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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 city of New York to Lord Loudoun； on his taking upon him the
command。 Shirley； tho' thereby superseded； was present also。 There was a
great company of officers； citizens； and strangers； and； some chairs having
been borrowed in the neighborhood； there was one among them very low；
which fell to the lot of Mr。 Shirley。 Perceiving it as I sat by him； I said；
〃They have given you； sir； too low a seat。〃 〃No matter；〃 says he； 〃Mr。
Franklin； I find a low seat the easiest。〃 While I was； as afore mention'd；
detain'd at New York； I receiv'd all the accounts of the provisions； etc。； that
I had furnish'd to Braddock； some of which accounts could not sooner be
obtain'd from the different persons I had employ'd to assist in the business。
I presented them to Lord Loudoun； desiring to be paid the ballance。 He
caus'd them to be regularly examined by the proper officer； who； after
comparing every article with its voucher； certified them to be right； and
the balance due for which his lordship promis'd to give me an order on the
paymaster。 This was； however； put off from time to time； and； tho' I call'd
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often for it by appointment； I did not get it。 At length； just before my
departure； he told me he had； on better consideration； concluded not to
mix his accounts with those of his predecessors。 〃And you；〃 says he；
〃when in England； have only to exhibit your accounts at the treasury； and
you will be paid immediately。〃
I mention'd； but without effect； the great and unexpected expense I had
been put to by being detain'd so long at New York； as a reason for my
desiring to be presently paid； and on my observing that it was not right I
should be put to any further trouble or delay in obtaining the money I had
advanc'd； as I charged no commission for my service； 〃0； sir；〃 says he；
〃you must not think of persuading us that you are no gainer； we
understand better those affairs； and know that every one concerned in
supplying the army finds means； in the doing it； to fill his own pockets。〃 I
assur'd him that was not my case； and that I had not pocketed a farthing；
but he appear'd clearly not to believe me； and； indeed； I have since learnt
that immense fortunes are often made in such employments。 As to my
ballance； I am not paid it to this day； of which more hereafter。
Our captain of the paquet had boasted much； before we sailed； of the
swiftness of his ship； unfortunately； when we came to sea； she proved the
dullest of ninety…six sail； to his no small mortification。 After many
conjectures respecting the cause； when we were near another ship almost
as dull as ours； which； however； gain'd upon us； the captain ordered all
hands to come aft； and stand as near the ensign staff as possible。 We were；
passengers included； about forty persons。 While we stood there； the ship
mended her pace； and soon left her neighbour far behind； which prov'd
clearly what our captain suspected； that she was loaded too much by the
head。 The casks of water； it seems； had been all plac'd forward； these he
therefore order'd to be mov'd further aft； on which the ship recover'd her
character； and proved the sailer in the fleet。
The captain said she had once gone at the rate of thirteen knots； which
is accounted thirteen miles per hour。 We had on board； as a passenger；
Captain Kennedy； of the Navy； who contended that it was impossible； and
that no ship ever sailed so fast； and that there must have been some error
in the division of the log…line； or some mistake in heaving the log。 A wager
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ensu'd between the two captains； to be decided when there should be
sufficient wind。 Kennedy thereupon examin'd rigorously the log…line； and；
being satisfi'd with that； he determin'd to throw the log himself。
Accordingly some days after； when the wind blew very fair and fresh； and
the captain of the paquet； Lutwidge； said he believ'd she then went at the
rate of thirteen knots； Kennedy made the experiment； and own'd his wager
lost。
The above fact I give for the sake of the following observation。 It has
been remark'd； as an imperfection in the art of ship…building； that it can
never be known； till she is tried； whether a new ship will or will not be a
good sailer； for that the model of a good…sailing ship has been exactly
follow'd in a new one； which has prov'd； on the contrary； remarkably dull。
I apprehend that this may partly be occasion'd by the different opinions of
seamen respecting the modes of lading； rigging； and sailing of a ship； each
has his system； and the same vessel； laden by the judgment and orders of
one captain； shall sail better or worse than when by the orders of another。
Besides； it scarce ever happens that a ship is form'd； fitted for the sea； and
sail'd by the same person。 One man builds the hull； another rigs her； a third
lades and sails her。 No one of these has the advantage of knowing all the
ideas and experience of the others； and； therefore； can not draw just
conclusions from a combination of the whole。
Even in the simple operation of sailing when at sea； I have often
observ'd different judgments in the officers who commanded the
successive watches； the wind being the same。 One would have the sails
trimm'd sharper or flatter than another； so that they seem'd to have no
certain rule to govern by。 Yet I think a set of experiments might be
instituted； first； to determine the most proper form of the hull for swift
sailing； next； the best dimensions and properest place for the masts： then
the form and quantity of sails； and their position； as the wind may be； and；
lastly； the disposition of the lading。 This is an age of experiments； and I
think a set accurately made and combin'd would be of great use。 I am
persuaded； therefore； that ere long some ingenious philosopher will
undertake it； to whom I wish success。
We were several times chas'd in our passage； but outsail'd every thing；
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and in thirty days had soundings。 We had a good observation； and the
captain judg'd himself so near our port； Falmouth； that； if we made a good
run in the night； we might be off the mouth of that harbor in the morning；
and by running in the night might escape the notice of the enemy's
privateers； who often crus'd near the entrance of the channel。 Accordingly；
all the sail was set that we could possibly make； and the wind being very
fresh and fair； we went right before it； and made great way。 The captain；
after his observation； shap'd his course； as he thought； so as to pass wide
of the Scilly Isles； but it seems there is sometimes a strong indraught
setting up St。 George's Channel