April

Apl. 14.
Thursday! — We anchored this Evening in Calicut Roads, after a very tedious Passage from Columbo, having experienced contrary winds and very boisterous weather off Cape Comorin for four days. — It being too late in the Evening to land the Troops after we came to anchor, we all remained on board this Night. —

Ap1. 15.
Friday! — The Left Wing of the 77^th. Reg^t. disembarked from the Jane at Calicut at Day-break this morning, and I marched with it directly up to Cantonments, where I arrived at Nine O'Clock - and having reported my arrival to Cap^t. Whitelocke, I dismissed the officers and men, and sent them to their Quarters. — I went and Breakfasted with my dear good friend Doctor Anderson, whom I found waiting for me - and settled all my plans with him respecting my proceeding directly to Bombay on the Jane - which sails this Evening for that place. —

My friend Anderson has once more kindly undertaken to take charge of and settle my Paymaster Accounts for me during my absence from the Regiment - which I trust and hope will not exceed a month or six weeks at most; it being my full intention to return again to Calicut with my beloved wife by the very first good conveyance that offers from Bombay for any part of the Coast after my arrival, providing my dearest Jane's health will admit of it. — My friend Anderson highly approves of my plan, and has of his own accord offered to get our House at Staffa Lodge newly Cadjanned and put in compleat [sic] repair against Rains for my dearest Jane's accommodation before she comes down from Bombay. —

After having delivered over all my books and Papers to Doctor Anderson and made all my arrangements with him for paying the Regiment during my absence, I waited on Cap^t. Whitelocke to announce to him my intentions and wishes - and to obtain his permission to sail for Bombay this Evening on the Jane. — He immediately acquiesced in my request - expressing his earnest hope to see M^rs. M^c.Quarie and myself again at Calicut before the setting in of the Rains. I took an early dinner with my friend Anderson, and set out at 3,O'Clock from Cantonments for Calicut; having previously given orders to my Servants at Staffa Lodge to put the House and Garden in the best possible order against the return of their mistress, and directing them to receive Doctor Andersons orders and Instructions respecting Cadjanning and repairing the Dwelling House and Offices. —

About half way on the Road from Cantonments to the Town of Calicut, I met with a man with Letters for me from my beloved Jane of a late date, and which came this forenoon by the Mail Boat from Bombay. —

I sat down on the Road and read these dear Letters with a joy and real delight that cannot possibly be expressed. — My felicity was so great that I could hardly believe myself awake. — For besides my Angel telling me that her Health was lately much improved by her living in the Country – she informed me – to my inexpressible joy – that she had every reason to believe – she was Pregnant! – and that she would soon make me a happy – happy Father! — I believe I read these Letters over and over at least twenty times – almost, devouring them with Kisses! —

At length I was raised from this state of felicity and profound reverie these happy tidings had thrown me into, by my Housekeeper reminding me it was getting late, since he knew I had some business to do at Calicut before I embarked. —

I therefore got up, and mounting my Horse, pursued my way to Calicut with a lighter heart than I had ever done before; being now more anxious than ever to get to Bombay to fold my darling Jane to my heart. —

I called on Paymr. Wensley, Mr. Waddell, and Lt. Geo. Gordon at Calicut, and having settled my business with them, I embarked on board the Jane between 7 and 8 O'Clock in the Evening. — It was then almost quite calm and we could not move. — At 10,O'Clock however, a light Breeze springing up, we weighed anchor and sailed.

It gave me great uneasiness to find, that Capt. Stuart, in consequence of orders from his owners at Bombay, received today by the Mail Boat, was obliged to touch at Mahe, to take in some Cargo, which will inevitably detain him for at least two or three days – which to me at such a time is exceedingly provoking; – but there being no other safe conveyance at present for Bombay, I must submit to my fate with the best patience I can. I left Letters at Calicut – written there this afternoon in reply to those received, for my beloved wife – telling her I was to embark this Evening for Bombay on the Jane and that I hoped to have the felicity of folding her to my heart now in very few days. — I left these Letters to go by the Regular Mail Boat that sails tomorrow for Bombay; – but I did not then know – nor until I came on board this Evening – that we were to touch for Cargo at Mahe. —

Ap1. 17!
— We anchored at 11,O'Clock this forenoon in Mahe Roads. — I went on shore immediately along with Capt. Stewart; and having waited on the Commercial Resident there, Mr. Bell of Bombay Civil Service, who happens to be an old acquaintance, he gave me a very kind and pressing invitation to live on shore with him as long as the Jane remains at Mahe, which I very willingly accepted; for I find we shall be at least three or four days here. — This is a most severe disappointment to me, considering the now very advanced period of the Season – and my being consequently very much limited for time.

I wrote Letters of this date to my friend Doctor Anderson at Calicut, and to Lt. Colonel Petrie, Capt. Gray, and Lieut. Gray of the 77th. Regt. at Colombo.

Ap1. 20.
I wrote a long Letter of this date to my Brother in law Lieut. Jarvis. —

Ap1. 21.
Thursday. — I wrote Letters of this date, again by the Mail Boat, to my beloved Jane, informing her of my unexpected detention at Mahe – but that I certainly leave it tomorrow for Bombay, the Jane having now almost all her Cargo on board. —

I wrote also Letters of this date to Lt. Col: Petrie, Lieut. Walker, and Lieut. Gray at Colombo; and to Doctr. Anderson at Calicut. —

Ap1. 22.
Friday! — The Jane having now shipped her Cargo, I went on board this morning immediately after Breakfasting with my friend Mr. Bell and returning him my best thanks for his kind and most hospitable attention to me during my stay at Mahe – and which he had studied to render as pleasant as possible. —

We weighed anchor and sailed from Mahe Roads – with a very light Breeze – at 11,O'Clock; – so that we have been detained here no less than five long — long days! —

Ap1. 30.
For the two or three first days we had a fair wind till we got up as high as Mount Delli; but here we met with baffling and contrary winds, and which unfortunately stuck to us for several days. — The Jane also sails like a Tub – and we are threatened with a miserable tedious Voyage! —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 3: 29 December 1794 – 27 September 1799.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A769 pp.209–219. [Microfilm Reel CY Reel 299 Frames #493–498].