Second. John Stockbridge, of Hanover, produced to this Committee a ten-shilling and six-pence Bill of the Colony of Connecticut, dated January 2, 1775; payable January 2, 1777; which is adjudged by this Committee to have been altered from a two-shilling and six-pence Bill by some evilminded person; and the said John, on his oath, declares he received said Bill of Ebenezer Mattoon, of Captain Green’s Company, in Colonel Bedel’s Regiment, in payment of a debt, some time in the beginning of last week.

It is, therefore, considered,

And Ordered, That the said Mattoon ought, and is hereby ordered, to pay the said John Stockbridge the apparent value of said Bill, viz: ten shillings and six pence, and costs.

N. B. March 29. It appears that said Bill passed through sundry hands, from one Joseph Skinner to said Mattoon.

The Committee then resumed the examination relative to the Bill laid before this Committee yesterday by Lemuel Paine, relative to which Charles Hill, being sworn, testifies: That, being at this house on the evening of the 15th instant, he saw Joseph Skinner, of Captain Green’s Company, in Colonel Bedel’s Regiment, put a bill into the hand of Andrew Wheatley, of Lebanon, that he might get it changed.

Bezaleel Phelps, before-named, being sworn, testifies: That he saw Andrew Wheatley give a forty-shilling Bill to Lemuel Paine to be changed; and afterwards, as the said Phelps was going to Dr. Eager’s with said Skinner, said Skinner told this deponent that it was his Bill with which Wheatley paid the reckoning at said Paine’s; and added, “and I made it myself, and I have altered a good many Bills from three shillings to forty shillings, and I have known many more altered, both here and at Cambridge; and a person may make his fortune by it in a little time.” He also said that all the money he spent at Cambridge he altered; and further said to said Phelps, that, if he told any body of it, he would kill him. Said Phelps further testifies: That he saw said Skinner cut certain pieces from a certain book or pamphlet, to use in altering Bills; and said Skinner told him he had cut pieces from it before to use for that purpose, and that he would not take a thousand pounds for the book. Phelps described the book, and informed particularly where he had left it, (which, being produced, exhibit strong grounds to apprehend, from its appearance, that it has been abundantly used for that purpose.) Said Phelps further testifies: When said Skinner had some paste to use in altering money, Mrs. Winton, coming into the room, asked what it was for. Dr. Eager replied, to paste books; when he was sundry times in the room whilst Skinner was altering Bills with the paste, both before and after Mrs. Winton asked the question. Said Phelps further testifies: That he saw said Skinner alter a Bill to a forty-shilling, last Sunday; and this deponent observed Dr. Eager to be present part of the time. Asked Skinner whether the Doctor knew of his altering Bills? To which Skinner replied, “Damn him, yes.” Said Phelps further testifies: That Dr. Eager, at another time, examined him whether his father could make plates to stamp money; “for, (said he,) if we had plates, we could make money very conveniently at my house, and nobody would mistrust us.” Said Eager, at the same, time, added, that the reason of his going to Canada last fall was, because he was informed he could there get large quantities of counterfeit paper money; but they lied to him, and he would not be caught again in going to Canada for nothing.

Whereupon, it is considered and adjudged by these Committees that said Joseph Skinner ought to pay to said Lemuel Paine the apparent value of said Bill uttered and put off to said Paine, viz: forty shillings, as appears by the foregoing evidences, and the cost of this examination, taxed as follows, viz:

And whereas the said Joseph Skinner is supposed to be guilty of altering said Bill and sundry others; and as he now belongs to Colonel Timothy Bedel’s Regiment, in the Northern Department of the Continental Army:

It is Ordered by this Committee, That copies of this examination, signed by the Chairman and Clerk, be delivered to the said Colonel Bedel, (who is now present,) for the purpose, that he may cause the said Joseph Skinner to be apprehended, and that he may be made to pay the above-mentioned damage and costs; and that he may be further examined touching his altering said Bills, and dealt relative thereto, as to law and justice appertains.

And it is further Ordered, That copies of the foregoing procedure, signed by the Chairman and Clerk, be transmitted to the Committee of Safety for this Province, and also to General Washington; and that they write a respectful letter to his Excellency, setting forth the grounds this Committee have to suspect alterations of money in like manner in the Army at Cambridge.

Per order of the Committee:

DAVID WOODWARD, Chairman.

A true copy from the Minutes.    Attest:

BEZALEEL WOODWARD, Clerk.

N. B. March 29, 1776.—Notwithstanding the foregoing respecting Dr. Eager, this Committee are fully convinced of his innocence in the matter.

Per order:

BEZALEEL WOODWARD, Clerk.

WESTMORELAND COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.

In Committee, March 26, 1776.

A certain Henry Glass being summoned before the Committee, to answer a complaint preferred against him by Martin Fisher, and appearing to the same; and it having been proved that he declared “the Slaves in the part of the country he lived in, being ill-used, he thought they would be justifiable in burning their Masters’ houses over their heads, which would be the least revenge they could take;” and upon being charged by the same Martin Fisher with having broken through the Association, in demanding a higher price for his goods—particularly Coffee and Sugar—than he was allowed to take, and being threatened with a complaint against him for such breach, “he damned the Committee, and declared he did not regard them, and would sell his goods as he pleased, and in their teeth:” As this conduct of said Glass happened before the institution of the Court appointed to take cognizance of such matters, the Committee have thought the most proper mode of dealing with him is, to hold him out to the censure of the publick; which they now do.

And Ordered, accordingly, That these proceedings be transmitted to the Printer to be published.

Copy from the Minutes:

JAMES DAVENPORT, Clerk.

GEORGE PLATER TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Sotterly-Hall, March 26, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I have the honour of yours of the 19th instant, communicating your appointment of me, with Brigadier John Dent, to co-operate with the Commissioners of Virginia in erecting beacons on the shores of Potomack River. It will give me the highest pleasure to be in any manner serviceable to my country; and I only lament that my abilities are not equal to my inclination; but upon this, and, I hope, on every occasion, be assured they shall be exerted; and that I am, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant,

GEORGE PLATER.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO DANIEL AND SAMUEL HUGHES.

GENTLEMEN: We received a letter yesterday from Mr. Lux, advising us of your having cast and bored one eighteen-pounder, and that you expected to have four others finished by this time. Our Board have appointed Captain Burgess to prove them, and desire you will forward them