October

Octr. 3.
Thursday!!! — By this day's Post accounts were received from Calcutta that Marquis Cornwallis is in very bad health, but still continues his Progress to the Upper Provinces by water up the River Ganges! —

Octr. 14.
Monday!!! — Accounts were this day received from Calcutta that Marquis Cornwallis was dangerously ill at Patna on the 14th. of last month and was consequently making very slow Progress in his Tour to the Upper Provinces. It has rained for several days past, and this Evening very heavy. —

Octr. 16.
Wednesday! — This day's Calcutta Post brought us more favorable accounts of Marquis Cornwallis's health. They state that it was improving - and there were sanguine hopes of His Lordship's recovery: — God grant the news he may be fully realized ! His Lordship continues his Progress to the Upper Stations by water still, having left Patna on the 16th. September.

Octr. 18.
Friday! — The Persian Ambassador, Mahomed Nubbee Khan landed this forenoon at Bombay from his Ship, with the usual Eastern Pomp and ceremonious etiquette observed on such occasions, and proceeded in a grand Procession to occupy the House appointed for His Excellency's Residence at Chintz-Phoglie ! —

Octr. 25.
Friday!!! — The Persian Ambassador Paid his Visit of Ceremony in great state this forenoon to the Hon'ble The Governor at the Government House, delivering a Letter to him from His Majesty the King of Persia.

After the Ambassador had taken his leave of the Governor, I took up the Madras Newspaper of the 12th. Instant, and in reading it over was most agreeably surprised to find in it that I have been lately Promoted at Home to the Effective Lieut. Colonelcy of the 73d. Regiment, vacant by the death of the Hon'ble Colonel St. John! — I stumbled by mere accident upon this piece of good news - being the first and only intimation I have yet had of this most gratifying and highly flattering mark of my most gracious Sovereign's approbation and reward of my Services!

The 73d. Regt., of which Lieut. Colonel Monypenny is First Lieut. Colonel, after serving in India near 24 Years were lately ordered Home, and accordingly sailed from Madras for England on the 10th. of last month.

This intimation of my recent Promotion, tho perfectly certain, not being however official, I cannot act upon it, or apply for Leave to go Home to join my new Regiment; the more especially as it is now certain that the War with Holkar is about to be renewed immediately, and our armies to commence their operations against that powerful Mahratta chieftain the moment the Rains are over.

I must therefore still prosecute my original intention of joining the 86th. Regt. in the Field, for which I have already made all the necessary arrangements and preparations by Equipping myself completely for Field Service at an enormous Expence; having already laid out not less than Five Thousand Rupees on my several Field Equipments ! —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 6 July 1804 - 16 March 1807.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A770 pp.258-263. [Microfilm Reel CY300 Frames #371-#373].