary 9 July 1818 – 28 February 1821.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A774 pp.46-57. [Microfilm Reel CY301 Frames #448-459].