Young Lennox was impressed more than ever by the great quantity of shipping, and the extreme activity of the town.

The war with France, so far from interfering with this activity, had but increased it.
Privateering was a great pursuit of the day, all nations deeming it legal and worthy in war, and bold and enterprising merchants like Mr.Hardy never failed to take advantage of it.

The weekly news sheets that Willet had bought contained lists of vessels captured already, and Robert's hasty glances showed him that at least sixty or seventy had been taken by the privateers out of New York.

Most of the prizes had been in the West India trade, although some had been captured far away near the coast of Africa, and nearly all had been loaded richly.
They saw several of the privateers in port, armed powerfully, and as they were usually built for speed, Robert admired their graceful lines.

He felt anew the difference between military Quebec and commercial New York.