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On George M. Macaulay's diary 1796-1797

Notes on the Diary of George Mackenzie Macaulay (1750-1803), London alderman

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See new file posted by 28-9-2012: A review by Dan Byrnes of Dr John Jiggens, Sir Joseph Banks and the Question of Hemp: Hemp, Sea-Power and Empire, 1777-1815. Australia, Jay Jay Publishing, 2012. Paperback, 285pp. ISBN: 978-0-9578684-3-4. At HEMP

Explanation: Years ago, by one of those coincidental openings of a book that a researcher stumbles upon while in a mood, I had known that diaries by one G.M. Macaulay had once been noticed. In a totally obscure book, C. W. Heckethorne, Lincoln's Inn Fields And The Localities Adjacent. London. Eliot Stock, 1896., p.81.

I had come upon this: An English magazine, The Academy, over 15 August --5 September, 1874, had published Macaulay's diary entries for 1796-97. [which are the only years for which Macaulay's diary survives, as below. It does appear that from the Academy or its contributor, the diaries made their way into the possession of British Library, though I don't know how or when this might have happened.

Macaulay lived only a stone's throw from the houses of John St Barbe and Samuel Enderby Snr. at Blackheath, London, opposite a small Chapel of Rest which was still standing in 1989. - Dan Byrnes]

An abridgement read:-

"6 Dec., 1796, Francis. Dunn & Will. Arnold yesterday executed for murder - conveyed to new Surgeon's Hall in Lincoln's Inn Fields - in a cart - for the public to see - I think, contrary to all decency and the laws of humanity in a country like this. I hope it will not be repeated."

Information on Macaulay built up thus: He was one of nine children of an Isle of Wight captain of coasting vessels who'd been killed in a fall from a cliff. His children had been left unprovided for. Men on the island who were impressed with the young G.M. Macaulay sent him to London, having raised a subscription for him. He became employed [by about 1775] in the counting house of Abel and Co. Later he married the "wealthy and beautiful Miss Theed", "with whom he had 20,000 l which put him above the world and enabled him to procure an Alderman's gown". It was reputed that during 1784, Macaulay attempted unsuccessfully to become a member of the East India Company. He was "the only man who ever fitted out an entire East Indiaman at his own expense, which however turned out a misfortune. The Directors of the Company gave him no sanction, and in consequence he ceased to be a favourite at the Treasury."

Macaulay was known as a man with considerable abilities. Like Alderman William Newman (a contemporary document said) he was repeatedly passed over for the Mayoralty on account of his Whiggism. He contested Queenhithe in 1784 and from 1786 to 1803 had an address at Coleman Street, close by London Wall, near the City Guildhall. He was sworn a Sheriff of the City in 1789 and 1790. (Old Lloyd's of London registers.) The register for 1787 said Macaulay's ship Pitt was in the East India Company service that year. So it appeared Macaulay had chummed up a little with the East India company.

Other information to hand indicated that Pitt on her return from that voyage to Australia, which began on 28 March, 1787, took convicts to New South Wales, and from there went to India. With the said Mr Theed aboard, mentioned above, it appears. Presumably, Macaulay brought back two cargoes from China in 1788. One per Pitt. One per Lady Penrhyn.

By 1993, I had received a writer's grant from the Literature Board of the Australia Council to pursue further research, so I asked a professional researcher in London, Gillian Hughes, to try to track down further extra information on Macaulay Mrs Hughes did magnificently, finding the only extant material still surviving, held at British Library in a holding of manuscript materials. I made the notes below from Macaulay's Diary during May-June in 1989. - Dan Byrnes

Year 1796ff - *[Characteristics of the diary keeper - each day GMM noted the prevailing winds and the weather ...

*Tues 19 Oct, 1796, "nothing of material import."

*22nd Oct, Mr Pitt must take his share of the culpability. [comment on abilities of a minister]. The French... Richard Cour de Lion.

*23 Oct, 1796. Dined with Mr Alderman Clark en famille. ... The Aldermen concurred the French are in their last agony.

*26 Oct - mentions Rev Aulay Macaulay Vicar of Rosthey (?) Leicestershire.

