Nancy Woodward

I seem to recall that British governmental and military correspondence was
sent to the colonies by ships-of-the-line, which sailed whenever they were
ready. Government documents were too important to trust to the commercial
Captain. They also did not necessarily take a direct course over, many
traveled south first, and then went north to New York. Merchant ships were
probably more cautious about winter shipping as they were usually insured.

David Baker, Historian, Town of Hurley