220 MABINE 3IAMMALS OF TEE NORTH-WESTEBN COAST. 



When the ship is nearly in readiness for her voyage, she leaves the wharf, and is 

 anchored in the offing, to complete her necessary requirements. When the last 

 article is taken in, the crew and officers embark, the pilot goes on board, and the 

 managing agent informs the captain that the vessel is ready to sail ; he gives him 

 his general instructions for the voyage, shakes him by the hand, and wishes him a 

 "full ship" and a safe return; and he (the agent) feels relieved to get the expe- 

 dition temporarily off his hands ; but not so the captain, for he keenly feels his 

 responsibility. A long, anxious, and tedious voyage is before him ; if successful, he 

 may return to be amply rewarded for his toils ; if unfortunate, he meets with 

 reproach and an empty purse. But there is no time for dallying, and he acknowl- 

 edges the compliments of his employer, bids him a hurried good -by, steps into the 

 waiting boat, and repairs on board. The pilot gives his orders, the ship speeds 

 away under a press of canvas, and at length she is plunging and reeling on the 

 broad expanse of waters. The pilot is now the only connecting link between them 



oil. He stepped to his bureau and took out a 

 file of papers, from 'which he pretended to read 

 an entire contradiction of the report, though I 

 was satisfied there was not a line there on the 

 subject. I said 'it was only a vague rejsort that 

 I heard, and I can not vouch for the truth of 

 it, but we are like drowning men, catching at 

 every sti'aw that passes by. Therefore, I am 

 determined to go to France and see what it is. 

 If there be any such contract, suf&cient to retain 

 us at Nantucket, neither you, nor any other na- 

 tion can have us ; and if it is insufficient, I shall 

 endeavor to enlarge it.' 'Ah!' said he, 'Quak- 

 ers go to France?' 'Yes, but with regret!' I 

 then parted with Lord Hawkesbury for the last 

 time. 



"I immediately embarked with my son Ben- 

 jamin, for Dunkirk, where I drew up my pro- 

 posals and sent them to Paris, not wishing to 

 pi'oceed fai'ther until I found the disposition of 

 the French Court. They sent for us to come 

 immediately. We lost no time in ansivering the 

 summons, and proceeded at once to , Paris. The 

 Master of Requests, who was the proper minis- 

 ter to receive our proposals and make his re- 

 marks on the several articles, had examined them 



and made his remarks- accordingly. The propo- 

 sals were : 



'"1st. A full and free enjoyment of religion 

 according to the principles of the people called 

 Quakers.' 



"To which he annexed, 'Accordi/' 



"'2d. An entire exemption from military reg- 

 ulations of every kind.' 



"To this he annexed the following just re- 

 marks : ' As they are all peaceable people and 

 meddle not with the quarrels of princes, neither 

 internal nor external, this proposition may be 

 granted.' 



"The other proposition related to the regula- 

 tion of the whale-fishery. 



"We next joroceeded to the several ministers, 

 five in number, at Versailles. First, to Calonne, 

 Comptroller of Finance. We gave our reasons 

 for not taking off our hats on being introduced 

 to them all. Calonne replied: 'I care nothing 

 for your hats, if your he-arts are right.' Next, 

 we went to the aged Vergennes, Minister of For- 

 eign Affairs ; then to the Marshal de Castro, 

 Minister of Marine ; then to the Pi-ince of Eubec, 

 G-eneralissimo of Flanders ; at last, to the In- 

 tendant of Flanders — who all agreed to my pro- 