*27 Oct, Supped with Mr Theed.

*28 Oct, 1796. ?

*5 Nov, Spent the morning at Mr Gadsbys - Wednesday Mr Vaux, Mr Palmer and Mr B? - supped with Mr Theed. Friday, with Mr Watkins. Saturday, fishing at Turvey on water belonging to Mr Higgins with Mr Larkins/Haskins, and H? Theed who afterwards dined with us .... the French ....

* Sat 12 Nov 1796, While we were at dinner my friend Mr James Bell called to inform me that in cause of the (?) (?) John Wilkes Chamberlain of London and Alderman of Farrington without ... supped with Mr Nutt and about 12 got home.

*Tue 15 Nov - dined at the York. *Wed 16 Nov - saw Mr Nutt.

*Thur 17 Nov, 1796. The birthday of Mrs M, who compleats 27. We celebrated it ... my friend Mr Parkinson ...

*Monday 21 Nov, 1796. Spent the evening at Mr Theed's. [with others].

*Sat 26 Nov, On Wednesday Mr Devaynes? and Mr Angerstein had a meeting with the Minister on the subject of the current services of ? Year. This proposition was a plan of Requisition on a Forced Loan of 20 Millions by Contribution! ... which ... impracticable ... It is the fashion for Mr Pitt to decry the In? of the Republic.

*Sun 27 Nov 1796, dined at Mr Theeds ... The Debt contracted in the 4 Years of the present ruinous and destructive War is amounts to 101.504.044 pounds ann Int[terest] 3.704.960 pounds. At the end of 1788 the National Debt amounted to 257.502.485 Int. 9.170.369. Exclusive of what has accrued in 1796 it amounts now to 360.228.020 pounds and the Interest to .... 19.005.518 pounds.

*Thur 1 Dec 1796, I parted with Alderman Curtis and T. Turguand(?) .... at 12.

*2 Dec 1796, evening with Mr Nutt.... [In India] a tolerable Booty ... I dined at the York with J Parkinson ... B. Collett.

*Sat 3 Dec 1796, then called upon Mr Nutt ...

*Sunday 4 Dec 1796, .. called upon Mr Sadbury? in King's Arm Yard ... from thence to Mr Turnbulls but the House was shut up and therefore I concluded they were in the Country! I had then no alternative ... I returned to the York and dined ...

*5 Dec, 1796, [a loan] to 18.001.000 pounds.

*6 Dec, 1796, Buonoparte [sic] ... dined with Mr Nutt.

*Thur 8 Dec, [dined, then] called upon Mr Turnbull with whom I supp'd and staid [sic[ till 12 ....

*Sat 10 Dec, 1796, Was with Mr James 12 Ely Place and with Capt. Manning attended at Guildhall and put in answer to a Bill of Equity filed against us by Messrs Livie & Co on a charge to be tried but unnecessary to relate ... A very fine dinner given this day to Mr Alderman Curtis the late Lord Mayor at the London by the united Clubs of The Johns and The Rustic of both of which I am Member / as a Compliment to his visit during his High Office but I preferred a more domestic dinner with Mr Mrs Parkinson [from Dorking]

*Sunday 18 Dec, 1796, I did not feel myself quite well...

*Tue 20 Dec, 1796, Evening with Mr Nutt [who is sanguine over prospects for peace].

*22 Dec, 22, 1796, dined with ?? and thence to Mr Turnbulls [there till 12]

*25 Dec, 1796, dined with Mr Nutt.

*30 Dec, 1796, Mr Turnbull .... recovering!

*7 Jan, 1797, dined with Capt Shaw then with London associates.

*9 Jan, 1797, ... dined with Mrs Turnbull. dined with my deputy meeting Dr Cooper from Gravesend ... Mr Nutt for an hour ... home (?) to No 2 Bridge St.

*Thursday 12 Jany, 1797, An immense Quantity of Snow fell in the night...

*Friday 13 Jan, 1797, ... contest for the presidency of the United States is likely to terminate in favour of Mr Samuel Adams ... the new Loyalty Loan ...

