July

July 1.
Monday! — Capt. Hardyman and myself dined on board the Honble. Company's Armed Ship the Nonsuch Commanded by Capt. Canning. —

July 2.
Tuesday! — Capt. H. and myself set out this morning in a Boat and attempted to land at Coringa – but the Weather proved so very tempestuous that we were obliged to return on board again in the Evening without being able to effect it. — We called and Tiffed on board the Ocean Country Ship. —

July 3.
Wednesday! — Capt. Hardyman and myself left the Fletcher this morning after Breakfast; and after encountering a great deal of very bad boisterous weather, hunger and fatigue – and also considerable peril – we effected a landing at length about 8,OClock at Night at the Village of Neellipilly – 5 Miles above the Town of Coringa – and up the River of that name. — Here we were most hospitably received and entertained by Messrs. Davidson, Woodcock & Cornell, Merchants at this Place and Cloth Manufacturers. —

July 4.
Thursday! — We visited the beautiful Village of Ingeram, on the banks of the large River Godavery – and distant only Two miles from Neellipilly. —

July 5.
Friday! — We rode out on Horseback today for several miles into the Neighbouring Country – which is here very rich and beautiful.

July 6.
Saturday! — We took leave of our kind good Hosts at Neellipilly this morning after Breakfast – and embarked on board the Fletcher in the Evening: – having called on our way on board the Nonsuch – where Capt. Canning detained us to Dinner. —

July 7.
Sunday! — We dined again today on board the Nonsuch.

July 8.
Monday! — The Fletcher having now got her Cargo of Salt on board (– for which purpose she had put in here –) sailed this morning from Coringa Bay for Calcutta.

July 11.
Thursday! — Arrive in Balasore Roads.

July 16.
Tuesday! — After cruising about in these Roads for five days – we at length fell in with one of the Pilot Schooners – and took a Pilot on board in the Evening. — He was however so drunk that he mistook his marks – and in the middle of the Night run us aground on the French Flats near Ingellee – where we remained for several hours in the most eminent danger until High Water, when we luckily got off. —

July 17.
Wednesday! — We quitted the Fletcher at Ingellee, and removed on board the Pilot Vessel, in which we proceeded the same night as far as Diamond–Harbour – and there anchored for the Night to wait the morning Tide to proceed up to Calcutta. —

July 18.
Thursday! — We weighed anchor and sailed from Diamond Harbour at 10,OClock this morning with the Tide of Flood, a light breeze – and a fine clear day. We had a most beautiful, enchanting and Picturesque sail up this famous and Celebrated Branch of the Ganges – called here the Hoogly. — When we opened Garden Reach, and Fort William at the farthest extremity of it, the Prospect was magnificent and beautiful beyond anything I had ever seen in my life; the great City of Calcutta, and the superb elegant Buildings at Chowringee, Closing this grand Prospect at still a greater distance, greatly heightened the beauty of the Scene, and filled me with wonder and admiration. — The elegant Villas, Houses and Gardens, all along the Banks of the River in Garden Reach, looked most beautiful from the Water, as we sailed up the River past them. — Fort William upon our nearer approach to it, made a very grand appearance. —

At 6,OClock in the Evening The Pilot Schooner anchored abreast of the Town of Calcutta – near the Dock Yard – and close to where La Forte lay at Anchor. —

I accompanied Capt. Hardyman on shore immediately, and proceeded to the House of Mr. Hudson the Master Builder, and with whom we dined. — We also spent the Evening here – and Slept at Capt. Canning's House. —

I wrote a Note on my coming on shore to my friend Capt. Cameron of the 76th. Regt. at Fort William – notifying my arrival and to say – that I intended taking up my Quarters with him – agreeably to his kind invitation – during my stay at Calcutta – and that I would call upon him in the morning as soon as I had paid my respects to the Commander in chief. —

July 19.
Friday! — I Breakfasted along with Capt. Hardyman at Mr. Hudson's – and we went immediately afterwards to pay our respects to the Acting Govr. General and Comr. in chief Lieutt. Genl. Sir Alured Clarke at his very elegant House at Chowringee. — Sir Alured was at Home and received us most politely, as did his Staff Colonels Cliffe and Gordon; – with the former of whom I had for some time past kept up a very regular Correspondence particularly since the Commencement of the Mysore War! —

Sir Alured invited Capt. H. and myself to dine with him tomorrow – as today he and his Family dine out. — Colonel Cliffe carried me to be introduced to Mr. & Mrs. Cheap, by both of whom I was received in a most friendly manner, and asked to dine with them today to meet Sir Alured Clarke and his Family. — Mrs. Cheap is Niece to Sir Alured, and Mr. Cheap is Nephew to my friend Gen. Stuart, who I find has mentioned me to them in his Letters. — After leaving Mr. Cheap's, I proceeded to Fort William to call on my friend Capt. Cameron, whom I found at Home and very glad to see me. He had prepared a room for my reception, which he insisted on my coming to occupy immediately – and I accordingly sent for my Servants and Baggage to come to the fort.

I dined at Mr. Cheap's with a very large genteel Party of Ladies & Gentlemen, and was most elegantly entertained. — One of Mr. Cheap's Children was christened. —

July 20.
Saturday! — I Breakfasted this morning with Sir Alured Clarke by Invitation – and he was so kind as to ask me to live with him altogether as long as I remained at Calcutta. — Colonels Cliffe & Gordon offering me a Room in their House; but I excused myself as being engaged to live with my friend Captain Cameron. — Col: Cliffe carried me, as soon as we had Breakfasted, to be introduced to Sir John and Lady Anstruther. — I dined and spent a very pleasant day at Sir Alured Clarke's. —

July 21.
Sunday! — I dined today with Capt. Cameron at the 76th. Mess, and there met with a number of old Acquaintances. —

July 22.
Monday! — I had the honor of dining and spending a very pleasant day at Sir John Ansthruthers – the Chief Justice. —

July 23.
Tuesday! — Dined at Sir Alured Clarke's. —

July 24.
Wednesday! — Dined at Mr. Cheap's. —

July 25.
Thursday! — Dined at Town Major Calcraft's.

July 26.
Friday! — Dined at Sir Alured Clarke's.

July 27.
Saturday! — Dined at the 76th. Mess. —

July 28.
Sunday! — Having determined on paying a Visit to my old acquaintance and relation Mrs. Capt. Davidson (– formerly Miss Grace Campbell –) now with her husband at Kissengunge a Military Cantonment about 400 miles up the Country; and my friend Capt. Donald Michie now proceeding to that station, having kindly offered me a Passage in his Budgerow, I accepted of it and set out with him accordingly this day at 1,O'Clock; having previously gone with him to Church. —

We travelled by land for the first 8 miles in our Palanquins as far as Genl. Popham's House on the Banks of the Ganges – and there – after calling on Mrs. Popham – embarked on board our Budgerow – and proceeded on our Voyage. — At 6. P.M. we anchored off Barrackpore – landed and dined with Capt. Morrison &c. &c. — We supped with Col: & Mrs. Hyndman – and returned to sleep on board our Budgerow. — Set out early the next morning – passing Serampore (a Danish settlement) Chandernagore (French) and the Dutch Settlement of Chinsura, in the course of that day – and a great many other beautiful Towns and Villages in the course of our Voyage up the Ganges during the succeeding ten days. —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 3: 29 December 1794 – 27 September 1799.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A769 pp.381 – 389 [Microfilm Reel: CY299 Frames #527 – 531].