be read, which was accordingly done, and the following paragraphs are part of the contents:

“Baltimore, February 22, 1775.

“We are in such terrible confusion here with our politicks, there is no depending on any thing; and that, added to other things, makes me wish myself out of the Province. We are little behind the New-Englanders—mustering, purchasing arms, ammunition, &c. We have some violent fanatical spirits among us, who do every thing in their power to run things to the utmost extremity, and they are gone so far, that we moderate people are under the necessity of uniting for our own defence, after being threatened with expulsion, loss of life, &c., for not acceding to what we deem treason and rebellion. The Provost and family are very well; our publick affairs vex him, and he wishes himself away, but I know not when or if ever that will happen. A part of yours, or any other Regiment, I believe, would keep us very quiet.”

The Committee then summoned Mr. Christie to attend them, but being confined to his bed he was unable to do it; they then sent Messrs. James Calhoun, William Buchannan, Thomas Harrison, Thomas Jones, William Goodwin, and Isaac Vanbibber, to wait on him at his house, and to inquire whether the said Letter was wrote by him.

The gentlemen returned, and report, that Mr. Christie had been shown the Letter, and acknowledged that it was wrote by him; but requested that any further proceedings thereon might be postponed until his health would permit his personal attendance. The Committee not thinking it proper to comply with his request, as Mr. Christie had confessed he wrote the Letter, immediately gave him notice thereof; upon which Mr. Robert Christie attended on his behalf; but it growing late, and many of the members being withdrawn, the Committee directed a guard of nine men, under the command of an officer, to be placed round Mr. Christie’s house, and then adjourned till to-morrow morning, at nine o’clock.

Friday, July 14, 1775.

The Committee met according to adjournment. Present: Mr. William Smith, Chairman, and thirty-three Members.

They resumed the business of yesterday. Mr. Robert Christie attended, and declared, that Mr. James Christie was very sorry for the Letter he had wrote Lieut. Colonel Christie; that he did not mean any harm by it, and that he was very willing to acquiesce in the determination of the Committee.

On motion, Resolved, That Doctor John Boyd, and Mr. John McLure, members of this Committee, do wait on Mr. James Christie, and inquire of him who those moderate people were, that united for their defence, as mentioned in his Letter, and that they take his answer in writing.

The gentlemen returned, and report: that Mr. Christie declared there never was any association between him and his friends for the purpose alluded to, or for any other purpose; and all that he remembers to have passed on the occasion was, that some time last winter he was informed, that he, with some of his friends, were to be made a publick example of, for not uniting with the Town in the present opposition, and this being spoken of accidentally among two or three of his friends, it was proposed, whether an association for mutual defence would be advisable; but no determination being then made, and they soon after being convinced that no threats worth notice had been thrown out against them, the matter dropped, and was never afterwards thought of, or attempted; and that it was at this time of doubt and apprehension, that he had wrote the letter in question, which accounts for that part of it alluded to in this inquiry.

The Committee proceeded to take Mr. Christie’s conduct with respect to said Letter into further and deliberate consideration, and were unanimously of opinion, that by representing in said Letter the people of this Town to be concerned in treasonable and rebellious practices, and that a number of soldiers would keep them quiet, he has manifested a spirit and principle altogether inimical to the rights, privileges, and liberties of America: they do, therefore, think it their duty to advertise the said James Christie, Jun., as an enemy to this Country, and all persons are desired to break off all connection and intercourse with him.

The Committee do further resolve, that as the crime of which the said James Christie is guilty, is of so dangerous and atrocious a nature, they will lay the same before their Delegates at the Continental Congress for their advice; and in the mean time it is ordered, that as Mr. Christie is confined to his bed, and cannot be removed with safety to a place of security, the same guard be continued at his house to prevent any escape attempted either by himself or the assistance of his friends, and that Mr. Christie pay each man five shillings for each twenty-four hours, and the officers seven shillings and six pence.

A report having been circulated that a number of Arms and a quantity of Ammunition were secretly lodged in the house of Mr. James Christie, and the same being mentioned in the Committee, they directed two of their members (Captain Clopper and Mr. James Cox) to go immediately and search Mr. Christie’s house; which they accordingly did, and reported that they had examined the house attentively in every part, attended by Mr. Robert Christie, Jun., and that they only found two Guns and a pair of Pistols, and no Ammunition, and were convinced no others were in the house.

Extract from the Minutes of the 14th July:

WILLIAM LUX, Secretary.

Resolved, That these proceedings be published in the Maryland Papers.

Copy from the Minutes of the proceedings:

WILLIAM LUX, Secretary.

The following is a copy of Mr. Christie’s Letter:

Baltimore, February 22, 1775.

DEAR SIR: I duly received your favours of the 13th and 22d November, and should probably have wrote you before now, had I not met with the greatest misfortune in the power of fate to inflict on me, in the loss of the wife of my soul, on the 15th December last, that has almost put it out of my power to mind any thing for some time past, and all my fortitude is scarce sufficient to bear me up; however, I must submit. She had been brought to bed of a girl about twenty days; the dear little infant died a few days after its mother.

I some time since remitted twenty-two pounds and eight shillings sterling, to be paid your mother for the boy’s passage, (being twenty pounds and interest on it at six per cent. since I received the money,) and which, on the whole, leaves them about seven pounds currency in my debt, which I shall soon receive for rent. Charles’s expense for clothing, schooling, &c., when ashore runs high. But I think he may now pay for it himself. Gabriel hath been with me three or four months, and so far hath behaved to my satisfaction; and I would flatter myself he may easily be broke of the idle, indolent habit he had been acquiring; he applies well to any thing I put him to, and after a while I hope may do.

As your brother’s correspondence and mine has been suspended since a letter I wrote him about the boys, soon after the receipt of yours, I wrote my sister about John Grame’s mandamus, and to get me the preference of it. I have thought nothing more about it, and am yet quite undetermined. At present I think of going to Britain, so soon as my affairs will admit of it, and leave my little boy at Stirling; and if things turn out to my liking, perhaps I may remain, and set myself down either in London or Glasgow. When I may get away is wholly uncertain—I would hope some time next fall. We are in such terrible confusion with our politicks, there is no depending on any thing; and that, added to other things, makes me wish myself out of the Province. We are little behind the New-Englanders—mustering, purchasing arms, ammunition, &c. We have some violent fanatical spirits among us, who do every thing in their power to run things to the utmost extremity, and they are gone so far, that we moderate people are under a necessity of uniting for our defence, after being threatened with expulsion, loss of life, &c., for not acceding to what we deem treason and rebellion.

The Provost and family are very well; I believe he has nothing lately from James. He has made inquiry about negotiating bills on him in Bengal, and finds it may be done at a disadvantage of twenty per cent., and thirty per cent. more, if the bills are protested; on the whole, fifty per cent. in case of protest. Whether he will attempt it or not, I know not. Our publick affairs vex him, and he wishes himself away, but I know not when, or if ever that will

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