218 
MABINE MAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 
mercantile gentlemen, who followed in the same field, that have emulated them in 
every point of thorough business transactions connected with the enterprise. Among 
the most distinguished, we will mention the Howlands, Parkers, Robinsons, Bournes, 
Swifts, Joneses, Aliens, Woods, Wings, Knowleses, and Tuckers, of New Bedford ; 
the Coffins, Starbucks, Sanfords, and Gardiners, of Nantucket ; also, the names of 
Williams, Barnes, Chapel, Havens, Perkins, and Smith, of New London ; and the 
leading men of Fairhaven — Church, Whitwell, Gibbs, Jenney. And Provincetown, 
one of the oldest whaling- ports in New England, which is distinguished for its 
numerous fleet of small vessels, has upon her record the Cooks and Nickersons. 
Stonington speaks of her Williams and Trumbull ; Edgartown of her Osborne and 
Worth; Greenport of her Ireland, WelLs, and Carpenter; Warren of its Childs and 
Johnson ; Westport of its Hicks and Wilcox. Sag Harbor had her Deerings, 
Howells, Huntings, Sleights, and Browns ; Mystic her Mallory, Randall, Smith, and 
Ashley ; and Mattapoisett her Barstow. 
lion I consequently, none could have been in- 
cluded in it but such as were in arms, or those 
who were aiding such. We have done neither ! 
As a proof of our being without the reach of 
your declaration, you sent commissioners to re- 
store peace to America, in which, any province, 
county, or town, that should make submission 
and receive pardon, should be reinstated in its 
former situation. As we had not offended, we 
had no submission to make, nor pardon to ask, 
and certainly it is very hard if we do not stand 
on better ground than those who have offended ; 
consequently, we remained a part of your do- 
minions until separated by the peace ! ' After a 
long pause, Mr. Pitt replied : ' Undoubtedly you 
are right, sir. Now, what can be done for you?> 
'I answered him,' said Mr. Rotch, 'that in the 
present situation of things, the principal part of 
our inhabitants must leave the island. Some 
would go into the country, and a part would 
remain, and continue their legitimate business, 
and I wish to continue the whale-fishery wher- 
ever it can be pursued to advantage ; therefore, 
my chief business before this nation is, to as- 
certain if the fishery is an object worth giving 
such encouragement for a removal to England 
as the subject deserves.' Thus our conversation 
ended, and I withdrew with my friend Harry 
Beaufoy. 
"The subject was laid before the Privy Coun- 
cil, as the secretary, Stephen Cotterel, sent me 
a note, soon after this conversation, saying the 
Council would sit at an early day, when they 
would hear what I had to say. I waited for 
that early day a month, and then I waited on 
Secretary Cotterel to know what occasioned de- 
lay? His answer was, that so much business 
lay before the Council, that they had not time 
or had not b&sn able to attend to it, but would 
soon. Thus I waited, not desiring to leave town 
lest I should be called for. This state of things 
continued for more than four months, during 
which time I received several, what I called un- 
meaning, court messages, such as 'They were 
sorry they were not able to send for me,' etc., 
etc. I then desired them to appoint some per- 
son for me to confer with, that the matter might 
be brought to a close. This was done, but un- 
happily Lord Hawkesbury was the person. A 
greater enemy to America could not be found, I 
believe, in that body, nor hardly in the nation. 
I waited on him, and informed him what en- 
