August

Friday 2d. Augt. !
The Cato (Whaler) Trading Ship Commanded by Capt. Lindsay, Messrs. Birnie of London Owners, anchored this afternoon in Sydney Cove from England - from whence she sailed on the 17th. Feby. - touching at Rio Janeiro which she left again the 18th. of May! — The Cato brings accounts of His Majesty's being in a fair way of recovery -; but that a Regency had nevertheless taken place in the Person of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who had been nominated by Parliament to that High Office early in February - and had accordingly accepted thereof on the conditions prescribed by Parliament. — I received no Public Dispatches by this opportunity and very few Private Letters from Home. — Sir Jas. Gambier Consul Genl. at Rio Janeiro was so good as to send me some English Newspapers as late as the 6th. of March last. —

Saturday 3d. Augt. !
I returned from Parramatta to Sydney the forenoon of this day. — In the afternoon between 3 and 4,O'Clock a large Black Whale upwards of 35 feet in length was killed & caught in the Harbour of Port Jackson, near Pinchgut Island, by the Boats of the Cato Whaler. — This Whale is only about two years old and will Yield about 35 Barrels of Oil - valued at £45 Pr. Ton.

Monday 26th. Augt. —
I set out with Mrs. M. for Parramatta on an Excursion to the interior Settlements. — Remained at Parramatta Tuesday, and on Wednesday the 28th. went to Windsor accompanied by Mr. & Mrs. Bent & their two children. — Visited the Townships of Pitt-Town, Windsor Richmond & Castlereagh; also the principal Farms on the Banks of the Hawkesbury & Nepean Rivers, and South Creek - Shewing every appearance of flourishing & abundant Crops of Wheat.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Memoranda & Related Papers. 22 December 1808-14 July 1823.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A772 34-35 ff. [Microfilm Reel CY301 Frames #41-42].