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The Committee of Observation took into consideration the following Letter from the Council of Safety:
"Annapolis, March 5, 1776.
"GENTLEMEN OR THE COMMITTEE OR OBSERVATION: We have just received intelligence that a large ship, supposed to be the forty-four gun man-of-war, and two sloops, are on their way up the Bay. Their destination is not known, but as they may intend for your Town, we send off this express, that you may be on your guard, and make all the preparations in your power for your defence.
"We are, with respect, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servants,
"DANIEL OF ST. THOMAS JENIFER.
"CHARLES CARROLL,
"T. B. HANDS,
"JAMES TILGHMAN."
Upon motion, Resolved, That a Boat be sent down immediately to reconnoitre, and bring intelligence respecting the Man-of-War, &c., as soon as possible, and that Captain Nicholson be requested to order his Tender on that service. Which he complied with.
Resolved, That an Express by water, and another by land, be sent immediately to Elk, to hasten down the Powder and the small Arms belonging to this Province, and that it be directed to Mr. Henriy Hollingsworth, with a request to him to forward them either by land or water, as he shall judge expedient; and William Stenson was accordingly despatched by land, and Joseph White and Joseph Gotro, on board Captain Hollingsworth's, by water.
Resolved, That General Andrew Buchanan be requested to provide Expresses, to be kept in readiness to be despatched upon any emergency, within the circle of his jurisdiction, and that if the Council of Safety do not pay the expense, that this Committee will do it.
Resolved, That Captain George Woolsey and Mr. HughYoung, collect all the Gun-Flints in Town, and render an account of the same to this Committee, and that they be lodged with Captain Woolsey.
Resolved, That it is necessary to have the publick Records of this County immediately packed up in Chests, in order for their removal to a place of safety.
Resolved, That no Vessel depart this Port without the further orders of this Committee, and that Captain Nicholson be requested to see this order carried into execution.
Captain John Sterrett and Captain Henry Shaaf returned their Enrollments.
Attested:
GEORGE LUX, Secretary.
At a meeting of the Committee, Thursday, March 7, 1776:
Present: Samuel Purviance, Chairman, William Lux, Vice-Chairman, Andrew Buchanan, William Buchanan, John Moale, John Smith, John Cockey, John Boyd, Jeremiah T. Chase, William Lux, Secretary, pro tempore.
Resolved, That a Breastwork be immediately thrown up at the Point, below Jesse Hollingsworth's, and that the Money in Mr. Moale's hands be appropriated to defray the expense attending it.
The Committee are unanimously of opinion, and do direct, that all the light Vessels in the Harbour be immediately carried down to Whetstone, in order to be sunk in the Channel to prevent the Vessels-of-War from coming Up, and Messrs. Isaac Grist, Captain William Chance, Captains Thomas Moore, George Woolsey, and David Stewart, together with Major Gist, be appointed for that service.
Resolved, That an Express be instantly sent to Philadelphia, to the Congress, for an immediate supply of Powder and Lead.
Several Expresses arrived with information of the Man of-War and her Tenders being past Annapolis, and standing up the Bay, and, also, that she is at the mouth of the River.
At a meeting of the Committee, Thursday, March 8, 1776:
Present: Samuel Purviance, Chairman, William Lux, Deputy-Chairman, Andrew Buchanan, William Buchanan, Thomas Harrison, John Moale, John Boyd, John Smith, Jeremiah T. Chase, A. Britton, William Asquith.
The Committee agreed with Andrew Stigar and Engleheart Yeiser to furnish Rations for the Militia, consisting of nine pounds Bread, and eight pounds Beef, or six pounds Pork per week, with Salt, and the meat to be boiled at one Shilling per Ration.
Captain Henry Shaaf is appointed to have the Cannon at the Hill removed to Fell's Point immediately.
Ordered, That Mr. David McLure deliver to Captain William Galbraith twenty pounds Gunpowder, and Mr. H. Courtenay forty pounds Lead.
Ordered, That Mr. William Spear deliver Sergeant William Cornwall, of Captain Nathaniel Smith's Company, two quarter-barrels of Gunpowder, for the use of the Troops.
Ordered, That Mr. James Calhoun, or Mr. David McLure, deliver to Mr. J. Hall half-pound Powder and two pounds Lead.
A Certificate was granted to William Lawrence, master of the Sloop Otwell, that he had landed three hundred and twenty bushels of Corn, and six barrels of Pork, shipped by the Honourable Robert Carter, in Westmoreland County, Virginia.
The Independent Company having received orders from the Committee to disarm such persons as have refused to enroll as Militia, returned the following Arms, which were valued as follows:
No. 1, a Fusee, the property of Melchior Keener, valued at one Pound ten Shillings, delivered to John Hughes; No. 2, a Fusee, the property of Thomas Brereton, valued at two Pounds five Shillings, delivered to John Caldwell; No. 3, a Fusee, the property of William Smith, (Ropemaker,) one Pound ten Shillings; No. 4, a Fusee, valued at one Pound; No. 5, a Fusee, valued at one Pound; No. 6, a Fusee, valued at fifteen Shillings; No. 7, a Fusee, valued at fifteen Shillings; No. 8, a Fowling-Piece, the property of Alexander Lawson, valued at three Pounds ten Shillings, delivered to J. Sterrett; No. 9, a Musket, the property of John Clausey, valued at one Pound ten Shillings, delivered to G. Vaughan; No. 3, a brass Blunderbuss, the property of Doctor John Stevenson, valued at three Pounds, and No. 1, a brass Blunderbuss, the property of John Ashburner, valued at two Pounds ten Shillings, delivered on board Defence.
Resolved, That the Schooner Resolution be fitted out as a Tender for the Ship Defence, on the present emergency, and that Captain William Wand be Captain; Captain Thomas Moore, First Lieutenant; and Captain George Wise, Second-Lieutenant; and Captain William Paddison, Master.
Messrs. Robert Purviance, George Woolsey, and David Stewart, are directed to carry this Resolve into immediate execution.
GEORGE LUX, Secretary.
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