80 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



that some one be appointed to close the matter, he was referred to Lord 

 Hawksbury, a gentleman not very favorably disposed toward America 

 Mr. Rotch gave him his estimate of the sum necessary to induce a re 

 moval, viz, "£100 sterling transportation for a family of five persons 

 and £100 settlement ; £20,000 for a hundred families." Lord Hawks 

 bury demurred to this as a large sum.* At a subsequent interview Mr 

 Rotch added to his previous position the demand to bring with him 

 thirty American ships, which demand also met with remonstrance 

 from Lord Hawksbury, who seemed to be of the " penny wise pound 

 foolish" order of statesmen. Mr. Rotch finally took leave of Lord 

 Hawksbury without obtaining any satisfaction, aud embarking on board 

 his vessel sailed for France.t Landing at Dunkirk, he drew up propo- 

 sals to the Freuch government and forwarded them to Paris. These 

 proposals were eagerly entertained, aud the preliminaries were speedily 

 arranged for a transfer of the interest of Mr. Rotch and his family and 



* "Aud what," queried Lord Hawksbury, '• do you propose to give us iu return for 

 this outlay of money ?" " I will give you," returned Mr. Rotch proudly, " some of the 

 best blood of the islaud of Nantucket." At this interview Hawksbury presented his 

 own figures, where, says Mr. Rotch, (see MS.) "he had made his nice calculation of 

 £87 10s. for transportation and settlement of a family," and, says he, " I am 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 go on 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, ho let me rest but one 

 day before he sent for me. He had the old story over again, but I told him it was 

 unnecessary to enter 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 step- 

 ped to his Bureau, took out one of a file of papers, and pretended to read an entire con- 

 tradiction, 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, and I cannot vouch for the truth of it, 

 but we are like drowning men, catching at every straw that passes by ; therefore I am 

 now determined to go to France and see what it is. If there is any such contract, 

 sufficient to retain us at Nantucket, 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 parted with Lord Hawks- 

 bury 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 Hawksbury 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, Hawks- 

 bury became alarmed and sent to him by letter, informing him that he had made pro- 

 vision iu the fishery bill for him, with liberty to bring forty ships instead of thirty, 

 "he having forgotten the number ;" but it was too late. This unexpected ending of 

 his hopes was far from pleasing either to his lordship or the government. After the 

 interview with the King of France, Mr. Rotch returned to Euglaud, and was impor- 

 tuned to remove to Great Britain. In his memoranda he says ho 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 my 

 notice. I went to France, sent forward my proposals, which were doubly advantage- 

 ous 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 

 Ministers of State necessary to the subject, five in number, who all agreed to& granted 



