at purpose, declaring that he would
spare none of the king's troops for the defense of our frontiers, and
that, if we did not continue to provide for that defense ourselves,
they must remain expos'd to the enemy.

I acquainted the House with what had pass'd, and, presenting them with
a set of resolutions I had drawn up, declaring our rights, and that we
did not relinquish our claim to those rights, but only suspended the
exercise of them on this occasion thro' force, against which we
protested, they at length agreed to drop that bill, and frame another
conformable to the proprietary instructions. This of course the
governor pass'd, and I was then at liberty to proceed on my voyage.
But, in the meantime, the paquet had sailed with my sea-stores, which
was some loss to me, and my only recompense was his lordship's thanks
for my service, all the credit of obtaining the accommodation falling
to his share.

He set out for New York before me; and, as the time for dispatching the
paquet-boats was at his disposition, and there were two then remaining
there, one of which, he said, was to sail very soon, I requested to
know the precise time, that I might not miss her by any delay of mine.
His answer was, "I have given out that she is to sail on Saturday next;
but I may let you know, entre nous, that if you are there by Monday
morning, you will be in time, but do not delay longer." By some
accidental hinderance at a ferry, it was Monday noon before I arrived,
and I was much afraid she might have sailed, as the wind was fair; but
I was soon made easy by the information that she was still in the
harbor, and would not move till the next day. One would imagine that I
was now on the very point of departing for Europe. I thought so; but I
was not then so well acquainted with his lordship's character, of which
indecision was one of the strongest features. I shall give some
instances. It was about the beginning of April that I came to New
York, and I think it was near the end of June before we sail'd. There
were then two of the paquet-boats, which had been long in port, but
were detained for the general's letters, which were always to be ready
to-morrow. Another paquet arriv'd; she too was detain'd; and, before we
sail'd, a fourth was expected. Ours was the first to be dispatch'd, as
having been there longest. Passengers were engag'd in all, and some
extremely impatient to be gone, and the merchants uneasy about their
letters, a