nd the orders they had given for insurance (it being war
time) for fall goods! but their anxiety avail'd nothing; his lordship's
letters were not ready; and yet whoever waited on him found him always
at his desk, pen in hand, and concluded he must needs write abundantly.

Going myself one morning to pay my respects, I found in his antechamber
one Innis, a messenger of Philadelphia, who had come from thence
express with a paquet from Governor Denny for the General. He
delivered to me some letters from my friends there, which occasion'd my
inquiring when he was to return, and where be lodg'd, that I might send
some letters by him. He told me he was order'd to call to-morrow at
nine for the general's answer to the governor, and should set off
immediately. I put my letters into his hands the same day. A
fortnight after I met him again in the same place. "So, you are soon
return'd, Innis?" "Returned! no, I am not gone yet." "How so?" "I
have called here by order every morning these two weeks past for his
lordship's letter, and it is not yet ready." "Is it possible, when he
is so great a writer? for I see him constantly at his escritoire."
"Yes," says Innis, "but he is like St. George on the signs, always on
horseback, and never rides on!" This observation of the messenger was,
it seems, well founded; for, when in England, I understood that Mr.
Pitt gave it as one reason for removing this general, and sending
Generals Amherst and Wolfe, that the minister never heard from him, and
could not know what he was doing.

This daily expectation of sailing, and all the three paquets going down
to Sandy Hook, to join the fleet there, the passengers thought it best
to be on board, lest by a sudden order the ships should sail, and they
be left behind. There, if I remember right, we were about six weeks,
consuming our sea-stores, and oblig'd to procure more. At length the
fleet sail'd, the General and all his army on board, bound to
Louisburg, with intent to besiege and take that fortress; all the
paquet-boats in company ordered to attend the General's ship, ready to
receive his dispatches when they should be ready. We were out five
days before we got a letter with leave to part, and then our ship
quitted the fleet and steered for England. The other two paquets he
still detained, carried them with him to Halifax, where he stayed some
time to exercise the men in sham attacks upon sham forts, then alter'd
his mind as to besiegin