July

Tuesday 2d. July 1811 !
About 1. P.M. this day anchored in Port Jackson the Providence Convict Transport Ship Commanded by Capt. Andw. Barclay with 136 Male and 38 Female Convicts on board from Ireland, having Major Geils (& his wife & Family) and Ensigns Murphy & Greenshields with a Detachment of 36 Men of the 73d. Regt. on board as a Guard.

I received Public Dispatches from the Comr. in chief of the Forces (Sir David Dundas) of date of 27th. Novr. last in reply to mine of dates 12th. March & 1st. May 1810, approving entirely of all my arrangements & Proceedings on my arrival here as Comr. of the Forces &c. —

By the same opportunity I recd. the official notification of my Promotion to the Rank of Colonel in the Army - my Commission as such being dated 25 July 1810 ! — My Brother Charles I find is made a Lieut. Colonel in the Army in the same Brevet! — I received very pleasant satisfactory Letters from him and several of my other relations & Friends at home; amongst the latter description was a highly satisfactory and acceptable Letter from my esteemed friend Lieut. Col: Henry Torrens Secry. to the Commander in chief of the Forces! — Col: T. informs me that the Comr. in chief cannot at present comply with my request of being made a Brigadier General! —

Monday 15th. July 1811! —
I went up to Parramatta with Mrs. M. and remained there till Thursday the 18th. when we again returned to Sydney. — Major & Mrs. Geils & Mr. & Mrs. Bent spent a day with us at Parramatta on Wednesday, the former staying with us all night.

I visited Mr. Marsden's new Water Mill, and the newly arrived Female Convicts at the Factory at Parramatta on Wednesday. — I rode down to Sydney on Horseback in company with Major Geils & Capt. Antill, the Ladies having come down in the Carriage. —

Wednesday 31st. July!
Went to Parramatta accompanied by Mrs. M. & Family - and Col: & Mrs. OConnell. —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Memoranda & Related Papers. 22 December 1808-14 July 1823.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A772 32-33 ff. [Microfilm Reel CY301 Frames #40-41].