March

March 17.
Commodore Nesbitt gave a great Ball and Supper at the Theatre to all the Ladies and Gentlemen belonging to the Settlement, in honor of St. Patrick, the Tutelar Saint of Ireland.

March 30.
At last our fears and anxiety, after long doubts and uncertainties, are, to our great joy and satisfaction relieved, by the arrival of the long wished for Promotions from Bengal; made and issued there, at Calcutta, by His Excellency the Commander in chief in India, Earl Cornwallis, on the 21st. Feby. 1789; appointing the Officers in said Promotions to Rank and do Duty, according to the Dates of Commissions annexed to their respective names, until [sic] His Majesty's pleasure shall be known; the Promotions being transmitted home for his Royal approbation. — In this Promotion I had the happiness and satisfaction to find myself appointed Captain Lieutenant to the 77th. Regiment, my Commission bearing date 9th. Novr. 1788; – Capt. Lt. Spry having succeeded at the same time to one of the vacant Companies, and Ensign Tait to a Lieutenancy: – my Promotion was first announced to me early this morning by a short chit or note from Brigade Major Auchmuty; and I must here, for the sake of truth and justice, observe, that I have very great reason to be thankful, and to think myself extremely fortunate indeed, in succeeding to this Rank on the present occasion: – there being at least Thirty Lieutenants now serving in India in His Majesty's different Regiments who are older Lieutenants in the Army than I am by a great deal; and as a good deal of interest has been made by many of these Officers to succeed to the late vacant commissions in the Four Kings Regiments lately arrived in India, I must in part, impute, to my situation as Eldest Lieutenant in the Regiment, for which I am indebted to my very worthy good friend General Maclean, and the rest, to the friendship and interest of Major Skelly and Capt. Madan. —

The following is an Exact List of the Names of the Officers Promoted from the different Kings Regiments, and Honorable Company's Service, to the vacancies in the 77th. Regt., by Earl Cornwallis; vizt. – Major – Marlo Parsons Stirling, from 36th. Regt. – Captains – Eccles Smith, from Honble. Compy. – Robert Duncanson, from late 71st. Regt.; Charles Gray, from 52d. Regt.; – Wm. Frederick Spry, 77th.; and Captain Lieutenant, L. Mc.Quarie, 77th. Regt. – Lieutenants – Creighton MacCrea from 75th. Regt.; George Collier from 52d. Regt.; John Turner, from 36th.; William Nilson from 71st.; Chas. Thos. Grant, from 72d.; John Macleod, from 73d.; Roger Bridgewater, from 73d.; John Maval Cooper, from 71st.; John Lawrence, from 52d.; Donald Mc.Kenzie, from 71st.; James Blackwell, 77th.; & John Tait, 77th. Regt.; – Ensigns – Chas. Stewart, 77th.; Stephen Gillman 77th.; Alexr. Gray; Francis Mc.Key; William Hessman; and William Whitelaw. — These four last mentioned Ensigns, were acting Ensigns in the Company's Service, or volunteers in Kings Regiments.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 1: 15 December 1787 – 24 March 1792.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A768 pp.151–154. [Microfilm Reel CY299 Frames #81–83].