As early as January 13, Peter Trotzig was instructed by letter to buy a cargo in Holland for about 6,000 florins and in the beginning of February preparations for another expedition were begun with earnest in Sweden. The letters of Elswick and Rising, which arrived on February 16 (relating the capture of the _Haj_), gave fresh life to the activities. Trotzig was directed to buy a new ship or one not more than three years old “of 90 or 100 lasts, with good room, six or eight gun-holes and with double sails”. He was also to hire sailors and a mate. Trotzig was unable, however, to find a new ship for sale, answering the requirements of the directors, but he bought an old one instead, the _Mercurius_, which “he caused to be built anew entirely”. The vessel was despatched to Gothenburg with a cargo at the earliest possible date. When the ship came to port in July she was leaky, however, making it necessary to unload and careen her. Further inconvenience was caused by the skipper who deserted, taking charge of a Dutch vessel. The crew was also short, and it was very difficult to engage sailors; but some Danes and Swedes were finally hired by Admiral Anckerhjelm. About the middle of August the ship was again sea-worthy. Stones were taken on board for ballast, “as sand was not serviceable on such long voyages”, and the cargo was hurriedly loaded into the holds. Thus while Stuyvesant was advancing on the forts of New Sweden, the company of Old Sweden was making strenuous efforts to send out a large expedition. But the expedition suffered the usual fate. The _Mercurius_ was delayed for weeks. Neither cannon nor ammunition could be obtained at Gothenburg, “even if we would pay their weight in money”, writes Ankerhjelm, and various other supplies were wanted. It was therefore necessary to buy guns, powder and balls at Stockholm, and provisions and materials for the journey at Västervik. A new skipper was hired at the capital, and Henrick Huygen, a barber surgeon and several colonists were there, waiting for passage to Gothenburg. Finally, towards the end of August, they embarked on a sloop, which carried cannon and supplies. The sloop encountered unfavorable weather and did not reach Gothenburg harbor before October 4.