September

Septr. 6.
Saturday. Arrive this day in Bombay Harbour, the Winterton East Indiaman Capt. Dundas, with Major General William Medows, the new Governor of Bombay on board; and also the Prince Wm. Henry Indiaman Capt. R. Dundas, with Colonel Robert Abercromby, Colonel of the 75th. Regt. on board; — Each of these Ships brought out Two Companies of the 77th. Regt. commanded by Capts. Whitelocke and Montresor.

General Medows came on shore immediately and was received on his landing by the 71st. Regiment: — All the Troops doing Duty in Garrison were immediately assembled on the Grand Parade; and the New Governor Genl. Medows, attended by the Old Governor and all the Council having come there, his Commission appointing him Governor and Commander in chief of Bombay &c. &c. &c. was Publickly [sic] read – after which the Troops under Arms fired three vollies and were dismissed: — Genl. Medows is the first Military Governor ever appointed to Bombay.

Septr. 7.
Our Four Companies arrived yesterday from England in the Winterton and P.W. Henry Indiamen were this day disembarked and Quartered along with the rest of the Regiment at the Apollo Barracks: — Our Regt. are now all arrived, this being the last Division of them. —

Septr. 8.
Are all Introduced to the New Governor, and also Col. Abercromby. —

Septr. 12.
Orders having been issued by the General, for a Field Officer of the Day; and a Captain's Guard to mount daily on the Main Guard; — it being my turn as first on the Roster for Duty, I mounted the Main Guard as Senior Subaltern along with Capt. Craufurd and Lieut. Anderson of the 75th. Regt.; the Duty being done by Detachments from the European Brigade and Native Infantry alias Sepoys; Lieut. Colonel Balfour was Field Officer of the Day. — I wrote letters of this date on Guard to Major Skelly (my old Capt. in the late 71st. Regt.) and Capt. Madan (an old American acquaintance) both Aid-de-Camps to Earl Cornwallis Governor-General and Commander in chief of India; to Solicit their interest with His Lordship in my favor for Promotion, in case the Honble. Company's Officers should decline accepting of the vacant Commissions left for them, in the King's Four Regiments lately arrived in India; — I also wrote on the same Subject to Capt. James Campbell, Nephew and Aid-de-Camp to Major Genl. Sir Archd. Campbell, Governor of Madras; — I also wrote letters to my Friends Lieut. James Robertson and Ensign R. Cameron 76th. Regt.; and Doctors Charles and Hector Macleans. — Had a very pleasant Guard with Capt. Craufurd.

Septr. 13.
The 71st. Regiment Embarked for Madras (their old Quarter) on board the Dublin (Capt. Smith) and Northumberland Indiamen, and some other small vessels. —

Septr. 14.
I went on board the Dublin to take leave of my Friend Capt. Smith and the rest of my old Mess-mates of that Ship: – the Ladies that came out with us are all going to Bengal on board the Dublin; notwithstanding, some of them, had very tempting offers, in the way of Matrimony, to remain at Bombay. I spent most part of the Day in taking leave of my Dublin and 71st. Friends: — I gave my Bengal letters to Capt. Broun – and my Madras ones to Lieut. Roderick Mackenzie of the 71st. Regiment. — I Hired and Engaged a Native Servant this day – a Boy called Abdella (a Moor Man) lately Servt. to Lt. R. Mackenzie. —

Septr. 15.
The Ships with the 71st. Regt. on board, sail'd this day for Madras. I am to Pay my Moor Servant Five Rupees wages per month. —

Septr. 18.
The 77th. Regiment, agreeably to orders, removed this day, from the Apollo Barracks to the King's Barracks, within the Fort; these Barracks were recently occupied by the 71st. Regt., and were originally Built for a King's Regt. the first that ever came to Bombay. — They are a tolerable good Square Barracks – they contain about 700 Men and Officers, nearly, in Proportion; most of our Officers removed to the Barracks at the same time with the Men; none of our Captains chose to come into the Barracks at this time. — I had in consequence, as oldest Lieutenant the choice of all the quarters, I chose a very good one in the Front Face of the Barracks, facing the Grand Parade; my old chum continued my fellow Lodger as before in the Bunder, and our Mess also continued the same. —

Septr. 28.
Sunday. — After many objections and difficulties, that were started against it, having been surmounted and got over, a few of us, who were anxious and zealous in promoting and recommending it, knowing it from past experience to be an eligible thing, and Productive of very good beneficial consequences to the Corps at large, had influence and sufficient interest at last to form on this day, a General Regimental Mess composed of all the Officers of the Regiment; under very good Regulations. We appointed the Qr. Mr. Serjeant (Mc.Dowell) our Mess Man; each Member allowing him Half a Guinea per week for eating, and Three Pence Sterling Profit on every Bottle of Wine, Porter or Beer Drank at the Mess; and One Rupee (alias 2/31/2 Str.) for the Dinner of each Guest: - The Members were obliged to lay in Mess utensils, Table Linnen [sic] &c. &c. at their own Expence. —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 1: 15 December 1787 - 24 March 1792.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A768 pp.129-135. [Microfilm Reel CY299 Frames #70-73].