Letters from Lachlan Macquarie to his uncle and patron Murdoch Maclaine, 18th Laird of Lochbuie, March 1784-March 1804

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The letters, which are all quite lengthy, were written from Greenock (Scotland), Bombay (1789-1802), Cairo and Alexandria (1801-1802) and London (1803-1804). They refer to Macquarie's return from Jamaica and his uncle's return from America (1784), debts and other financial matters, his voyage to India (1789), promotion, mutual friends in India, the likelihood of war with Tipoo Sahib, the ruler of Mysore (1790), the ill health of Macquarie's wife Jane (1796), an expedition against Dutch settlements in Ceylon, the management of Lochbuie and his interest in purchasing part of the estate, news of Charles Macquarie and other members of the family serving in the Army, the fitting up of an expedition to Egypt, the death of his brother Donald Macquarie (1801), operations with Egypt, a meeting with Charles Macquarie after a separation of 14 years, the defeat of the French forces in Egypt, the raising of funds to purchase land on Mull, Macquarie's return to India (1802), his appointment as under Lord Harrington (1803)), allegations and criticism arising from his assistance to 'the young heroes' John Maclaine and Hector Macquarie, the welfare of his mother Margaret Macquarie, and the threat of a French invasion of Ireland (1804).

(26 letters).

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