The Trial and Execution of the Traitor George Washington by Rosenberg Charles

Author:Rosenberg, Charles [Rosenberg, Charles]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B075R2CD6V
Goodreads: 36310871
Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Published: 2018-07-01T06:00:00+00:00

36

Mrs. Stevenson had very kindly told Abbott that he might use her side parlour—situated just to the right of the front door as one entered the house—as his office. She also located an old oak desk and leather desk chair and added them to the room’s furnishings, which already included an overstuffed couch and a large table, surrounded by four wooden chairs. “Voila, Mr. Abbott,” she said, dusting off the desk. “Welcome to the very first American Embassy in London.”

She had also provided him with a box of watermarked paper, a writing box containing three quill pens and a blotter and an ink stand with two full ink jars. There was even a supply of red wax, so that he could seal his letters. Fortunately, he had thought to bring along his own seal, which said Ethan Abbott, Esquire. He would need soon to acquire one with his proper title.

The day before, he had sent off two letters, both by messenger: a letter of introduction for Hobhouse to Washington, and a carefully worded one to Edmund Burke, explaining that while General Washington was deeply appreciative of his offer of representation, Washington thought an American-born barrister would be most appropriate to the defence argument he planned to make. But, he added, they hoped to seek Burke’s advice going forward.

Then he’d gone to see Washington a second time, but, except for letting Washington know he’d located a good barrister, it had been very much a repeat of their first meeting. Except that the produce thrown at them as they walked upon the parade—Washington again insisted on walking there for privacy—seemed to have switched from small dried fruit to small vegetables. Washington had said, “Perhaps whoever is paying for this is running out of money to purchase quality imported produce from warmer places.”

Using messengers, Abbott had again, through Hartleb, attempted to arrange a meeting with North, but had again been put off. Nor, Hartleb said, on enquiry, had the rest of the American delegation arrived. Was it possible no one was coming?

On his first full day in the “Embassy,” with little else to do, he had finally succumbed to his desire to explore the city. He had first gone on foot to explore the immediate neighbourhood around Mrs. Stevenson’s. Mrs. Stevenson had earlier introduced him to Polly, who had returned home, and he had invited her to go with him.

“And walk?” she said.

“Yes, of course.”

“Mr. Abbott, no one walks who can afford to do otherwise. I take either our own carriage and driver or a sedan chair. As you will soon see if you insist on walking, if the streets are not filled with effluent—and it’s rare they are not—you will need to step over the dead dogs and cats and move constantly aside to avoid being trampled by cattle, swine and other animals being driven to market.”

“Even in this area?”

“Perhaps not on our street, but nearby, certainly. And it is much, much worse elsewhere. Indeed, in some areas the recent construction is so shoddy that bricks fall off the buildings and hit people in the head.

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