December

Decr. 1.
Monday. I dined this day with Captain Dunlop. —

The Hughes Indiaman arrived this Evening in the Harbour from England, having sailed from Plymouth last, on the 22d. of June; She brings no public news more than what we knew before, and very few letters. — Lieut. Lawrence of the 77th. Regt. and Ensign O'Donnell of the 75th. Regt. are the only King's officers come out on this Ship, no recruits for the King's Regiments; there are some officers and a few Recruits for the Company.

I had letters by Lt. Lawrence from Captain Montresor of the 77th. and a few lines at sea from Lieut. Towers of the 75th. Regt. —

There is a young man named Mr. Lachlan Maclean, brother to Doctor Hector Maclean of the Middlesex, come out on this Ship as an assistant Surgeon on this Establishment, and who is strongly recommended to me by his Brother, from whom I have received a long letter. — I have also had a long letter from my Uncle Lochbuy by Mr. Maclean.

Decr. 2.
Tuesday. Lt. Lawrence, Mr. Burke, Mr. Lachn. Mc.Lean and Lt. Jno. Campbell dined with us today. — Capt. Cook, Lt. R. Gordon, Lt. Odonnell, and Mr. Lemessurier supped with us. —

Decr. 3.
Wednesday. I wrote this day to Lt. Colonel Stirling and Captain Auchmuty.

Ensn. O'Donnell 75th. Regt. and Mr. Lachn. Maclean dined with us today; I have given the latter an invitation to Breakfast and dine with us every day as long as we remain at Bombay. —

Decr. 4.
Thursday. I received this day a very friendly and pressing invitation from Mr. Burrowes, for Mrs. Macquarie and myself to take up our residence at his house in Town as soon as we should pack up our own Furniture &c. &c. for going down the Coast, and to live there until we sail; we have accepted of Mr. Burrowes's friendly invitation, as it will be inconvenient for us to keep House until the moment of our departure.

Mr. Burrowes went off this day to Fort Victoria to escort Miss Pittman thither previous to her return to Bengal, but he has promised to return here before our departure. —

I wrote this day to Lt. Tucker to Bengal in answer to a letter I received lately from him. — I also wrote letters to the Malabar Coast, by a Boat going off tomorrow, to Doctor Anderson, Lt. Weston, Lt. Shaw, Capt. Gray and Captain Grant.

Decr. 5.
Friday. Mr. Harding, Doctor Monteath and Mr. Maclean dined with us. —

Decr. 6.
Saturday. Captain Dunlop, Lt. Lawrence, Lt. West, Ensign Scobbie, Ensn. Burke, and Mr. Maclean dined with us today.

Decr. 7.
Sunday. Captain and Mrs. Green, Lt. Lawrence, Lt. John Campbell and Mr. Maclean dined with us. —

Decr. 8.
Monday. I dined with Colonel Balfour.

Decr. 9.
Tuesday. I wrote of this date to Captain Whitelocke, Adjt. Campbell and Lieut. Gray of the 77th. Regiment.

Decr. 10.
Wednesday. I was engaged to dine at an Entertainment given by Captain Hawkes at the Retreat, but finding myself rather indisposed I sent an excuse. — Lt. Dick 75th. Regt. (who arrived the preceeding [sic] night with a Detachment f that Regiment on board the Swift.) Lt. Jno. Campbell and Mr. Maclean dined with us. — The Ship Jane with the 75th. Regiment on board arrived in the Harbour late this Evening. — Captain Mackenzie, Captain Halkett, Lieut. Dunsmore, Lieut. Stewart and Lieut. McColl came on shore and called on us, but could not stay supper as they had engaged Beds at the Tavern and were to go off to disembark the Regiment at day Break. — We invited the four latter Gentlemen to dine with us next day, Captain Mackenzie being much indisposed went to his own House on Coolabah. —

The Mentor Capt. Richardson sailed this afternoon for Calicut with Lieut. John Campbell on board. —

Decr. 11.
Thursday. I went over early this morning to Coolabah to see the 75th. Regiment disembark; I waited on Captain Mackenzie, Doctor Ker, and several more of the Officers, who had got into their Houses there – Doctor Ker having taken possession of Doctor Anderson's Bungalow our late place of residence. —

Captain Halket [sic], Doctor Ker, Lieut. Dunsmore, Lieut. Stewart and Lieut. McColl of the 75th. and Capt. Dunlop 77th., dined with us.

