October

Octr. 1.
General Medows since his arrival in Bombay, has already made very great changes in this Government for the Better in both Civil and Military Departments; especially, in the latter, which is now put upon a much more respectable footing, than ever it was on before; – a very great Promotion has taken place among the Company's Officers lately, in consequence of an augmentation made to the Military Establishment of Bombay, by orders of the Court of Directors sent out by General Medows: in consequence of which, some of the oldest Captains were at once Promoted to the Rank of Lieut. Colonel and so in Proportion among the other Ranks:— So very rapid a Rise would be thought very extraordinary and uncommon in His Majesty's Service, notwithstanding the Company's Officers have often complained of the hardship of being superseded in Rank by King's Officers.

The Europeans consisting of the 75th. 77th. The 1st. and 2d. Bombay Regiments were formed into a Brigade under the Command of Colonel Abercromby; The Sepoys or Native infantry, – consisting of Twelve Battalions, each commanded by a Captain, were formed into Two Brigades of Six Battalions each; the 1st. Brigade commanded by Lieut. Colonel Frederick; and the 2d. Brigade by Lt. Colonel Houssen: — The 1st. Brigade is now doing duty at Bombay, and the 2d. Brigade is detached at the different Subordinates or Out Posts; — Besides the European and Two Native Brigades already mentioned, there is a Corps of Artillery and Company of Lascars attached to it, and a Marine Battalion upon the Bombay Establishment; – the whole nearly amounting to about Ten Thousand Men: – a sufficient Force, if once well disciplined, for the Defence of Bombay and its Dependencies.

The General appointed his Staff also, principally out of his own Suite that he brought out from England with him – vizt. Lieut. Col. Harris of the 76th. Regt. Commissary General &c. &c.; Major Hart of the 75th. Regt. Depy. Adjt. Genl. and Dy. PayMr. Genl. &c. &c.; Lieut. Col. Hartley 75th. Regt. Dy. Qr. General; His Aid-de-Camps were Col. Harris, Major Hart, Lieut. Sandiford and Lieut. Wilson – the two last belonging to the Honble. Company's Service; — the rest of the Old Staff were all continued.

A Strict System of Economical Reform in all Departments being strictly enjoin'd by the Court of Directors to their different Governors in India; which Earl Cornwallis Governor General, having very soon adopted, and determined minutely to follow; vast deductions and Reforms were made in all Departments; and consequently, extended to the Military Establishment of Bombay – whose allowances were ever far inferior to that of Bengal and Madras, and were now reduced very low indeed; – the Amount of the Arrears, of each Rank of the Kings Troops, Paid at home once only in Three Years, was struck off the usual allowance paid here to the Kings Troops; who now have actually very little more than their Kings Pay — when we arrived here, a Lieutenant received, besides his Kings, from the Honble. Company, Forty Eight Rupees Gratuity per month, and Free Quarters or Twenty Rupees for Lodging money Per Month; — at present, a Lieut. receives only, since the late Regulations were made, besides his Kings Pay, Twenty Eight Rupees Per Month and Twenty Rupees Lodging Money in case he is not provided with Quarter Gratis. — and altho' it was given out and I believe the intention of the Honble. Company, that the Kings Troops should be exactly upon the same footing with their own in this Country with regard to all Emoluments and Advantages; yet, they still have many advantages over us - such as Language Money and Share of Offreckonings especially; and many other little Emoluments. So that our golden Dreams, and the flattering Prospects, we had formed to ourselves in Britain, of soon making our Fortunes in the East, must now all vanish into Smoke; and we must content ourselves, with merely being able to exist, without running into Debt. — The Volunteers, by order of Lord Cornwallis, were all struck off this month, and no more allowances to be paid to them after the 31st. of Octr. — their Situations now are truly deplorable. —

Octr. 13.
Finding that the Company's Officers on this Establishment were not inclined to accept of the Vacant Commissions in His Majesty's Regiments; and hearing also that very few Officers on the other two Establishments of Bengal and Madras had given in their names for the vacancies in question; I thought myself justifiable, in consequence, upon this occasion to consider my own interest as Eldest Lieutenant in the Regiment; and accordingly I drew a short Memorial, stating my Services and Pretensions to Promotion; Lt. Colonel Balfour, having first approved of the Memorial, was pleased to accompany me to Head quarters, where being Presented and introduced in form to General Medows, the Memorial was Presented by Lieut. Col. Balfour to the General who received it in a very handsome manner, and having read it, returned for answer "that it was very much to the Purpose, that he should be very happy in forwarding it to Earl Cornwallis, the Commander in chief in India, and would as far as it depended upon him, do every thing in his power to forward my Promotion"; thus ended my interview with the General. — Lt. Col. Balfour was good enough in a few days after this to recommend me officially through Genl. Medows to the Commander in chief in India, for Promotion; having recommended at the same time Capt. Lieut. Spry for one of the vacant Companies, and Ensign Tait (the Eldest Present) for a Lieutenancy in succession.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 1: 15 December 1787 - 24 March 1792.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A768 pp.135-142. [Microfilm Reel CY299 Frames #73-77].