when do you set out to cut that road for my troops? You are long about it." Mr. Peters said quietly: "When, sir, I get guards against the Indians for the wood-cutters; until then it will not be possible."
The general damned Pennsylvania and the Quakers, and said: "That colony must find guards for their own wood-cutters, and as to the Indians, his Majesty's regulars laugh at the idea of danger from them." Upon which, several officers, not very sober, cried out, "Hear, hear!"
Mr. Peters, who had taken very little wine, replied that they were not to be despised, meaning the savages, but that every step of the march would be at risk of ambuscades.
Then, to my amazement, General Braddock cried out that he despised such counsels and that the colonials were like old women.
On this Mr. Peters rose, and one or two other gentlemen, and I saw Mr. Franklin glance at him. As he hesitated, I said so that he alone could hear: "Pardon me, Mr. Peters, the man is drunk, and you are entirely right." Then I saw that his lordship spoke quickly to the general, who cried
