November

Novr. 1.
A Field Officer of the Day was this Day appointed, and a Captain and Two Subalterns mounted the Main Guard. — The Troops on Coolaba commenced doing Duty in Garrison.

Novr. 11.
I mounted my first Captain's Guard, on the Main Guard of Bombay this day; my Subalterns were Ensign Towers of the 75th. Regt., and Ensign James of the 2d. Bombay Regiment; – Major Sartorius of the Honble. Company's Corps of Engineers, was Field Officer of the Day. —

Novr. 12.
Lieut. Colvill Learmouth, Eldest Lieut. of the 75th. Regt. died and was buried this day: – He was a very good officer and a very worthy good Man and died much regretted – His decease was the Liver. — It is to be observed that this is the first King's Officer that has died since the arrival of His Majesty's Two Regts. at Bombay. —

Novr. 13.
Arrived this day from Madras His Majesty's Ship Phoenix of 36 Guns, commanded by Captain G.A. Byron. —

Novr. 15.
Arrived from Madras His Majesty's Ship, The Crown of 64 Guns, commanded by Capt. James Cornwallis. — These two Ships belong to the Squadron lately sent out to India, under the chief command of the Honble. Commodore W. Cornwallis, who is at present with the rest of the Squadron at Bengal, on a visit to his Brother Earl Cornwallis.

Novr. 24.
There appearing no prospect of my being able to do any thing in the Military Line for my Friend and Namesake Murdoch Macquarie, I applied several months ago to Lt. Col. Balfour for his Discharge after he was Struck off as a Volunteer; but Col. Balfour, for reasons best known to himself, would not at that time comply with my request. — I lately made the same application again to Col. Balfour and found him equally intractable, which reduced me to the necessity of applying through Lt. Col. Harris, to General Medows and stating the situation of the young man to him, requesting his interference in the matter and consent to Col. Balfour's Granting the Discharge; to which the General was kindly pleased to acquiesce, and accordingly spoke to Col. Balfour upon the Subject, who after many tedious and very unnecessary delays at last Granted the discharge on the 22d. Instant. — I had some time before settled with Commodore Nesbitt, respecting the Young Man's going into the Honble. Company's Marine, as a Midshipman; (his own inclination leading that way, as well as its being the only eligible Line of Life that I could get him into in Bombay); and the Commodore having kindly agreed to receive him as a Midshipman and appointed as such to the Morning Star Grab commanded by Captain Sutherland, a very good and respectable character; who has promised to pay him every attention; I introduced the Young Man to the Commodore and Capt. Sutherland, and they received him very kindly; and Having supplied him with a very Good Stock of Clothes and Linens, and given him the best advice I was master of how to conduct himself in his new Profession; Gave him some money to keep his Pocket, took leave of him and sent him on board Ship in the Evening of this day; – and I sincerely hope and wish he may behave well and do well after all the expence and trouble I have been at on his account; - it has cost me upwards of One Hundred Rupees to fit him out on this occasion. —

I was on this day Elected as one of the Managers of the Bombay Subscription Assemblies for the Ensuing Season.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 1: 15 December 1787 – 24 March 1792.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A768 pp.164–168. [Microfilm Reel CY299 Frames #88–90].