Section Sixty One
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 Packet Boats which had been long in Port, but were detain’d for the General’s Letters, which were always to be ready to- morrow. Another Packet arriv’d and 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, & some extremely impatient to be gone, and the Merchants uneasy about their Letters, & the Orders they had given for Insurance, (it being Wartime) & 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 Packet from Governor Denny for the General. He deliver’d to me some Letters from my Friends there, which occasion’d my inquiring when he was to return & where he 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! Return’d; No, I am not gone yet.—How so?—I have call’d 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 Scritore. 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 Amherst & Wolf, that the Ministers never heard from him, and could not know what he was doing.