*Sat 14 Jan, 1797. the Frost is gone .... Lord Bridport ... at 5 we went in ? to Mr Turnbull's where ... Abt 7 we had tea ... between 8 & 9 Mr Turnbull and Mr Tab? played Rubbers with Mrs M and Self in which we were wasted. ... [M slipped out for an hour to Johns] out to John's where I read the paper and I returned with a coach at 11 precisely. Mrs M told me what projected in my absence which has determined me not to repeat my Visit in a hurry. for tho I am disposed to be in a good and friendly Footing both with Mr and Mrs Turnbull, yet I will not brook an Insult with impunity from him or them or from any other persons.... Mr Turnbull will hear my sentiments on his conduct at a proper opportunity ... The night was raining and wind SW.

*Sunday 15 Jan, 1797, Rain ... We had many visitors - Capt Shaw [other names] The Bells ... and together about 2 .... Mr Turnbull for the ?the Time since we left the Country honoured us with a call and invited us to dinner, which I most certainly should not have accepted win - if we had not been engaged ... Miss T ... I consider his Visit as an apology for the impossibility of his conduct last night. Doubtless the result of a conversation between Him and Mrs Turnbull. My temper as to Mankind however is so sound that I ? ? of an offence and when once offended, without the least possible cause, I am not very easily reconciled ..... I never can forget it and I daresay in future I shall still ? .... and forgive ... Mr Turnbull's conduct to me during the Year 1796 .. to me.... ???? [ie, 1796 was a hard year for GMM - Ed] and the most trying of my life ... has been uniformly inattentive to my Interest when he had power to be serviceable negligent of my welfare .. and unkind in his deportment .... At 4 O'Clock we were fortunate in getting a Coach which conveyed us to No 29 (291?) Bao? where we dined with Capt John Collett. our compassion ... an hours chat with Ald (Bestlim?) Boehm? Mr Nutt was at dinner with Mr Drummond in Cleveland Row and was not returned. ... I again went over to Mr Bara? and between 11 and 12 we were housed at No 2 Bridge Street. *The Worcester sailed from St Helena the 15 Nov in company with the Caledonia, Virunna?, Sovereign, and Boyd but parted on their passage....

*Monday 19 Jan, 1797, About 9 I went to Mr Nutt's where I chatted till 11...

*18 Jan, 1797, In the evening,... to Johns when Mr Alderman Curtis soon joined us .. He had dined very pleasantly he said with Mr Pitt in Downing-Street with a party of Abo 20. An admirable good dinner and good wine and plenty of it .... I had no doubt of it, and the worthy Alderman I am sure had had his proportion of it ... One circumstance he stated he said from the "highest authority" namely the return of one Division of the French Fleet ... Mr Pitt said at dinner that so many reports were circulated that it was difficult to know what was true ....

*22 Jan, 1797, After dinner we called ... and ? Tea with Mrs Nutt ... Mr Nutt dined at Mr Drummonds Cleveland Row.

*25 Jan, 1797, .. of the expedition against Ireland ... accounts are received from India of a very unpleasant Nature... said to be a serious misunderstanding...

*26 Jan, 1797, Mr Parkinson with us ...we jogged to the City and parted at the end of Cornhill. I passed an hour with Mr Nutt, called on Mr Turnbull ... Joseph Bushman Esqr City Comptroller died on the 27 Inst aged 52.

*29 Jan, 1797, and found all well at Bedford at 1/2 past 1. dined at Mr Theeds with a Mr Beaumont who was formerly a midshipman on the pitt, [sic] the first voyage I owned her in 1786! called on Mr Lovesay? and Mr Watkins.

*2 Feb, 1797, gossip'd till near 10 at Mr Nutts and afterwards to the So Sea House again where the Curtis' were met to celebrate the success of Mr Roberts.

*5 Feb, 1797, (not interesting - Ed)

*6 Feb, 1797, dined with 10 [people] inc Mr. John Walker, Capt Raitt of the Earl Spencers, a Navy Capt, Mr Martin Esqr, Mr William Wilson came in abo 8 .. Mr Recorder Callenders -

*7 Feb, 1797, The chat of last night was productive of a promise to dine today with Mr Callenders at Mr William Wilson's but before I left the York .... the birthday of Mr Nutt which supersedes all other engagements .... the day terminated his 72 years ...

