132 THE ISLAND OF NANTUCKET. 



satisfaction from the British government, after months 

 of weary waiting he proceeded to France, where he met 

 Calonne, Yergennes, DeCastro, Mirabeau, Talleyrand, 

 and others. He finally succeeded m making terms 

 with France, and prosecuted the business of whaling at 

 Dunkirk until the breaking out of the French Eevolu- 

 tion, leaving France only two days before Louis XYI. 

 was guillotined. He subsequently carried on in Eng- 

 land at Milford Haven the same business. 



" Mr. Eotch sent from Dunkirk the first whale ships 

 that ever entered the Pacific Ocean." Mr. F. C. San- 

 ford informs the writer that he has a long list of ship- 

 masters from Nantucket who commanded Mr. Eotch's 

 ships. 



Although Mr. Eotch was a Friend, and as such could 

 take no part in any way in the war, and was sent by 

 the town on several occasions as a messenger to the 

 British commanders to secure protection against the 

 depredations of the refugees, there are many people 

 still living who believe he was a Tory at heart, and 

 that he was guilty of smuggling. Certain it is that 

 he was tried for the latter offence, and by his own 

 showing was fearful of being convicted. It certainly 

 is a very singular fact that he should prefer to carry 

 on the business of whaling in a foreign country after 

 the war was over.* 



Owen C. Spooner. 



While engaged upon this book, during the past 

 winter, the compiler was informed that there was a 

 quiet, unpretending gentleman living in the town, who, 

 although he had never received any recognition from 



* Never was a more true, patriotic American, only non-resist- 

 ant. F. c. s. 



