April

Apl. 1.
I wrote letters of this date to my Friend General Maclean, and sent him inclosed [sic] an accot. of Money due me by the Regt. certified by Lt. Col. Balfour, for him to recover and receive Payment of from the Agents; – I wrote also to Col. Marsh on this business and sent him a copy of the account.

April 3.
The wind continuing still contrary I went on shore to Deal along with Qr. Mr. Stewart, to buy some Tobacco and Tea and Sugar for the Company - I dined on shore and Returnd on board in the Evening.

April 4.
Friday — The Second Division of our Regt. commanded by Capt. Dunlop Embark'd early this morning on board the Northumberland in Deal Roads — the weather rough and a High Sea runing [sic]; the wind at last shifted round in our favor; At Nine OClock in the Morning we began to Prepare for Sailing. — At Ten OClock, every thing being ready, weighed Anchor, and Set Sail on our intended voyage; a Fine Smart favorable Breeze wafting us down the English Channel; – the chalky cliffs of Dover on our Right and the Coast of France on our left Hand; – viewing one or other, alternately. — The Northumberland and several other Indiamen set sail at the same time with us.

I wrote letters of this date to my Friends in Scotland to be sent on shore by our Pilote. [sic]

April 6.
Sunday. — For the two last days we have had charming Fine weather sailing down the Channel — Saw several Indiamen a head, coming out of Spithead, bound for different Parts of India. — We are off Plymouth early this morning; – the Pilote [sic] left us here – I sent my letters on shore with him. —

In the Evening about Sun-set, Take our Departure from the Lizard Point, with a fine fair wind at North East – our course being South West – we were out of sight of Land before it became quite dark; we feasted our Eyes as long as we could discern it, with perhaps the last sight of Old Britain.

April 7.
Our Soldiers are divided into three watches – one watch to be constantly upon Deck to assist in working the Ship, as well as to make room and Give more air to those below – an officer of the Day is appointed to visit the Mens Births [sic] below, to superintend the watches and preserve order and Regularity among the Soldiers, with many other useful Regulations and arrangements for the conduct of the officers and Men during the Passage were made this day by Lieut. Colonel Balfour. —

April 10.
Fine weather and Fair wind – we had very good weather and very little Swell going through the Bay of Biscay we have got clearly out of this day. — Every thing goes on smoothly and pleasantly on board; our Mess Mates both Male and Female prove very agreeable and the greatest harmony subsists. — Our Meal Hours are nearly the same as on shore vizt. Breakfast at Nine OClock, Dinner at Four OClock, and Supper at Ten OClock; – we found these Hours much more agreeable than those commonly observed on board ship, as we had the whole of the Forenoon to ourselves to employ in study or otherwise as we thought proper; — the Ladies had always Tea and coffee in the Evening and such of the Gentlemen as particularly wished for it. — Captain Smith has a very Good Band of Music, which Plays, ever since we left the Land, during the Time we are at Breakfast and Dinner, which adds very much to the pleasure and satisfaction of our Society

April 15.
Tuesday. We continue still to have very fine weather and a Fair wind. — In the afternoon of this Day we were close abreast of the Island of Madeira in Latitude 33°. North – we Passed it on the North west Side – it is a beautiful Island to look at – this Island is famous for Producing the wine that goes by its name.

April 20.
Continue to have very pleasant weather; Pass our time very agreeably indeed; – we dance with the Ladies on the Quarter Deck every Moonlight Night – the Band Playing on the Poop every Evening, while we walk or Dance.

We devote the Forenoon to Reading, and the afternoon always to walking or Dancing on the Quarter Deck – at night we play Cards and Backgamon [sic] for triffles; – in this manner, except when necessarily employed on Duty, our time is spent hitherto and will continue to be so most likely during the whole voyage. — To Punish and Suppress irregularities among our Men, we are obliged to Hold court martials now and then upon and inflict corporal Punishment according to the nature and degree of their offences. — The Sailors are also some times Punished by Capt. Smith for any misbehaviour, with a Dozen Lashes. — There being only three of us to sit Courts-Martial – (Tait Erskine and myself) I am obliged to be constant President of every Court Martial that sits. — As we have now got into a very warm Latitude, the Lieut. Colonel has very properly, begun a most clearly and necessary custom of Bathing the Soldiers every Day before Sun rise upon the Fore-Castle under the Eye and inspection of the Officer of the Day — We have very frequent and Regular Parades vizt. a Bathing Parade at or before Sun Rise, at which the orderly officer only attends, at Ten OClock a Parade of Inspection; at Twelve OClock a Parade for Dinner; – and at Sun set a Fourth Parade of Inspection. — The Soldiers are obliged to appear clean at all these Parades; they are obliged to remain the greatest part of the Day upon Deck, while their Births [sic] below on Hollop [sic] Deck are cleaning out and Receiving Fresh Air from above through the Wind-Sails, made for the purpose for conveying the air down to all the Lower Decks; – the Hammocks and Bedding are kept above to be aired upon Deck all Day untill [sic] orderd [sic] down at Sun-set. The Soldiers are very Healthy, they receive plenty of very good wholesome Provisions, with one Dram per Day; and sometimes Punch in place of Grog is serv'd out ot them; — Sour-Croute [sic] &c. is serv'd out to them to prevent Scurbutic infections. — I must confess, that during all my Travels, I never saw Soldiers live near so well, either on shore or on board of Transports; — indeed, too much praise cannot be given to Capt. smith for his extreme good and humane attention to the Living &c. of the Troops on board the Dublin.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 1: 15 December 1787 - 24 March 1792.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A768 pp.75-83. [Microfilm Reel CY299 Frames #43-47].