The colonists, who had been gathered from various parts of northern Sweden, were also slow in arriving. On October 5, Ankerhjelm writes that “six families, as the enclosed list shows, have come from Lytestegen (Letstigen?), who relate that eighty persons, small and big, will arrive from other places.” On October 10, some 64 emigrants had made their appearance, and a few days later their number had swelled to about 200. Kramer warned the admiral, however, not to allow too many passengers on board for fear of sickness, and advised him in one letter after another to get the ship ready and send her off. One hundred and five persons were selected from the whole number, as the most desirable. “A hundred persons or more were left behind”, and “it was a pity and shame that they could not all go along”, writes Papegoja. “Here was seen such a lamentation and weeping, for the unfortunate ones had sold all they possessed; yea they had done away with home and ground for half of the value, journeyed such a long way at their own expense, and are now compelled to take up the beggar’s staff, the one going here, the other there.” The _Mercurius_ had been riding at anchor with her cargo for two months, from about the middle of September to the first week of November. The outlook was gloomy. Alternating westerly and south-westerly gales, which had interfered with the sailing for a month, continued to blow. But at last there was a flicker of hope. The wind began to turn, and the colonists were reviewed and ordered to embark. Some changes were made, and the list was finally increased to 110 (12 of whom were old settlers), making 130 souls on the ship including the sailors. Henrick Huygen who was in command, returned to the colony as commissary, and a clergyman, the Rev. Matthias, and the barber surgeon, Hans Janeke, were among the passengers. Johan Papegoja (to whose care were entrusted the commission of Rising and other documents) went in the capacity of commander of the people. Johan Classon Rising, a brother of Director Rising, was also on the ship; and he had charge of some merchandise, which was consigned to his brother in New Sweden. On Saturday, November 10, the ship drifted down to Elfsborg, but on Sunday the wind reversed and continued contrary for nearly two weeks. On the 23rd the vessel “again set sail before noon with a lot of other ships”, but she was retarded by winds and fog for two days. On November 25 the _Mercurius_ finally left port for its long voyage across the Atlantic. The journey was of nearly four months’ duration, but seems to have been rather free from casualties and sufferings so common to former voyages, for there is no mention of sick people, when the vessel sailed up the Delaware on March 14 (24), 1656. III.