text:  General Shirley told me and Captain Collingwood how much he approved of the methods that were carrying on for suppressing the illegal trade with America; that it had ever been his wish and that he had used every means in his power by proclamation and otherwise to hinder it; but they came to him with protests and swore through every thing (even as the sea-phrase is through a nine-inch plank;) therefore got admittance as he could not examine the vessels himself; and further by the Thynne packet he had received a letter from Lord Sydney one of his Majesty's principal secretaries of state saying that Administration were determined that American ships and vessels should not have any intercourse with our West India islands; and that he had upon an address from the Assembly petitioning that he would relax the king's proclamation for the exclusion of Americans transmitted it to Lord Sydney to be laid before the king