MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO GUSTAYUS SCOTT.

SIR: The Council of Safety have stipulated and agreed with a contractor, for supplying the regular forces of this Province with provisions; hut, as some time must be given to provide the several articles which compose a ration, and it cannot reasonably be expected he will be able to furnish them earlier than the tenth of next month, the troops must be subsisted on the seven shillings and six-pence per week, allowed for that purpose, in the instructions for inlisting men.

The Captains of Independent companies, agreeable to a resolve of the last Convention, are to provide houses for their respective companies, and such sums of money are to be advanced out of the Treasury of that Shore where their company may be stationed, by permission of the Council of Safety, as may be necessary for the purpose. Captain Gunby will, therefore, provide houses for his men upon the best terms he can, and advise us thereof, that we may give him an order for the money on the Eastern-Shore Treasurer, if it should be necessary to advance any; but, as it will be expedient, the station of that company should be first ascertained, and, as we are not so well acquainted with your County as to determine satisfactorily to ourselves, and most advantageously to you, upon a particular place where it might reasonably be expected their troops would render the greatest service, so we should be glad if the Committee of Observation would take the matter into consideration, and give us their sentiments upon it; and as, in all probability, we shall approve of the station recommended by them, we would have the Captain engage proper and necessary houses there immediately, as bedding is an extreme scarce article. Where we have had an opportunity, we have desired the Captains of the several companies, to endeavour to furnish their men with new blankets; but, where they were not to be had, with such as could be got in the neighborhood, though a little worn, upon reasonable terms; they were not to exceed fifteen shillings, or the others twelve shillings and six pence. If Captain Gunby's men are yet unprovided, we would have him adopt that method, as the best, under our circumstances, and will answer his drafts for them.

It is very ambiguous from any thing that appears in the proceedings of the Convention, who are to find fuel for the troops; and, as we conceive, the Captains, respectively, can most advantageously provide that necessary article, so we request Captain Gunby will take the direction of that matter for his company, and occasionally advise us of the expense, that it may be properly defrayed.

We have confidence in your recommendation of Mr. James Geoghagen, and, therefore, shall be obliged to him to supply the company with provision, until the contractor (to whose notice we will recommend him) can do it.

We are, &c.

To Gustavus Scott.

SAMUEL PURVIANCE, JR. TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Baltimore, February 17, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: In pursuance of your orders, to mount the cannon, fit for use, at this place, we have engaged a number of workmen in making wheels and carriages for the purpose, it being the general opinion of all who have a knowledge of such matters, that it is best to mount them as field-pieces, which purpose the guns now here will be very suitable for us; they are all light, say two, three and four-pounders, to the amount of twenty pieces, besides six of nine-pounders, and two of twelve-pounders, belonging to Captain Stone. We had the whole of the guns examined by Mr. George Mathews, who has pronounced them good. The Committee have directed me to apply to you for orders, to provide a parcel of shot, suitable to the guns.

Mr. Daniel Hughes is very anxious to have some person appointed, to go to Antietam, to prove the guns which his brother has cast. I apprehend Captain Fulford is the best qualified to do it, of any person here; it maybe of Consequence how soon it is done, as those, if they stand proof, might be speedily got down here.

We have about fifty hands at work, on a battery, since Tuesday, at Whetstone, and near two hundred more employed in providing timber, logs, smiths' work, &c., for the boom. I hope we shall have part of our battery ready to mount some guns before the end of next week.

Mr. Alexander writes me that Mr. Morris had promised our Delegates part of some powder, which was arrived at Philadelphia, and which they would immediately forward to this town.

I am, with much respect, gentlemen, your most humble servant,

SAMUEL PURVIANCE, JR.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety, of Maryland.

JAMES LLOYD CHAMBERLINE TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Talbot County, February 17, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I am requested to enclose you the commission granted to Mr. William Goldsborough, who, to gratify his parents, has declined the acceptance thereof.

We made an appointment, in Convention, of Perry Benson, to be Ensign in the Heart-of-Oak Company, to supply the place of their officer, who had been promoted, on a supposition that he stood next in the line for preferment; in this we were mistaken, and find that the commission should have been made out to Henry Colston, their first Sergeant, whose appointment will give general satisfaction to the company, and enclose you that commission, in hopes they may be indulged in the alteration.

I am, respectfully, gentlemen, your very obedient, humble servant,

JAMES LLOYD CHAMBERLINE.

To the Honourable the President of the Council of Safety, of Maryland.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

Philadelphia, February 17, 1776.

Is the stoppage of our exports to Great Britain and its Dependancies a political measure?

They who assert that the measures are impolitick, argue thus: It is the interest of every country to export its produce, and to import as little as possible of the luxuries and manufactures of other countries; the former enriches, the latter impoverishes the inhabitants of a country thus exporting and importing; abstain, say they, from the vanities and luxuries with which England used to supply us, and draw the cash of England, by continuing to carry out the product of our labour and industry.

This is specious, not solid reasoning. The exports from this Continent to Great Britain consist chiefly of rough materials, or of such luxuries, which, by being reshipped from the ports of Great Britain, enable its merchants to traffick with foreign nations to great advantage, and to pay a balance, by an exchange of commodities, that must otherwise be discharged in bullion. A stoppage of our exports must, therefore, very sensibly affect the trade of Great Britain to the rest of Europe; and we have reason to conclude, that if such stoppage should subsist for any length of time, the European trade, which England now drives on, would be so much impaired, as to put the balance against her with every European nation. It is, therefore, good policy to withhold our exports from Great Britain, Ireland, and the British West-India Islands.

But, under a total stoppage of our trade, is it possible to support this civil war for any length of time, for three or four years for instance?

It is very difficult to determine what enthusiasm, indignation, and the love of one's country, may not accomplish. We have read of nations stimulated by those passions, though destitute of foreign and internal resources, having made incredible efforts to preserve their freedom; witness the Saguntines and the Carthagenians in the last Punick war. It may be doubted whether these Colonies, if thus reduced, would imitate so glorious an example. Carthage and Saguntum were single cities; their destruction was irrevocably fixed, and death or slavery, the only choice of citizens resolved to die or remain free; an implacable and hated enemy surrounded their walls; one common fate, mutual sufferings, and indignation, inspired them with a courage, heightened by despair, which the perseverance and conduct of Hannibal, and Roman valour could scarce surmount. The instances are not similar, why then expect