January

Jany. 1.
Tuesday ! — The Honble. Lt. Col: Blaquiere and myself rode out together this forenoon on Horseback, to dine and celebrate the New Year with our good worthy friends Mr. & Mrs. Urmston at their Country Seat at Chigwell.

There was a large Party of friends assembled at Chigwell-House on this merry occasion; and we spent a most pleasant agreeable day; having concluded the Evening with a Ball.

Colonel & Mrs. Oakes; Col: Blaquiere and myself slept at Chigwell-House.

Jany. 2.
Wednesday. — After Breakfasting at Chigwell-House this morning, Col: & Mrs. Oakes and some of the rest of our Party left us and returned Home. But Col: Blaquiere and myself having agreed to pass another day with out friends at Chigwell, we all mounted out Horses soon after Breakfast and took a very long Ride to different parts of this Neighbourhood before Dinner, accompanied by our kind Host Mr. Urmston. — We were much gratified with our Ride, and did not return home till 4,O'Clock. — At 6,O'Clock, we sat down to an excellent Dinner, and spent the remainder of the day in a most social pleasant manner; Col: B: and myself having slept this night also at Chigwell. —

Jany. 3.
Thursday. — I remained at Chigwell with the Ladies for about an hour after Breakfast this morning. I then took leave of my good friends there, and leaving Col: Blaquiere still with them, I returned to Town, where I was engaged to Dinner; this being the first day of the Bombay Club this Season, and with which I dined accordingly at Willis's Tavern in St. James's Street.

Jany. 4.
Friday. — I dined with Lord & Lady Banbury.

Jany. 6.
Sunday. — I dined with the Miss Stewarts.

Jany. 7.
Monday ! — I was this afternoon most happily and agreeably surprised by the arrival at my Lodgings of my beloved and dear Brother Charles from Ireland — having obtained Leave to come over to see me - agreeably to the request I lately made for him. —

My dear Brother took up his residence with me, there being fortunately spare Apartments for him in these Lodgings that I now occupy. — He dined however this day with some friends with whom he had travelled from Ireland; for I could not carry him with me to our Staff Club, with which I dined this day at Willis's; and to which, by our Club-Rules, no Strangers are admitted. — This, it must be owned, is rather an unsocial Rule, but it was found to be necessary, as we muster so very strong. —

Jany. 8.
Tuesday. — My dear Brother and myself had a great deal of interesting discourse at Breakfast this morning; after which we went together to call upon our several mutual friends in Town, and passed the whole of the forenoon in this way. He was engaged to dine with his Irish Travelling Companions again today. —

I dined with Mrs. Campbell of Wigmore Street, where I met Lady Abercromby (the Widow of the late great and illustrious Comr. in Chief in Egypt) and her Daughters, besides Miss Campbell Airds and some other Ladies. —

On my return Home to my Lodgings at Night, I found an official Letter on my Table from the Adjt. General of the Forces, conveying to me H.R.H. The Commander in Chiefs' Commands to hold myself in readiness to proceed to join my Regt. in India by the Fleet of this ensuing Spring. —

Jany. 9.
Wednesday. — I answered the Adjutant General's Letter this morning — saying that I should hold myself in readiness to comply with His Royal Highness's commands therein contained. —

My Brother and myself dined this day with Lt. Col: Samuel Wilson & his wife at their House in Albermarle Street. —

Jany. 10.
Thursday. — We dined this day with our worthy Friends Mr. & Mrs. Wilson of Henrietta Street.

Jany. 11.
Friday. — After Breakfast this morning, I accompanied my Brother Charles to the Horse Guards, and introduced him to M. Genl. Calvert the Adjutant General, and to Colonel Wynyard the Deputy Adjutant General of the Forces. — My Brother also attended at His Royal Highness the Duke of York's regular Military Levee in the afternoon, and was graciously received on being introduced to the Duke by the Aide de Camp in waiting. —

I did myself the honor of calling this afternoon on the Right Honble. William Dundas the present Secretary of War at his Apartment at the War-office, to speak to him on the subject of a memorandum delivered to him some time ago by my friend his Brother Mr. Philip Dundas M.P., respecting me: namely, to submit my name to the King for one of His Majesty's Aides-de-Camp. — Mr. Dundas received me in a very kind and friendly manner, conversed with me for a long time respecting my length of service and claims; concluding with a promise to submit my name to the King for being appointed A.D.C. if ever he had a favorable opportunity of doing so. —

My Brother and myself dined today tete a tete at a Coffee-House, and had a great deal of interesting discourse on our future views and prospects.

