I Was Sitting In My Hut, Musing On Our Fate, When A Confused Clamour
In The Street Drew My Attention.
I opened my door, and saw several women
with children in their arms running to and fro with distracted looks,
congratulating each other, and kissing their infants with the most passionate
and extravagant marks of fondness.
I needed no more; but instantly
started out, and ran to a hill, where, by the assistance of a pocket glass,
my hopes were realized. My next door neighbour, a brother-officer,
was with me, but we could not speak. We wrung each other by the hand,
with eyes and hearts overflowing.
Finding that the governor intended to go immediately in his boat
down the harbour, I begged to be of his party.
As we proceeded, the object of our hopes soon appeared: a large ship,
with English colours flying, working in, between the heads which form
the entrance of the harbour. The tumultuous state of our minds represented her
in danger; and we were in agony. Soon after, the governor, having ascertained
what she was, left us, and stepped into a fishing boat to return to Sydney.
The weather was wet and tempestuous but the body is delicate only when
the soul is at ease. We pushed through wind and rain, the anxiety of our
sensations every moment redoubling. At last we read the word 'London'
on her stern. "Pull away, my lads! She is from Old England! A few strokes
more, and we shall be aboard!
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