Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-11-11
Istasr from smisn GBriea

Lesse ftem smisn GBrisR /
Aeopy of The to!lowiaE fes.sr has been
ssreived at the Colonial Of6cs ffem Mr.
smhh O'Beiea: |
sDhsass,sa PrsSassoa stasiep, Msrss Island,
YAK DssMAn's L-AND, Feb 20, 1860.
"My DEAa PorrER: ! would have writ
ten toyou sooner il ! had any thing agree |
able to- communicate, bit have been un
willing 70 grieve you BY telling you that
your worst anlicipations with respect to the
sort Of sfeaimens which nigh, possibly ex.
perience ilr ftf;s coluny, have been realized.
During period OF shout two months su:-
ferred rs much rs the inhumanhy OF the
Governor OF this colony, Sir w iliam Den.
ntsnn, aided by the Controller General,
Dr.. Hampton, could in1ct. Ny health u,
length began to give way so rapidly under
ths solitary confinement to which, during
this period, was consigned, that the doc
tor Of che station becume seriously alarmed,
and his representations produced such
relaxation OF the restrictions under which
was placed, as had The effec, Of restoring
my strength. shall abstain from distress.
ing you with detailed narrative Of my
experience Of the magnanimity Of British
fanctionnriss, as illos,rased by my trent
,neni in ihis island. shall rather i'm.
prsss yoa with persdasion-happily we'll
founded. that bear with wonderful cheer
falnesss all the priyations TO which | am
subject. : Every eshet source Of suffering
oppearea u uss 10 be 80 iusigni6ca Mt com.
pared with lha, oisepara,ng !rom my fam.
ily, that reconcile myself to the minor
vexa,ions incidental to my pcsillon, rs to
matters Of comparative indifference. Yet-
though could terminate the pains Of this
separation by allowing Mrs. -O,Brien to
caais to- Van Dteman's Land, | feel more
strongly than ever that it would be the
srsa.est Injustice to my children to bring
shem 10 country ,he present condition Of
which l.will not trust myself TO describe.
!, therefore, can see no definite termination
OF the calamit:es of my lot, except thai
which you, and other friends took so much
pains to avert, the deive,ance which will
be effected by death; and confess that
deliberately ihiHk that my denth would be
more advantageous to my children than
that they should follow me TO this colo
ny.
Il am afraid ,hat some Of my fellow ex
flea. though enjoying the comparative
libsr,y' which a ticket OF leave confers
find their lot litrls more enrinble thar
lniae, and the mere reflect upon the cir
eu,ns.nncs o: their position, the more do
rejoice tha, have kept myself unfe,ieret
by any engagement, even Though my reso'
luton in this regard nearly cos, me N!
life. Considered as prison, Maria islans
is as little Questionable US any spot ,ha
could be chosen. The scenery Is yer!
pic;uresqns. and the local officers hav'
bcen as kind as they could veature to b.
under The inhuman regulations laid dowr
fur .heir guidance by the Controller Gene
rial! Lam therefore rather sorry TO lsarl
that this station will sson be broken up
Cpcn abandonfaen, Of this station ! shall
probably be ,ernoued 10 Port Arthur
chnDge which viii, fear, be productiy
Of neither benefit or satisfaction 10 me-
Tell my Limerick friends ,ha, my reco
lection Of their kindness is as vivid as if
were still their representative, and belief
me Jour very obliged and attached friend
WILLIAM S O'BRlEN.