Decr. 12.
Friday. I went to Coolabah where I visited Captain Halkett, Lieut. Wallace and Lieut. McColl of the 75th. Regt. along with Captain Dunlop, whom I carried in my Gigg. [sic]

Mrs. Macquarie has been a good deal indisposed all this day and the preceeding [sic] night – I hope however her uneasiness is only created by Bile, and will soon be removed. —

Lieut. Wallace 75th. and Lieut. Lawrence 77th. and Mr. Maclean dined with me today – Mrs. Macquarie being obliged to keep to her Bed. —

Decr. 13.
Saturday. — Mrs. Macquarie is much better.

I dined with Captain Dunlop in the Country, and carried out Captain Halkett in my Gigg.[sic] —

Decr. 14.
Sunday. We dined at home – only Mr. Maclean with us. —

Decr. 15.
Monday. I dined with Colonel Balfour, who had several of the officers of the 75th. Regiment to dine with him.

Mr. and Mrs. Halliday, Doctr. Ker, Capt. Halkett and Mr. Maclean supped with us tonight.

The Ship Endeavour Commanded by Captain Bampton, arrived in the Harbour, late in the Evening from Calicut with the 3d. Battalion of Native Infantry.

We must now begin seriously to prepare for our intended movement to the Southward, having determined on going with Captain Bampton on his next trip down with the 11th. Battalion of Sepoys, it is supposed he will sail about the 20th. Instant. —

Decr. 16.
Tuesday. We began packing up and collecting every thing we can want for Twelve months on the Coast.

Decr. 17.
Wednesday. The following friends dined with us this day to take a farewell Dinner with us, vizt. Mr. Forbes, Colonel Balfour, Doctr. Ker, Captain Halkett, Captain Dunlop, Lt. Wallace, Lt. West & Mr. Maclean. —

Decr. 18.
Thursday. — In order to enable us to pack up every thing completely, we removed this day to take up our abode with Mr. Burrowes until our departure for the Coast. —

We dined and spent the Day at Mr. Burrowes's. —

Decr. 19.
Friday. — I Paid off all my Debts, and sent all our Baggage on board Ship today. — I dined with Mr. Harding – and supped at Mr. Burrowes's; where a number of Friends came and called upon us. — Mr. Burrowes invited them all to sup with us there, which many of them did. — Mrs. Macquarie being much indisposed for several days past, could not call on all her friends to take leave, and therefore sent round cards of apology to all those she did not call upon. —

Decr. 20.
Saturday. — I got up at Four OClock in the morning – went to my Office where I wrote letters till Eight OClock, by which time I had all the business of my Office finished and ready to deliver over charge of it to my friend Captain Dunlop, who was announced in yesterday's General Orders, to act for me as Major of Brigade, during my absence from the Presidency. — I dressed at Eight OClock and went to Mr. Burrowes's to Breakfast where I found several friends assembled to wait on us previous to our departure — vizt. Mr. Forbes, Colonel Nicholson, Major Oakes, Captain Dunlop, Captain Romney, Lieutenant Robert Gordon &c. &c. — after Breakfast, I waited on Colonel Balfour for his commands but did not find him at home. — I returned to my Office by appointment with Captain Dunlop, to whom I gave over charge of all the Books and Papers belonging to it and appointed Thomas Thomas as my Clerk, to whom I have agreed to pay Forty Rupees Per Month for his trouble, he himself to find Stationary out of that Sum. — After settling all my business with Captain Dunlop (to whom I have sold my Gig and Horse for what they cost me) and paying all my Servants their wages for the month of December, I returned to Mr. Burrowes's at half past Ten OClock, and finding Mrs. Macquarie ready to set out, we proceeded to the Dock-Pier where they took leave of us. — Revd. Mr. Burrowes, Revd. Mr. Wade, Capt. Dunlop, Lt. Robt. Gordon, and Captain Romney accompanied us on board the Ship Endeavour, on which we got on board by Eleven OClock, and found a very neat Cabin prepared by Captain Bampton for our reception, near One Half of the Round House being partitioned off for us. — All our Servants and Baggage and every thing belonging to us, being also [on] board the Endeavour, rendered our situation more agreeable and made us feel very comfortable indeed. — The only disappointment I experienced I met with on this occasion was not having my friend Doctor Anderson's Munshee in the Ship with me, Docr. Anderson having enjoined me to bring him along with me when I came, and with that intention, I ordered him to come to my Office at Eight OClock in the morning in order to go on board ship with me, but the fellow never came, tho' I sent several people in quest of him, and finally I was obliged to go without him. —

Our Friends that came off with us staid on board until the Anchor began to be weighed when they all took their leave of us. — My poor dear Jane was very much affected after their departure. — I have settled a correspondence with my friends Captain Dunlop, Lt. Wilson and Lt. Gordon, and occasionally with Mr. Forbes, Colonel Nicholson, and Mr. Burrowes.

