Page:Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin (1793).djvu/62

52 to take with me letters of recommendation to a number of his friends; and particularly a letter of credit, in order to obtain the neceſſary ſum for the purchaſe of my preſs, types, and paper. He appointed various times for me to come for theſe letters, which would certainly be ready; and when I came, always put me off to another day. Theſe ſucceſſive delays continued till the veſſel, whoſe departure had been ſeveral times deferred, was on the point of ſetting ſail; when I again went to Sir William's houſe, to receive my letters and take leave of him. I ſaw his ſecretary, Dr. Bard; who told me that the governor was extremely buſy writing, but that he would be down at Newcaftle before the veſſel, and that the letters would be delivered to me there.

Ralph, though he was married and had a child, determined to accompany me in this voyage. His object was ſuppoſed to be the eſtabliſhing a correspondence with ſome mercantile houſes, in order to ſell goods by commiſſion; but I afterwards learned, that, having reaſon to be diſſatisfied with the parents of his wife, he propoſed to himſelf to leave her on their hands, and never return to America again.

Having taken leave of my friends, and interchanged promiſes of fidelity with Miſs Read, I quitted Philadelphia. At Newcaſtle the veſſel came to anchor. The governor was arrived, and I went to his lodgings. His ſecretary received me with great civility, told me on the part of the governor that he could not ſee me then, as he was engaged in affairs of the utmoſt importance, but that he would ſend the letters on board, and that he wiſhed me, with all his heart, a good voyage and ſpeedy return. I returned, ſomewhat aſtoniſhed, to the ſhip, but ſtill without entertaining the ſlighteſt ſuſpicion.