January

Jany. 1.
I set out in the Stage for Edinburgh where I arrived in the Evening — and next morning employed Some People to Recruit for me in different Parts of the Town — in the course of a few days I made a couple of good Recruits — the best of which I appointed to act as Serjeant;

Jany. 8.
and leaving both under the care of my friend Mr. Gillean Maclaine, I left Edinburgh in the Morning Fly and arrived at Glasgow in the Evening — I put up at my Old Quarters at the "Black Bull-Inn." — I set about Recruiting heartily next day — I found that in my absence that my Serjeants had been very remiss, and had lost many opportunities of getting men for me from their negligence and roguery together. — I must here observe it is very seldom one meets with faithful and Honest Recruiting Serjeants on these occasions — I have experienced many vexatious disappointments from these People during the time I spent on this disagreeable Service. —

Jany.14.
Notwithstanding my having lost thro' the neglects of the People I employed, Four Men by desertion and otherwise within these few days past, I was able to send Colonel Marsh, a Return of Ten Recruits, by this Day's Post. —

My Brother Charles arrived in Town this Evening from Mull, and brought with him Two very Handsome Recruits for me, vizt. — Serjeant Lachlan Maclean (who I had been so desirous of getting to go along with me) and Charles Mc.Culloch, a very good Grenadr. whom, my Friend Mr. Stevenson of Oban had Enlisted for me at the request of my good Friends at Airds, who I was well informed were very anxious for my Success; my Brother lived with me for some days at the Inn.

Jany. 15
The 74th. Regiment, whose Head Quarters had been all along at Glasgow being now nearly complete, marched off this day for Grangemouth in order to embark for England.

I cannot help observing in this place, the constant and kind solicitude of my worthy and good Friend General Maclean, concerning my success in Recruiting — He corresponded closely and regularly with me, and sent me very useful and judicious instructions with regard to my conduct on the Recruiting Service.

Jany. 18.
I sent off my Brother Charles to Edinburgh to look after my Recruits there, and do his best endeavours to procure Men for me in that Quarter — I had sent Serjeant Maclean and Chas. Mc.Culloch off for Edinr. a few days before, to join the other Recruits there. I confirmed Lachlan Maclean as my Serjeant and gave instructions to him to take charge of all my Recruits there.

Jany. 21.
Having completed my Quota of Men I wrote to Colonel Marsh by this Post acquainting him therewith, and sent him a Return of the Names of Fifteen Recruits. —

My Uncle, Maclaine of Lochbuy, arrived this day in Town from the Highlands, on his way to Edinburgh; He staid [sic] a couple of days at Glasgow with me — examined my Recruits, and gave them all some Money to Drink and make merry; on the night before he went off for Edinr., I made one very Stout Handsome recruit, vizt. Ranald Mc.Neill, a very good Scholar, and whom I immediately appointed my Corporal — and sent him off next day to Edinburgh.

Jany. 24.
I went this day to Paisley, having had a Serjeant there for some time before Beating up for Recruits — I made one there on this day myself, order'd my Party to return to Glasgow next day — and in the Evening I came back to Glasgow in the Fly. —

Jany. 25.
I wrote to Lieut. Colonel Balfour of the 77th. to the Agents, and to Genl. Maclean, and sent them Returns of my Recruits, being Seventeen in Number on this Day.

Jany. 28.
I sent off my Party from Glasgow for Edinburgh this day under the charge of Serjeant Rose.

Jany. 29.
Having settled all my Business at Glasgow, I took a Ticket in the Fly and set out in ye. morning for Edinburgh — I came up with my Recruits at Livingston, where I dined, order'd them some Drink, and Proceeded on to Edinr. where I arrived about Seven OClock at night, and having escorted a Lady (Mrs. Maclean of Craigbell) who came from Glasgow with me in the Fly, to her Lodgings; I waited first upon my Uncle Lochbuy, and afterwards went along with my Brother Charles to sup at my Friend Mr. Gillean Maclean's where I met a number of Friends, and spent a very jovial night; — I had the pleasure to find, upon enquiry, that my Brother and my worthy good Friend Gillean, had not been idle in my absence, and that they had exerted themselves to the utmost in Procuring me Recruits in conjunction with my Uncle Lochbuy; — I forgot in its proper place to mention that my Friend Gillean had taken particular pains to procure me a most valuable Recruit, an excellent Servant, in Donald Campbell; whom he had Enlisted at Edinburgh, and whom he had sent to join me at Glasgow on the 18th. Inst. after being properly Enlisted and attested, to wait upon me as my Servant, as such I received him and find him a very good one — He Dresses Hair remarkably well, waits Table and Plays very well upon the Fiddle. —

I took up my Quarters at Duncan Mc.Farlan's Inn, at the Cowgate Port, in order to be near the Rendezvous I had appointed, and where all my Recruits were to be Billetted. —

Jany. 31.
My Recruits arrived in the Forenoon of this Day in Town from Glasgow, and after giving them a Refreshment, I got them all Billetted in the Canon-Gate. —

I begin to prepare for my departure from Edinburgh by settling all my Private concerns there; I engage a passage for myself and Recruits in a Lieth [sic] Ship bound for London at the rate of One Guinea for each Recruit and Two Guineas for my own Cabin Passage, the Captain engaging to give good usage and to land myself and Party at Gravesend.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 1: 15 December 1787 - 24 March 1792.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A768 pp.10-18. [Microfilm Reel CY299 Frames #11-15].