Anxious to Know the progress of my affairs and [conceiving that] conceiving that there can be no objection or obstacle to prevent the immediate naming of Arbitrators on the part of government I will take the liberty of waiting on you tomorrow between the hours of 11 and 12 to have a few minuets conversation on this subject. I am Sir your most obedient & Very humble Servant King Esqr. ROBT FULTON No reply having been received within two days, his impatience and irritation overcame his control of his nerves and on June 19th, he takes pen in hand to begin the inditing of three letters. Considering that of these letters one is addressed to the chief of the most powerful government then existing, a government that controlled the affairs of the world, another to the member of the cabinet in charge of the Navy, and both written by a man who had been for two years and still was in the employ of the government, they leave unbroken few rules for the proper conduct of official correspondence. At this time Fulton’s feelings were like the actions of a series of his bombs—a state of prolonged and violent explosions. One of the letters is addressed to Mr. King, whose first name Fulton does not seem to know, the second to Lord Grenville, and the third a covering letter to Lord Howick. The corrections show that Fulton spent some time in composing these communications, a task of no small difficulty in view of Fulton’s position and the disturbed condition of his temper. The two dates on the Grenville letter indicate that Fulton slept on it for one night, while the lapse into his earlier degree of disregard of orthography is perhaps further evidence of his emotions. The delay of one day in transmittal saved him, as similar delays have saved others. Perhaps some kind friend came to his guidance on the morrow, or perhaps a night’s rest had calmed somewhat his troubled spirit; whatever the reason, according to the footnote to the Howick letter he refrained from forwarding any of the three. It is not difficult to picture what Lord Grenville’s outburst would have been had he received Fulton’s letter of June 19th–20th. The man who had not feared to break with the all-powerful Pitt, and who had become premier of England, would hardly have taken kindly to Fulton’s ultimatum nor his threat to write a letter to The Times. Mr. King Sir by your silence on my Several letters permit me to say that you have treated me in a most ungentleman like manner; Inclosed is a letter for Lord Grenville which you will please to read and present to his Lordship, by it you will perceive the line I mean to pursue I have more favours to bestow on this government than Ministers will ever bestow on me and I am now about to put that, to the proof should they drive me to such necessity.