THE WHALE FISHERY. 133 



,'iient; 20,000 for a hundred families.' Lord Hawksbury demurred to this as a large sum.* 

 At a subsequent interview Mr. Rotch added to bis previous position tbe demand to bring with him 

 thirty American ships, wbich demand also met with remonstrance from Loid Hawksbnry, who 

 seemed to be of the ' penny wise pound foolish ' order of statesmen. Mr. Rotcli finally took leave 

 of Lord Hawksbury without obtaining any satisfaction, and, embarking on board his vessel, sailed 

 for France.t Lauding at Dunkirk, he drew up proposals to the French Government and forwarded 

 them to Paris. These proposals were eagerly entertained, arid- the preliminaries were speedily 

 arranged for a transfer of the interest of Mr. Rotch and his family and friends to Dunkirk, from 

 which port, for several years, a very successful fishery was carried on. Contemporary with the 

 negotiations with Mr. Rotch, a letter was dispatched to the people of Nan tucket by Capt. Shubael ' 

 Gardner, from L - CofBu, who resided at Dunkirk, stating that his sympathy for the people 

 of that island had led him to apply to the French Government in their behalf, and with excellent 

 success. Every request he had made had been granted, and the unlimited freedom, the abun- 

 dance ami cheapness of provisions, the absence of custom-houses, the small taxes, the regularity cf 

 the town, the manners and industry of the inhabitants, and its situation, rendered it, in his opin- 

 ion, ' the most eligible place in the universe for the people of Nantucket to remove to.f 



"And what," qiu-rieil Lord Hawksbury, 'do you propose to give us iu return for this outlay of money ?' 'I will 



you,' returned Mr. Rotch proudly, 'some oft e best blood of the island of Nantucket.' At this interview Hawks- 

 bury presented his own figures, where, says Mr. Rotch (see MS.), ' he had made his nice calculation of 87 10s. for 

 transportation aud settlement of a family,' aud, says he, ' lam about a fishery bill, and I want to come to something 

 that I may insert it,' &c. My answer was, ' Thy offer is no object; therefore goon with thy fishery bill without any 

 regard to me.' I was then taking leave and withdrawing. 'Well, Mr. Rotch, you'll call on me again in two or three 

 days.' ' I see no necessity for it.' ' But I desire you would.' ' If it is thy desire perhaps I may call.' However, he 

 Irt mi- rest but one day before he sent for me. Ho had the old story over again, but I told him it was unnecessary to 

 c-iitcr again into the subject. I then informed him that I had heard a rumor that Nantucket had agreed to furnish 

 France with a quantity of oil. He stepped to his bureau, took out one of a file of papers, and pretended to read an 

 1'iitiiv contradiction, though I was satisfied there was not a line there on the subject. I said, 'It was only a vague 

 report that I had heard, aud I cannot vouch for the truth of it, but we are like drowning men, catching at every 

 straw tbat passes by ; therefore I am now determined to go to Prance aud see what it is. If there is any such con- 

 ti.in. sutHeient to retain us at Nautucket, neither you nor any other nation shall have us, and if it is insufficient, I 

 will endeavor to enlarge it.' 'Ah,' says he, 'Quakers go to France ?' 'Yes,' I replied, ' but with regret.' I then 

 pan I'd with Lord Hawksbury for the last time. (Rotch MS.)" 



' t His lordship sent once more for Mr. Rotch to call on him, but Mr. Rotch returned answer, ' If Lord Hawks- 

 bury desires to see me he will find me on board my vessel up to the hour when she takes her anchor.' When Mr. 

 Rotch was once gone, Hawksbnry became alarmed and sent to him by letter, informing him that he had made pro- 

 vision in the fishery bill for him, with liberty to bring forty ships instead of thirty, ' ho having forgotten the num- 

 ber;' but it was too late. This unexpected ending of his hopes was far from pleasing either to his lordship or the 

 (ioveriniieut. After the interview with the King of France, Mr. Rotch returned to England, and was importuned lo 

 remove to Great Britain. In his memoranda he says he was waited upon by one of the officials, who told him he was 

 ' authorized by Mr. Pitt to tell you that you shall make your own terms.' 'I told him,' continues Mr. Rotch, 'he was 

 too late. I made very moderate proposals to you, but could obtain nothing worth mynotice. I went to France, sent 

 forward my proposals, which were doubly advantageous to what I had offered your Government ; they considered 

 them but. a short time, and on my arrival in Paris were ready to act. I had a separate interview with all the minis- 



>!'siaie necessary to the subject, five in number, who all agreed to aud granted my demands. This was effected 

 in live hours, when I had waited to be called by your privy council more than four months.' All attempts on 

 i be part of the English Government to reopen the subject were politely but firmly rejected by Mr. Rotch. 'In the 

 beginning of 1793,' the account continues, 'I became fully aware that war between England aud France would 

 soon i.-iki plaee ; t lien-lore it was time lor me to leave the country in order to save our vessels if captured by tho 

 F.nglish. I proceeded to England. Two of them were captured, full of oil, and condemned, but wo recovered both by 

 my being in England, where I arrived two weeks before the war took place. My goingto France to pursue the whale 

 ushery so disappointed Lord Hawksbury that he undertook to be revenged on me for his own folly, and I have no 

 doubt gave directions to the cruisers to take any of our vessels that they met with going to France. When the 

 Ospray was taken by a King's ship, the officer sent on board to examine her papers called to the captain and said, 

 "You'll take this vessel in, sir; she belongs to William Rotch." ' Mr. Rotch returned to tho United States with 

 several of his vessels in 1794, and, after residing in Nantucket about a year, removed to New Bedford, where lie lived 

 until his death, in May, 1828." 



" t The following is a list of advantages secured to Nantucket whalemen by Mr. Coffin : 



' ' 1st. An entire free exercise of their religion or worship wit bin themselves. 



