without the written permission of this Board; and all Prisoners who come into this City by the license of the Congress are directed, upon their arrival, immediately to communicate such license to this Committee; and if any Prisoners shall be found trespassing against this order, their persons will be immediately seized and imprisoned.”

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO MESSRS. CHARLES BEATTY AND BAKER JOHNSON.

GENTLEMEN: Sixty pounds currency were sent by Mr. Ford, the 23d January, by order of our Board, to Mr. Thomas Johnson, at Fredericktown, and, in his absence, to you, to be expended in the purchase of gun-locks for the use of the Province; but as we have not heard anything from him or you upon the subject, and are in very great want of that article, we desire you will inform us how many were bought, and where they are; or if there have not been any purchased, whether there is a probability of applying the money to that use in your County.

We are, &c.

To Messrs. Charles Beatty and Baker Johnson.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO TALBOT COUNTY COMMITTEE.

GENTLEMEN: In consequence of an information we received that there were one or two barrels of bullets, and a quantity of gun-flints belonging to this Province, in the possession of Mr. Reeds, we wrote to you the 14th February, requesting that you would make inquiry into that matter, and if you found it true, that you would take them under your care, and send them to the Council of Safety by the first safe conveyance; but as we have not received any answer to our letter, we presume it must have miscarried, and therefore we send you this, and beg that you will immediately examine into the truth of the above information.

We are, &c.

To the Committee of Observation for Talbot County.

HENRY FISHER TO THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Lewes, April 1, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: On Monday evening last a man-of-war and her tender came within the pitch of our cape, and anchored, as you have been informed by last express. The pilot-boat stationed near Lewes-Creek’s mouth, did not discover the signal at the Light-House, nor see the ship that evening, as it was near dark before she came to the pitch of the cape; and when the alarm-guns were fired the people on board the boats, although they heard them very plainly, imagined, as they said, that we were cleaning the guns with a proof charge.

Tuesday morning the man-of-war’s boat took my pilotboat, the wind being light and northerly, and ebb tide. But before they boarded her the hands in the pilot-boat left her, and rowed on shore at the Broad-Kill in their skiff. The same day the man-of-war, with her tenders and boats, took a small sloop, then lying in the road, belonging to Egg-Harbour, in ballast, the people of whom left her first in their boat. They also took two other small sloops from Philadelphia—one to Sinepuxent, the other to North-Carolina; and on Wednesday sent them on shore in their Own small boats. Stripped and scuttled the aforesaid three sloops, and set them adrift. By these people we learned that it was Captain Hammond, of the King’s ship the Roebuck, of forty-five guns.

They made another tender of the pilot-boat; sent her out, took a New-England sloop bound to Philadelphia for corn; and that night, lying too near the cape, the hand at the helm falling asleep let the pilot-boat run on the beach, when the Third Lieutenant, their pilot, and two sailors, left her, went on the cape, and were taken on Thursday by our men. We stripped the pilot-boat of everything of value, and found ten muskets and five pistols, which had been thrown over the side where the boat lies. On Friday and Saturday they took nothing. On Friday the sloop Hornet appeared near Indian-River, and sent on shore and got a pilot, but we have not seen her since; and the same evening the brig Captain Barry came down under Cape- May, and on Sunday morning went out. The ship and tender put out to sea also after the brig, but returned on Sunday evening into the road. We have been day and night on guard, both on the cape and at Lewes and Pilottown.

The several companies of Militia from all parts of the country who live within twenty, or five-and-twenty miles of Lewes, came in as soon as they could be expected, seemed all unanimous and hearty in the cause, determined to defend their country. There have been near one thousand men in at times the last week, so that we were obliged to discharge many of them, not having occasion for half the number. We prevailed on those who lived at a distance to leave some of the best of their arms, (for numbers of them want fire-locks,) which are not to be purchased.

On Saturday last Captain Pope’s Company, of the Delaware Battalion of regular soldiers, came down from Kent, all well equipped. How long the ship intends to stay we cannot learn. If anything material should happen I shall endeavour to let you know it.

I am, gentlemen, your very humble servant,

HENRY FISHER.

To the Committee of Safety of Philadelphia.

P. S. From what I can learn from the prisoners that we have got, you may daily expect several large ships; therefore, I hope that you may be upon your guard, as, from what I can learn, they are to come up your river. The Lieutenant and other prisoners will be sent up to you tomorrow by land, or else it shall cost me a fall.

HENRY FISHER.

Lewestown, April 2, 1776—four o’clock.

To the Gentlemen that keep the Stage-horses:

You are required to let the bearer (Mr. Samuel Edwards) have them; as he is one of the stationed pilots, therefore can relate matters more particular than I can write.

HENRY FISHER.

CEDAR-CREEK, April 2, 1776—six o’clock.

THOMAS EVANS.

DOVER, Tuesday, ten minutes after nine o’clock, arrived; despatched at ten o’clock, April 2.

BATTILL.

CANTVILLE BRIDGE, Tuesday, fifty-two minutes after one; despatched ten minutes after two.

MATTHEW DELANY.

WILMINGTON, Tuesday, thirty-eight minutes after seven o’clock, arrived express, and despatched fifty-five minutes after seven o’clock, April 2, 1776.

THOMAS KEAN.

In Committee of Safety, Philadelphia, April 3, 1776.

Resolved, That the Letter received from Henry Fisher, of Lewes, be immediately sent to the Delegates of this Province, to be laid before the Congress; and the said Delegates be requested to represent it as the sense of the Committee, that if two or more fast-sailing Vessels, of small draft of water, were properly equipped, they might protect the trade of this and the neighbouring Colonies in the Bay of Delaware, now infested with Tenders and small Armed Vessels of the enemy, and secure the supplies of Military Stores expected from abroad, and to apply to the Congress to take speedy measures for that purpose; and also to suggest the propriety of ordering back to this port the several outward-bound Vessels now lying on the Rivers, and employing the Seamen in this service until the trade of the Bay is more secure.

Extract from the Minutes:

WILLIAM GOVETT, Secretary.

VALENTINE STANDLEY TO CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

April 1, 1776.

Honourable Gentlemen: Extremely sorry am I to think, that so near a relation as Mr. Richard Standley is to