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, and 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 besieging Louisburg, and return’d to New York, with all his troops, together with the two paquets above mentioned, and all their passengers!  During his absence the French and savages had taken Fort George, on the frontier of that province, and the savages had massacred many of the garrison after capitulation.