Mr. Lachlan Maclean Assistant Surgeon, and Ensign Burke came off after us to take leave; I desired the former to write me and gave a Note of Introduction to Lt. Turner the Barrack Master, whom I requested to introduce Mr. Maclean to Colonel Ker's Family. —

I wrote letters early in the morning to Captain Auchmuty and Colonel Stirling, to go by this same day's Post, announcing my departure for the Province of Malabar. — I also wrote to my Agents Messrs. Bruce, Fawcett & Co., directing them to receive my Pay and Office Establishment, during my absence from Bombay; from Mr. Champion PayMr. of Hon"ble Company's Allowances to the King's Troops, to whom I wrote also of this date on the subject. —

I left Duplicates of letters for Mrs. Morley and Messrs. Gosling of London to be forwarded by the Ships of the Season by Mr. Forbes. — I also left Packets of Regimental accounts and letters, in Duplicate, for Genl. Marsh and Messrs. Cox & Greenwood, to be forwarded to them by Colonel Balfour by different Ships. —

At Two OClock P.M. we were fairly under weigh and stood out to Sea, with a fine favourable Breeze. —

I find we have the society of the following Passengers on board, vizt. — Colonel Bowles, Doctor and Mrs. Price, Doctor and Mrs. Bell, Lt. Lawrence 77th. Regt., Captain Forster 11th. Battn. N. Infantry with the following officers of his Corps, vizt. Lt. Gilkie, Lt. Tilson, Lt. Drysdale, Lt. Elliot, and Ensign Macdonald. – Mr. Charles Price is also a Passenger; Captain Bampton, his chief officer Mr. Boyle, a second officer, and a Purser are the only officers of the Ship. —

We dined today about three OClock, and sat down Seventeen at Table; – had a good dinner and were very sociable. — We had Tea at Sun–Set, and Supper at Eight OClock, having played cards and walked for amusement during the Evening. — The Meal hours are, Breakfast at Eight, Dinner at Two and Supper at [at] Eight OClock. — We retire to rest at Ten OClock or as soon as we please. — Captain Bampton seems to manifest every disposition to make us comfortable during the Voyage, which is likely to be very short at this season of the year. The only thing we have to regret , is, that Captain Bampton does not proceed so far as Calicut, being only bound for Tellicherry where he lands the 11th. Battn; we must therefore leave his Ship there and find some other conveyance from thence to Calicut. — Our friend Lt. Samuel Wilson has given us a letter to Mr. Ince at Tellicherry. — This Gentleman has a small Yacht or Pleasure Boat, which, I am in hopes he will offer to carry us down from Tellicherry to Calicut; if not we must find some other conveyance.

Decr. 21.
Sunday. We experienced a fine quiet night, considering it was the first one, in last night. — We have a fine easy Breeze this morning and making tolerable good progress in our Voyage. — In the Evening we met the Drake Cruizer Captain Mangotty bound from the Andamans to Bombay. —

Decr. 22.
Monday. — Very fine Weather, but rather too little wind. — We saw two large Ships to Leeward of us, standing for Bombay, supposed to be the Raymond & Duke of Montrose Indiamen, returning to Bombay. —

Decr. 23.
Tuesday. The Weather continues very fine and pleasant – and we have had a fair wind tho' very light all the time hitherto. — At Ten OClock today we were off Goa.

At Three OClock this afternoon, a little to the Southward of Goa, saw a Fifty Gun Ship (belonging to His Majesty) steering for Bombay – She showed her Colours; her Mizzen Top Mast was wanting; we did not speak her being too far to leeward of us, but she is supposed to be the Centurion one of Commodore Renier's [sic] Squadron. —

Decr. 24.
Wednesday. We saw a Ship a Head this afternoon, supposed to be the Jane bound for Cannanore with the 2d. Bombay Regiment on board.

Decr. 25.
Thursday. We have had charming weather since we set out – hardly any motion, and fine light fair Breezes to waft us on our Voyage, now drawing very near an end. — The Jane was seen a head again this morning – We passed her about Noon – This Ship left Bombay the day before us. —

This being Christmas-day we spent it very sociably and merrily. —

My Clerk Harvey, my Servt. Stewart, and one other recovered soldier named Johnson of the 77th. Regt, embarked with me at Bombay on board the Endeavour. — I am much concerned to find that Harvey's complaint (a most violent Dysentery) which he had lately at Bombay, is returned upon him since he came on board; he is in a very dangerous way – every aid and medical assistance is afforded him by Doctr. Price and Captain Bampton – but I fear much, he is too far gone to recover.

