IT is now high time to return to the embarkation at Quebec. Five hundred of us, being to be sent to England, were put on board La Renomme, a French packet-boat, Captain Dennis Vitree, commander: we sailed under a flag of truce, and though the French behaved with a good deal of politeness, yet we were almost starved for want of provisions.

One biscuit, and two ounces of pork a day, being all our allowance; and half dead with cold, having but few clothes, and the vessel being so small that the major part of us were obliged to be upon deck in all weathers. After a passage of six weeks, we at last, to our great joy, arrived at Plymouth, on the 6th of November 1756. But these our troubles and hardships were not, as we expected, put a period to for some time; scruples arising to the Commissaries and Admiral there about taking us on shore, as there was no cartel agreed on between the French and English, we were confined on board, until the determination of the Lords of the Admiralty should be known; lying there in a miserable condition seven or eight days, before we received orders to disembark, which, when we were permitted to do, being ordered from thence, in different parties, to Totness, Kingsburgh, Newton Bushel, Newton Abbot in Devonshire, I was happy in being quartered at Kingsbridge, where I met with such civility and entertainment, as I had for a long time been a stranger to.

In about four months we were again ordered to Plymouth dock, to be draughted into other regiments; where, on being inspected, I was, on account of the wound I had received in my hand, discharged as incapable of further service, and was allowed the sum of six shillings to carry me home to Aberdeen, near the place of my nativity.

But finding that sum insufficient to subsist me half the way, I was obliged to make my application to the honourable gentlemen of the city of York, who, on considering my necessity, and reviewing my manuscript on the transactions of the Indians herein before mentioned, thought proper to have it printed for my own benefit, which they cheerfully subscribed unto. And after disposing of several of my books through the shire, I took the first opportunity of going in quest of my relations at Aberdeen, where I received very barbarous usage and ill treatment, occasioned by complaining against the illegal practice of kidnapping, in the beginning of my book, which I shall hereafter finally describe in the following pages.

At Aberdeen Peter was jailed and his books ordered burnt. It seems likely that his good words considering Scottish officers at Oswego and his patriotic tone concerning the colonies and the French enemies, had won him the necessary goodwill among the patrons and sponsors interested in the course of the ongoing war [for this was before the English victory, indeed before they had much success at all in dealing with the French and Indians in what was one theatre of a global war] for him to engage local Aberdeen officials with confidence. Upon appealing to regional officials he was awarded a judgment against the corrupt judges who had benefitted from his kidnapping and who had jailed him upon his return, which, though downplayed by Peter, seems to have been something of a crusade on his part. It seems that the book we are reading from is a second addition, featuring the final damning section written by Peter in defense of the charges that he was indeed kidnapped and that kidnapping constituted a wicked and ongoing process.

Williamson, Peter, State of the Process, Peter Williamson Against William Fordyce and Others, British Museum