Present: Mr. William Smith in the Chair, and twenty-eight Members:

A Letter from James Christie, Junior, Merchant of this Town, directed to Lieutenant-Colonel Gabriel Christie, of His Majesty’s Sixtieth Regiment, at Antigua, having been intercepted, was laid before the Committee, and ordered to be read; which was accordingly done, and the following paragraphs are part of its contents:

“Baltimore, February 22, 1775.

“We are in such horrible 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 in 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 have gone so far that we moderate people are under a 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 Buchanan Thomas Harrison, Thomas Jones, William Goodwin, and Isaac Vanbibber, to wait on him at his house, and 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 that he had 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 Robert Christie attended on his behalf; but it growing late, and many of the Members being withdrawn, the Committee directed a guard of nine men, under the command of an officer, to be placed round Mr.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-two Members.

They resumed the business of yesterday. Mr. Robert Christie, Junior, attended, and declared, that Mr. James Christie was very sorry for the Letter he had wrote Lieutenant-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 Dr. John Boyde and Mr. John McLure (Members of the Committee) do wait on Mr. 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, Junior, 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 officer 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, Junior, and that they only found two Guns and a pair of Pistols, and no Ammunition, and were convinced no others were in the house.

At a special meeting of the Committee, July 21, 1775. Present: Mr. Samuel Purviance in the Chair, and twenty Members.

A Letter from the Deputies of this Province at the Continental Congress was laid before the Committee, wherein they inform the Committee that they had laid the Proceedings on Mr. Christie’s Letter before the Congress, and that body thought it proper to refer it to the Provincial Convention.

The following Letter was laid before the Committee:

“July 21, 1775.

“SIR: I am now a little better, and the doctor is of opinion that fresh air and moderate exercise would contribute much to restoring my health. I have to entreat of you to represent this to the Committee, and to request of them for me that if they think proper I may have my liberty for the above purpose, on my giving such security as the Committee may require for my appearance before them when required. Your favour in this will oblige, Sir, your most obedient servant,

JAMES CHRISTIE, Jun.

“To Mr. Samuel Purviance, Chairman of the Committee.”

On considering the premises, the Committee refer the determination to a fuller Committee on Monday next, and in the mean time that Mr. Christie may be permitted to ride out attended by his guard.

At a meeting of the Committee, July 24, 1775, Present Mr. Samuel Purviance in the Chair, and forty Members:

Mr. Robert Christie appeared in behalf of Mr. James Christie, and requested that his guard might be dismissed on security being given to the satisfaction of the Committee for his appearance before the Committee or Provincial Convention when thereunto required, and that he would not depart the Province without their permission; which being debated, it was resolved to accept five securities, by a majority of twenty-one to fourteen, and accordingly the following security was entered into and signed.

Copy from the Minutes:

WM. LUX, Sec’y.

“I do hereby solemnly engage not to depart this Province without the permission and consent of the Committee of Observation for Baltimore County, or the Provincial Convention, first had and obtained. As witness my hand this twenty-fourth day of July, 1775.

“JAMES CHRISTIE, Jun.

“Witness: Robert Alexander, Richard Buchanan.”

“We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, do hereby undertake and solemnly engage that James Christie, of Baltimore Town, shall not depart this Province without