The last note discussed the reaction in Virginia when Blakiston's letter arrived at the Governor's desk. It is interesting to take this same subject in Spotswood's own words. What did he write back to Blakiston?
"March 15, 1713 (OS)
To Colo. Blakiston:
S'r:
About the beginning of Jan'y I rec'd yo'rs of he 3d July, 20th of Septemb'r, and 10th of October, w'ch gave me an Acc't of y'r proceedings in relation to the Mines, as well as y'r Sentiments of w't ye Baron had propos'd about transporting his Miners, but by y'r Letter of ye 9th of Decemb'r, which I rec'd the other day, I preceive you have alter'd y'r opinion by sending over those People, partly at my charge. This makes me believe you have now greater hopes of her Maj't's Concessions in y't Affair, for I'm confident you would not on any less encouragem't engage me in such an Expense, when, besides, it seems, I run the risque of the same Censure, as you say others have undergone, for transporting Forreigners into these parts, but I hope the undertaking will not have the same consequences; however, 'tis in vain to look on the worst side of a business wherein one is so far engaged, and must go through. 'Tis therefore the more necessary to press an answer to the memorial presented to her Maj'ty, and [in] regard nothing more must be undertaken here till that be obtain'd without the hazard of raising so great a Clamour, especially when Mr. Nicholson arrives, Wherefore I request you will use y'r endeavours, and also quicken My Lord Orkney to dispatch her Maj'ty's answer as soon as possible, that we have some propect of being reimburs'd the charge of maintaining so many people, w'ch must remain idle in the meantime."
The letter of July 3 probably pertained to the attempt to get the royal share of silver and gold mines determined. The Germans were getting ready to leave Siegen. The two letters of September 20 and October 10 were probably written after the Germans had arrived and Graffenried was back in London. Just when Graffenried started negiotiating to find transportation and jobs for the Germans is not clear. Blakiston probably did not commit Spotswood until December 9. No doubt he wrote immediately to Spotswood and found a ship for the letter. According to Graffenried, the Germans did not leave until January of 1714 (NS). Thus they were probably in London by September 10 and they did not leave until the next January. So at the minimum they were in London for four months and looking for work to support themselves. If Graffenried stayed until December 9, this could be consistent with his return to Switzerland.
One of the sub-themes of this note is that nothing could be done very fast. Spotswood got Blakiston's letter of July 3 the next January. It took the Germans the largest part of a year to get from Siegen to Virginia. Graffenried was essentially a year in getting from Virginia to Switzerland.
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.