Do Resolve, That no Vessel whatever be permitted to proceed from this Port, except upon publick business, further than the River Patuxent, on the Western-Shore, and the River of Great-Choptank, on the Eastern-Shore, till the Vessels now arming in this Port be ready to sail.

The following Oath was appointed to be taken by all Masters of Vessels to and from this Port:

"You A. B., do solemnly make oath, upon the Holy Evangels of Almighty God, that the manifest now given in is a true account of the goods taken in on board your vessel; that you will not proceed with the vessel now under your command, during the present trip, any lower down the bay than Patuxent, on the Western, or Great-Choptank, on the Eastern-Shore, nor dispose or sell any of the goods now shipped on board your vessel, to any person who, you suspect, may carry the same to Lord Dunmore, the British vessels-of-war, or to any other persons whatever, with design of conveying such letters or intelligence."

A true copy from the Minutes:

At a meeting of the Committee, Baltimore, December 26, 1775:

Present: Samuel Purviance, Chairman, William Lux, Isaac Grist, Thomas Gist, William Buchanan, Benjamin Griffith, James Calhoun, William Asquith, Thomas Sollers, John Smith, John Boyd.

The Committee, taking into consideration the severity of the weather, and the particular hardships arising from detaining Vessels agreeable to the Resolves of this Committee, passed the 19th instant,

Do Resolve, That the said Resolve be rescinded.

The Oath appointed on Tuesday last to be taken by all Masters of Vessels to whom Permits for leaving this Port are granted, was cancelled, and the following substituted in its stead:

Oath.—" You A. B., do make oath, that the manifest now given in is a just and true account of the goods taken in, or intended to be taken on board your vessel; that you will not dispose of or sell any of the goods now shipped on board your vessel, to any person, or persons, who, you have reason to suspect, will carry the same to Lord Dunmore, or any British vessel-of-war, nor will convey any passengers, letters, or intelligence, to Lord Dunmore, the British vessels-of-war, or to any other person whatsoever, with design of conveying such letters or intelligence."

The following is a copy of the Permission from the Continental Congress to Jonathan Hudson:

"In Congress, December 11, 1775.

"The Committee, to whom the Petition of Jonathan Hudson was referred, reported their opinion in certain Resolutions, which being read, were agreed to, as follows:

"Resolved, That so much of said Petition as prays for permission to export the said Cargo to any place, other than the Islands of Great Britain, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Alderney, or Man, or the West-India Islands, is reasonable.

"Resolved, That so much of said Petition as prays for further permission, is unreasonable.

"Resolved, That the said Petitioner give Bond, with sufficient security, to the Chairman of the Committee of the Town of Baltimore, under a penalty of double the value of the said Cargo, to export the said Cargo to some place, other than the said Islands of Great Britain, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Alderney, Man, and the Islands' of the West-Indies, and within six months after the said exportation, to produce to the said Chairman a certificate of the Port to which the said Cargo shall have been shipped, authenticated under the hands of two merchants of known character and reputation, residing' in the same Port, and that on executing such Bond, the said Chairman sign a Permit to the said Petitioner, allowing him to export the said Cargo.

"Extract from the Minutes:

"CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary."

Upon motion, Ordered, by this Committee, That Mr. George England, the Doorkeeper, be allowed five Pounds for his attendance since March till this time, and that the same be paid out of the Moneys remaining in the hands of Mr. Calhoun, and that the Chairman apply to Mr. Calhoun for said Money.

Ordered, That the Armed Boat employed by the Committee for preventing the departure of vessels from this Port without permission, be discharged from further service; and that Messrs. William Lux and Samuel Purviance, Jun., pay Captain Hanson, for the hire of said Boat and hands for the time they have been employed; the Committee agreeing that if the said charge is not allowed by the publick in the Accounts of the Armed Vessels now fitting out, the said Account shall be paid to them out of the Moneys in Mr. Calhoun's hands.

GEORGE LUX, Secretary.

At a meeting of the Committee, January 1, 1776:

Present: Samuel Purviance, Jun., Chairman, William Buchanan, Thomas Harrison, John E. Howard, James Calhoun, Thomas Sollers, William Asquith, John Smith, John Boyd, Isaac Grist.

Upon motion, Resolved, That Adam Muir, of Accomack County, be furnished with a Permit to leave this Port.

A Petition from William Jacobs, of Fell's Point, Sailmaker, was then laid before the Committee, and ordered to lie on the table.

A copy from the Minutes:

GEORGE LUX, Secretary.

At a meeting of the Committee, January 8, 1776:

Present: John Smith, Chairman, pro tern., Thomas Harrison, William Buchanan, Charles Ridgely, of William, William Wilkinson, Thomas Sollers, William Asquith, John Cradock, James Calhoun, Benjamin Griffith, John E. Howard, Abraham Britton, John Cockey, Darby Lux, Isaac Grist, Thomas Gist, David McMechon, Secretary.

Application being made by Captain Rutter for the Powder and Lead, agreeable to the Resolve of the, 16th October, to be delivered out to the Companies agreeable to the Resolves of the Provincial Convention, Captain Buchanan was desired to deliver it.

The Committee taking into consideration the following Resolve of the Provincial Convention, viz:

"In Provincial Convention, Annapolis, January 5, 1776.

"Resolved, That the several Committees of Observation purchase the whole of the quantity of Sulphur in their respective Counties, provided it can be had at six pence, per pound, and that they transmit the same, with an account thereof, as soon as may be, to Messrs. William Lux and Daniel Bowly, of Baltimore County, and that the Committees of Observation be empowered to draw on the Treasurer of their respective Shores for so many of the Bills of Credit of this Province as may be wanted, as well for the purposes aforesaid, as for any expense to be incurred in removing the Sulphur to Baltimore Town.

"Extract from the Minutes:

"G. DUVALL, Clerk."

Baltimore, November 10, 1775.

Permission is granted to Mr. William Neill, Merchant, of Baltimore, to export to the foreign West-Indies, four hundred and one barrels Flour, twenty-four barrels Bread, and two thousand Staves, the said William Neill having agreed to lay out the produce of the same in the purchase of Arms, Ammunition, Lead, Sulphur, or Saltpetre, if to be had, which articles, (if imported,) are to be first offered to the Council of Safety of this Province; but if the said articles cannot be procured, then the said William Neill agrees to import Dutch Osnaburghs, low priced Linens, coarse Woollens, Drugs, or Salt, the same not being the manufacture or produce of Great Britain or Ireland.

Testis:

ROBERT ALEXANDER.

Upon motion, Resolved, That no person shall, after the publication hereof, and under any pretence or direction whatever, presume to load any Vessel, or, after being loaded, shall attempt to depart this Port without proper Permits from this Committee, as they shall answer to the contrary.

Ordered, That the above be published in the Papers.

At a meeting of the Committee, January 15, 1776:

Present: William Lux, Chairman, Thomas Harrison, Benjamin Nicholson, William Buchanan, W. Wilkinson, John Smith, Isaac Grist,