Decr. 26.
Friday. We are abreast of Mount Dilly early this morning and in sight of Cannanore and Tillicherry [sic] – We expect to arrive at the latter place in the afternoon. — Harvey is much worse today. — We dined early — The Wind is scant, and we are making but slow progress. — At half past Seven OClock we anchored in Tellicherry Roads – I sent Hyder immediately on shore with letters, and to hire Boats to carry our Baggage to Calicut.

Poor Harvey is in so dangerous a state that he is expected to breathe his last every moment. —

I did not go to Bed till near Twelve OClock at Night – Harvey was then alive. —

Decr. 27.
Saturday. I got up early in the morning to enquire for Harvey, and found him dead; he had died at 2,OClock in the morning. I cannot express my concern for the loss of this poor fellow; I am truly sorry for it for his own sake, and it will be a great loss to me, as he was the most correct and cleverest Clerk I ever yet employed. —

As soon as his Corpse was properly cleaned and dressed, I sent Stewart and some other People on shore to bury him at Tellicherry, which they did accordingly. —

The 11th. Battalion Native Infantry with Capt. Forster and its officers disembarked at Tellicherry this morning at Nine OClock. — Colonel Bowles, DOctr. & Mrs. Price, and Doctr. & Mrs. Bell went also on shore at Tellicherry much about the same time.

As it was not our wish to land at Tellicherry we remained on board, in hopes of getting Mr. Ince's Boat to carry us down, direct from the Ship, to Calicut at once this same day; we therefore determined on dining on board with Captain Bampton. —

About Noon, we received a very polite and friendly Note of Invitation to go on shore, from Lieut. & Mrs. Lewis at Tellicherry, offering us every accommodation their House could afford. — Finding that there was no great chance of our getting away this Day, as Hyder had not yet come back with any answer respecting either our getting Mr. Ince's Yacht to carry ourselves or Pattamars to carry our Baggage to Calicut, we accepted of the invitation sent to us, and wrote back that we would go on shore in the cool of the Evening after dining on board. — Lieutenant Lawrence of the 77th. was so obliging as to go on shore to look after Hyder and the Boats we wanted, to carry us down to Calicut. —

I wrote letters of this date and sent them on shore to go by the Calicut Post, to Doctor Anderson and Lt. Geo. Gordon, informing them that we should be down with them on the following day, or Monday at fartheSt. —

Hyder returned on board about One OClock with no answer from Mr. Ince (to whom I had sent a letter of introduction from my friend Lt. Wilson at Bombay requesting of him to let us have his Yacht;) and that tho' there were Plenty of Pattamars to be hired at Tellicherry, he could not get any of them to agree to go to Calicut for less than Fifty Rupees each; this demand being a great deal too high and quite unreasonable I declined giving in to it, and determined on applying for assistance from the Civil Magistrate at Tellicherry. —

In the afternoon about 3 O'Clock, Lieut. Lawrence came off to us with Mr. Ince's Boat.

I settled with Captain Bampton for our Passage money from Bombay to Tellicherry, having given him an Order on Messrs. Bruce, Fawcett & Co. for three Hundred Rupees for carrying ourselves and Baggage. —

I gave Captain Bampton my letters for Europe and Bombay enclosed to Mr. Forbes, and Colonel Balfour. —

At Five OClock in the afternoon we left the Ship and went on shore in Mr. Ince's Boat. — We found Mr. Lewis with a Palanquin waiting on the Beach to receive Mrs. Macquarie and to escort her to his Houser where we proceeded immediately and were very hospitably and politely entertained and accommodated with every thing we wanted for the Night. — Mrs. Lewis, being much indisposed after lately lying–in, was not able to come out to us, tho' she saw Mrs. Macquarie, in her Bed Room; but Mr. Lewis himself was extremely civil and attentive – Lt. Lawrence went with us also to Mr. Lewis's House. — Mr. Parry called on us at Mr. Lewis's to appologize [sic] for his & Mrs. Parry's not sending us an invitation to come to their House Mrs. Parry being indisposed. — Mr. Peile of Calicut also called upon us. — I waited on Mr. Ince to thank him for the loan of his Yacht; he behaved very civilly [sic] and politely – I also called on Mr. Hogan, Superintendent of Police, and requested his assistance in furnishing me with Two Pattamars to carry my Baggage to Calicut, which he was so obliging as to grant me immediately, and accordingly ordered off two Boats to the Ship at Day–break in the morning; this was complied with and the Boats went at the time appointed to take our Baggage on board for Calicut. —

