The wind was now
fair, the sky serene, though a little hazy, and the temperature of
the air delightfully pleasant: joy sparkled in every countenance, and
congratulations issued from every mouth. Ithaca itself was scarcely
more longed for by Ulysses, than Botany Bay by the adventurers who had
traversed so many thousand miles to take possession of it.
"Heavily in clouds came on the day" which ushered in our arrival. To us
it was "a great, an important day," though I hope the foundation, not
the fall, of an empire will be dated from it.
On the morning of the 20th, by ten o'clock, the whole of the fleet had
cast anchor in Botany Bay, where, to our mutual satisfaction, we found
the Governor, and the first division of transports. On inquiry, we
heard, that the 'Supply' had arrived on the 18th, and the transports
only the preceding day.
Thus, after a passage of exactly thirty-six weeks from Portsmouth,
we happily effected our arduous undertaking, with such a train
of unexampled blessings as hardly ever attended a fleet in a like
predicament. Of two hundred and twelve marines we lost only one; and of
seven hundred and seventy-five convicts, put on board in England, but
twenty-four perished in our route.
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