His Excellency's information, of course, really did turn upon the matter in question.
The Lieutenant Wooldridge gave customary notice that he would call for the mails at my office. I did try to have them ready, but unfortunately, the boxes were not quite ready. I explained to Lieutenant Wooldridge that it was a very heavy mail indeed, and that the closing of the dispatch boxes, and the preparation of the many letter bills, requiring the greatest care and caution, that it would take some additional time before I could be prepared for him. Mr. Wooldridge appeared quite satisfied, and said he would call again at 1:30 p.m. This he did, and found me in the act of sealing the boxes - Seventeen were completed, when to my very great surprise,
Lieutenant Wooldridge informed me that he would not wait another second, and had these Seventeen boxes conveyed to his boat. I remonstrated with Mr. Wooldridge on the imprudence of sending such an important mail, and I am quite sure that if Lieutenant Wooldridge had remained quiet for the space of twenty minutes instead of annoying everybody in the Office and abusing his privileges and power as an Admiralty Agent, the remaining boxes would have been ready to have accompanied the others. However, notwithstanding the vexatious delay, the mails were taken to the Steamer, not when the vessel was under weigh as asserted by Lieutenant Wooldridge, but more than forty minutes before the hour for starting.