Decr. 28.
Sunday. We got up very early this morning; Mrs. M. Lt. Lawrence and I, went out and walked on the Esplanade, and though [sic] different parts of the Town before Breakfast, to which we returned at 7,O'Clock in the morning. —

At Eleven OClock, after taking leave of Mrs. Lewis (Mr. Lewis having accompanied us to the Boat and sent Provisions to it for our Voyage) we embarked in Mr. Ince's Boat and proceeded to the Ship in order to see if our Baggage was all put on board the two Pattamars; – and finding this was the case and that the Pattamars would sail for Calicut in the Evening we left them in charge of Stewart and Hyder to come on as soon as they could after us.

We made sail from the Ship Endeavour at half past Twelve OClock and proceeded on our Voyage to Calicut – Lt. Lawrence accompanied us. The Wind being light and rather scant, we had a very tedious Passage to Calicut, where we did not arrive until Twelve OClock at night. — It being too late to go to our friend Mr. Gordon's House which was at two miles distance, we walked to Mr. Stevens's (the Supervisor's) House where we were well received, and entertained for this night. —

Decr. 29.
Monday. On our coming out of our Bed-room this morning Mr. Stevens, (the Supervisor and Chief Magistrate of the Province of Malabar:) in whose House we had taken up our quarters on the preceeding [sic] night, received us in the Hall with many expressions of civility and Politeness; and apologized for his not getting up to receive us on our arrival at his House on the preceding night, which he said was entirely owing to a mistake of his Servants not informing him whom we were. He offered Mrs. M. Lt. Lawrence and myself the use of his house until it was convenient for us to go out to the Cantonments of the Regiment; but being previously engaged to live with Lieut. George Gordon until we should remove out to Cantonments, we were obliged to decline Mr. Stevens's polite invitation, and removed accordingly to Mr. Gordon's House immediately, having sent his Palanquin for Mrs. Macquarie as soon as he heard that she was arrived. — We arrived at Mr. Gordon's House, (which is commodiously and pleasantly situated on a Hill that overlooks the Town of Calicut) about Eight OClock in the morning, and were very kindly and hospitably received by our friend Mr. Gordon, who had Breakfast laid out ready for us to sit down, which we did accordingly; and here we took up our quarters for some days until all our Baggage and stores are landed and carried to Cantonments.

We met our friend Lieut. Shaw at Mr. Gordon's; we were visited in the course of the day by Doctor Anderson and several others of our 77th. friends from Cantonments.

As I found myself rather fatigued I delayed going out this day to Cantonments to wait on Captain Whitelock who at present commands the 77th. Regiment; Doctor Anderson staid [sic] and dined with us at Gordon's. —

Decr. 30.
Tuesday. I rode out after Breakfast this morning in company with Lieut. Lawrence, Anderson having sent me in my own old Grey Horse left me by Captain Halkett of the 75th. Regiment. — We had a hot but a pleasant ride to Cantonments, which is between three and four miles distant from the Town of Calicut, and most delightfully situated on high airy beautiful Hills, commanding a most charming view and prospect of the Country round and of the Sea at a distance. — I first called at my own Bungaloe, [sic] which I had purchased from Doctr. Ker it being the first we came to; it is situated a good distance from the Road, as well as from the Bazar [sic] and great body of the Cantonments; and after viewing and seeing it inside and out, I was highly pleased with my Purchase. — There is an excellent Garden, and Out Houses conveniently situated. — Doctor Ker was so obliging as to leave me a large stock of Bullocks, Goats, Pigeons &c. &c. &c. all of which my friend Doctor Anderson had taken great care of for me: – the Dwelling House, and Bed rooms are large and commodious, and upon the whole far exceed my most sanguine hopes and expectations. — After viewing all parts of my Estate, proceed to call on Captain Whitelocke, Mr. and Mrs. Shaw, Anderson, and all my friends of the Regiment; and, I am happy to find them all in such good health and so well pleased with their Half Batta station. — After seeing all my friends, I called again at my House along with Anderson, who delivered over charge of it and the Servants he had retained in my Service. —

I rode into Town again on the old Grey alone – and dined en famille at Gordon's. —

Decr. 31.
Wednesday. I devoted the whole of this day to landing my Baggage and Stores from the Boats. —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 2: 26 March 1792 – 28 December 1794.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A768 pp.239-270 [Microfilm Reel: CY299 Frames#365-#382]
and
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 3: 29 December 1794 - 27 September 1799.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A769 pp.1-6 [Microfilm Reel: CY299 Frames#385-#390]