*10 Feb, 1797, couple of hours at Mr Lovesays ... [re office of Lord Lt of Ireland]

*11 Feb, 1797, Mrs Hamilton [decd] the wife of Mr Hamilton and a very old friend and acquaintance of ours at Blackheath ... other deaths in paper ....

*14 Feb, 1797, [a note on St Valentine's Day as a time of festivity.

*16 Feb, 1797, a complete defeat of the Troops of the holy Fathers on papal Grounds.... Mr pitt is this day to announce the want of 7 Millions for England and 3 for Ireland ... the last Loyalty Loans at 8 3/4% - Discount and this 3 ? ? 53.... A meeting of the Whig Club yesterday and Numerously attended. *and may the King listen before it's too late to the Voice of Truth & Justice...

*18 Feb, 1797, .. The Idea of Invasion in London gains ground ... A Letter from the Duke of Portland to the Lords Liuetenants (sic) strengthens the Idea -

*22-26 Feb, 1797. nothing new [M spent most of his time at No 291] ... called on Mr Nutt or John's Coffee House to read the news.

*Monday 27 Feb, 1797, The Commercial World this morning were alarmed by the appearance in the papers of an Order of Council addressed to the Bank of England ... and the Measure adopted by the pliant Directors, to pay no more Money for the new? Note ... and ? the tremendous Blow is struck.... which must inevitably strike ? into the vitals of the Credit of the Country! an Illegal order of Council for the Bank of England to suspend all payments in Cash ... A meeting of Merchants and Bankers were immediately convened by the Lord Mayor at the Mansion House who Resolved to support the said measure themselves and use their influence with others "not to refuses" taking Bank Notes. ... It would have been stronger a great deal if many had Resolved cordially to take instead of not-refusing, but in meetings of this sort, few people think .... Stood advanced 1/2% - one can scarcely say why! No public news whatever.

*28 Feb, 1797, I dined with Colonel Campbell at the percy Street Coffee House and at 8 went to the Lobby of the House of Commons, where they were ? on a debate to appoint a Committee to examine into the state of the Banks - Eat oysters at the Mitres with Mr Ackinson and Shaw at the York by 12 -

*1 March, 1797, I forgot to mention that the French landed on the 22d at a plce called Fishgard in pembrokeshire 1200 or 1500 men ... is it not ? mysterious, but the probable conjecture is that they are a Banditti of Felons whom the French wanted to get rid of, and in that camp, we have gained a Loss, for which they may ??? we must be at the expense of maintaining 'em .... we send our Felons to a ? ? distance, to New South Wales at a vast expence ... they manage these things better in France, by sending their Felons to Old Wales at no expence at all!

[Clapham re Bank of England, p.272 re Act 37 Geo III c.40 of 27 March, 1797, after the French frigate landed at Fishguard, on 27 March, 1797, a meeting of bankers and merchants was held at the Mansion House, London, and so began the era of suspension. By October 1797, the Bank of England could again issue specie.]

*3 March, 1797, I dined on Friday with Mr Nutt whose opinion is still trusted round the executive Government neither warped by Disasters, nor ameliorated by appearances ....

*Fri 11 March, 1797, called on mr Theed. ... reprieve of John Warren ... for a more diabolical villain is not in Newgate... Mr pitt and Mr Wilberforce after many unsuccessful attempts have at ? ? succeeded in abolishing the "Guinea Trade" ..

*19 March, 1797, "is the anniversary of my 47 Birthday being born in 1750 and strange events have I seen - .. but I am convinced that my Uncle Capt Urry's maxim is Right ...

*20 March, 1797, [M's mother's birthday. He thinks she is 73].

*Wed 22 March, 1797, The outstanding debt due from the Government to the Bank of England and outstanding on the 25 Feby last was pounds 9,964,419.3/- as appears certified by Abr Newlands.

*23 March, 1797, Treaty with the Republic of France. meeting with the bankers and Mr pitt, ... Mr pitt with his usual duplicity ....