Jany. 12.
Saturday. — We paid a number of Visits after Breakfast to friends in Town, and dined together at a Coffee House the same as yesterday. —

Jany. 13.
Sunday. — My Brother and myself dined this day with Lord & Lady Banbury, and met our friends Mrs. Morley and Mrs. Scott there at Dinner. —

Jany. 14.
Monday. — I dined with Colonel Harsage; [?] my Brother having dined with Mrs. Morley.

Jany. 15.
Tuesday. — Dined at the Coffee-House tete a tete with my Brother. —

Jany. 16.
Wednesday. — The Earl of Harrington and his Family having yesterday returned to Town from his Country Seat in Derbyshire, whither he had gone to pass the Christmas Holidays; I carried my Brother Charles this morning after Breakfast to Harrington-House, where I had the pleasure of introducing him, to His Lordship, the Countess, and other Branches of this amiable Family, by all of whom he was well received. His Lordship invited us both to dine with him — but we were forced to excuse ourselves; being preengaged to dine this day with Mr. & Mrs. Macdonald at Brompton.

Jany. 17.
Thursday. — We dined with Mr. & Mrs. Wilson.

Jany. 18.
Friday. — This being the anniversary of Her Majesty's Birth-Day, she held a most splendid and Brilliant Drawing Room at St. James's to receive the Compliments and congratulations of the principal Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdom. —

My Brother Charles accompanied me to Court, and had the honor and happiness of being Presented to his gracious Sovereign, through the medium of the Earl of Harrington, by the Lord in Waiting, and also to the Queen through the medium of the Countess of Harrington, who was this day the Lady in Waiting on Her Majesty. — It was a very full and most brilliant Drawing Room and my dear Brother was highly pleased and gratified by this grand and novel Sight; all the Princes and Princesses of the Blood, as well as almost all the Beauty and Fashion — both Male and Female in the Kingdom — being here collected most beautifully and superbly attired.

We remained till the Drawing Room broke up — which it did not till after 5, o'Clock. — we dined together at a Coffee-House, and went afterwards to spend the Evening at Mrs. Morley's. —

Jany. 19.
Saturday. — I dined with Mr. & Mrs. Simpson at their House in Portland Place; my Brother having dined with his friend Genl. Campbell of Monzie.

Jany. 20.
Sunday. — We both dined with the Miss Stewarts.

Jany. 21.
Monday. — I dined with Mr. & Mrs. Strachan at their House in Wimpole Street, in Company with the Duke of Montrose, and several other People of Distinction; my Brother having dined with his friends Generals Campbell and Dickinson. —

Jany. 22.
Tuesday. — My Brother and myself dined with a Party of Friends at a Coffee-House.

Jany. 23.
Wednesday. — I accompanied my sister-in-law Mrs. Scott to dine today with Mr. Birch and his Daughter & Sister; my Brother being otherwise engaged. —

Jany. 24.
Thursday. — We dined together at a Coffee-House.

Jany. 25.
Friday. — My Brother and myself had the honor of dining this day with the Earl and Countess Harrington and their charming Family, with whom we spent a most pleasant day.

Jany. 26.
Saturday. — My Brother and myself dined with Mr. & Mrs. Booth. —

Jany. 27.
Sunday. — We dined with a Party of our Friends at a Coffee-House. —

Jany. 28.
Monday. — We dined and spent a most agreeable day at Mrs. Morley's. —

Jany. 29.
Tuesday. — Dined together at a Coffee-House.

Jany. 30.
Wednesday. — We dined with Genl. Balfour.

Jany. 31.
Thursday. — We dined with Mr. & Mrs. Falconar.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No.6 15 July 1804 - 16 March 1807.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A770 pp.148-161. [Microfilm Reel CY300 Frames#316-#322]