the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第53章
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was； 〃I have given out that she is to sail on Saturday next； but I may let
you know； entre nous； that if you are there by Monday morning； you will
be in time； but do not delay longer。〃 By some accidental hinderance at a
ferry； it was Monday noon before I arrived； and I was much afraid she
might have sailed； as the wind was fair； but I was soon made easy by the
information that she was still in the harbor； and would not move till the
next day。 One would imagine that I was now on the very point of
departing for Europe。 I thought so； but I was not then so well acquainted
with his lordship's character； of which indecision was one of the strongest
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features。 I shall give some instances。 It was about the beginning of April
that I came to New York； and I think it was near the end of June before we
sail'd。 There were then two of the paquet…boats； which had been long in
port； but were detained for the general's letters； which were always to be
ready to…morrow。 Another paquet arriv'd； she too was detain'd； and； before
we sail'd； a fourth was expected。 Ours was the first to be dispatch'd； as
having been there longest。 Passengers were engag'd in all； and some
extremely impatient to be gone； and the merchants uneasy about their
letters； and the orders they had given for insurance （it being war time） for
fall goods！ but their anxiety avail'd nothing； his lordship's letters were not
ready； and yet whoever waited on him found him always at his desk； pen
in hand； and concluded he must needs write abundantly。
Going myself one morning to pay my respects； I found in his
antechamber one Innis； a messenger of Philadelphia； who had come from
thence express with a paquet from Governor Denny for the General。 He
delivered to me some letters from my friends there； which occasion'd my
inquiring when he was to return； and where be lodg'd； that I might send
some letters by him。 He told me he was order'd to call to…morrow at nine
for the general's answer to the governor； and should set off immediately。 I
put my letters into his hands the same day。 A fortnight after I met him
again in the same place。 〃So； you are soon return'd； Innis？〃 〃Returned！ no；
I am not gone yet。〃 〃How so？〃 〃I have called here by order every morning
these two weeks past for his lordship's letter； and it is not yet ready。〃 〃Is it
possible； when he is so great a writer？ for I see him constantly at his
escritoire。〃 〃Yes；〃 says Innis； 〃but he is like St。 George on the signs；
always on horseback； and never rides on！〃 This observation of the
messenger was； it seems； well founded； for； when in England； I understood
that Mr。 Pitt gave it as one reason for removing this general； and sending
Generals Amherst and Wolfe； that the minister never heard from him； and
could not know what he was doing。
This daily expectation of sailing； and all the three paquets going down
to Sandy Hook； to join the fleet there； the passengers thought it best to be
on board； lest by a sudden order the ships should sail； and they be left
behind。 There； if I remember right； we were about six weeks； consuming
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our sea…stores； and oblig'd to procure more。 At length the fleet sail'd； the
General and all his army on board； bound to Louisburg； with intent to
besiege and take that fortress； all the paquet…boats in company ordered to
attend the General's ship； ready to receive his dispatches when they should
be ready。 We were out five days before we got a letter with leave to part；
and then our ship quitted the fleet and steered for England。 The other two
paquets he still detained； carried them with him to Halifax； where he
stayed some time to exercise the men in sham attacks upon sham forts；
then alter'd his mind as to besieging Louisburg； and return'd to New York；
with all his troops； together with the two paquets above mentioned； and all
their passengers！ During his absence the French and savages had taken
Fort George； on the frontier of that province； and the savages had
massacred many of the garrison after capitulation。
I saw afterwards in London Captain Bonnell； who commanded one of
those paquets。 He told me that； when he had been detain'd a month； he
acquainted his lordship that his ship was grown foul； to a degree that must
necessarily hinder her fast sailing； a point of consequence for a paquet…
boat； and requested an allowance of time to heave her down and clean her
bottom。 He was asked how long time that would require。 He answer'd；
three days。 The general replied； 〃If you can do it in one day； I give leave；
otherwise not； for you must certainly sail the day after to…morrow。〃 So he
never obtain'd leave； though detained afterwards from day to day during
full three months。
I saw also in London one of Bonnell's passengers； who was so enrag'd
against his lordship for deceiving and detaining him so long at New York；
and then carrying him to Halifax and back again； that he swore he would
sue for damages。 Whether he did or not； I never heard； but； as he
represented the injury to his affairs； it was very considerable。
On the whole； I wonder'd much how such a man came to be intrusted
with so important a business as the conduct of a great army； but； having
since seen more of the great world； and the means of obtaining； and
motives for giving places； my wonder is diminished。 General Shirley； on
whom the command of the army devolved upon the death of Braddock；
would； in my opinion； if continued in place； have made a much better
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campaign than that of Loudoun in 1757； which was frivolous； expensive；
and disgraceful to our nation beyond conception； for； tho' Shirley was not
a bred soldier； he was sensible and sagacious in himself； and attentive to
good advice from others； capable of forming judicious plans； and quick
and active in carrying them into execution。 Loudoun； instead of defending
the colonies with his great army； left them totally expos'd while he paraded
idly at Halifax； by which means Fort George was lost； besides； he derang'd
all our mercantile operations； and distress'd our trade； by a long embargo
on the exportation of provisions； on pretence of keeping supplies from
being obtain'd by the enemy； but in reality for beating down their price in
favor of the contractors； in whose profits； it was said； perhaps from
suspicion only； he had a share。 And； when at length the embargo was taken
off； by neglecting to send notice of it to Charlestown； the Carolina fleet
was detain'd near three months longer； whereby their bottoms were so
much damaged by the worm that a great part of them foundered in their
passage home。
Shirley was； I believe； sincerely glad of being relieved from so
burdensome a charge as the conduct of an army must be to a man
unacquainted with military business。 I was at the entertainment given by
the c