*[24 March, 1797, Has not the Bank of England stopt payment? Clapham p.272 re Act 37 Geo III c.40 of March 27, 1797, after the French frigate landed at Fishguard, on march 27, 1797, a meet of bankers and merchants at the Mansion House and so began the era of suspension. By Oct 1797, the B/E could again issue specie].

*6 April, 1797, dined with Mr J. T. Palmer who was with the gout indisposed...

*10 April, 1797, Accts are recd from New So Wales but I know not the channel unless by the Georgiana packet lately from India! On the 16 March 96 died Joseph Gerrald Esq as one of the ? Victims of Scotch persecution under the influence of the present profligate and un-principled administration for maintaining more doctrines p? which mr pitt and the D of Richmond subscribed and vigorously supported till they got into power in the year 1788 .... Every Friend to Genius ... Literature .. and ? will read with regret the melancholy Fate of this Gentleman who was endowed with the quickest sensibility and an ornament to the most polished Society. ... Three days after Mr Gerald Vizt on the 19 March died Mr Shirwin another Victim of Ministerial Vengeances he had bought a small Farm and set himself to the improvement of it with indefatigable Industry ... Mr Muir whose sentence for 14 Years absence from his Friends and Native Country, it is also said has made his escape to America and therefore Mr palmer is now the only one left ... of the 4 who were banished for the ? ? out to ?, by those who now rule the Land ... A Ballot at the India Ho on Wednesday for a director in name of Mr John Turner deceased ..

*13 April, 1797, a meeting of the Whig Club - at the Crown and Anchor The Duke of Bedford in the chair - on Tuesday or Wednesday a meeting of the Freeholders of Surry at ....

*20 April, 1797, [a long political report] I supp'd in the apartment of Mayor Vaux with Mr Green and Mr Billshaw - till 12!

*21 April, 1797, [re the Nore mutiny]

*22 April, 1797, [M reported on his funds/investments, from 20 March 1796 to 20 March, 1797: he is down 49 units on Bank; down 69 on India; down 18 and 1/4, 19 and 25 on three unspecified forms of investment]. [More on the Nore mutiny which M is following closely].

*24 April, 1797, Dined with Mayor and Corporation at the Swans. No post from London.

*Tue 25 April, 1797, refreshing day, The Morning Chronicle ... breakfast ... which at all times gives a zest to the Bread and Butter, and I am disappointed with it fails in attendances .... Buonoparte ... so that poor honest Mr Bull is left in the lurch at last ... The mutiny of the sailors is over ... This ought to teach Administration a Lesson which they much stand in need of ...

*26 April, 1797, 3 hours ... deliberatings agreed with Mr Boyd Curtis Thulluson, Goldsmith Salomons for the loan .. of 18 Millions Viz [provides a list of figures]

Hyperlinks and References other: Some of Macaulay's information on government finance matters is quite detailed, the difficulty with annotating his material is with finding complementary information that is both reliable and detailed. In this period of his diary-keeping, during which he lost about 25 per cent of his capital, Macaulay was neither a happy nor a likable, nor a literate man, but his prejudices at least are clear. His genealogy is still unfortunately patchy, more so re his uncle, Urry. So I have not annotated his diary entries here. Macaulay and his partners actually tried to send what became known as The First Fleet to Australia, a move I have called the phantom first fleet.
Evidently, this First Fleet matter has remained largely unknown till I began researching the matter. Charles Bateson had noticed the matter briefly in The Convict Ships but unfortunately he misidentified Macaulay in a quite confusing way. One upshot is that it has remained unknown to Australians that as a local, civic matter, two London alderman, Curtis and Macaulay, men who were friends but of opposed political persuasions, took direct action to help rid London of its "convict problem", by way of putting the ship Lady Penrhyn into the First Fleet.
That is, insofar as Britain "repudiated" its convicts, which has often been an Australian emotional legacy of the matter, two London aldermen who took an active role in that repudiation can be easily identified and researched. Australians have mostly never bothered to examine such matters of Civic London. - Dan Byrnes

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