218 



MABINE 3IAM3IALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 



mercantLle 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, Stai-bucks, Sanfords, and Gardincrs, of Nantucket ; also, the names of 

 Williams, Barnes, Clmpel, Havens, Perkins, and Smith, of New London ; and the 

 leading men of Pairhaven — 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 speal^s of her Williams and Trumbull ; Edgartown of her Osborne and 

 Worth ; Greenport of her Ireland, Wells, and Carp-enter ; 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! consequently, none could have been in- 

 cluded in it but sucli 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 mate, 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 ans^vered him,' said Mr. Eotch, '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 been 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 

 bo 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- 



