Read "Letters from an Exile at Botany Bay" by Thomas Watling online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Dated, Cape of Good Hope, African-Coast, Tuesday, Dec. 13th, 1791.
MY DEAREST AUNT, Your loved Watling is at liberty! to say ought else is almost unnecessary, as I am conscious your amiable, tender heart, will now hope every thing. Indeed I am very incapable to write more at present; nor will I ever be master of sufficient language to give any semblance to these sensations I just now experience. True, I am in a remote clime, where Slavery wields her iron sceptre, and where slaves are at this moment attending me--yet blessed be Divine Mercy, I enjoy freedom!--I that but yesterday had the ignominious epithet convict adhibited to my name, am again myself! to-day all nature seems renovated. The sun that has ben clouded for three years has regained his splendour, and the meads their verdure. 'Tis the jubilee of creation; at least I will believe so.--I tread in air; my spirits are electrified; and my poor heart beats quick with redoubled fervor and emotion towards that peaceful little fire side which it has long sighed after and bled for.