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