prising rapidity, and the seven new regiments are already in a manner complete, except as to arms, in which they are very deficient; but arms are coming in, in small quantities, from different parts of the country, and a very considerable manufactory is established at Fredericksburgh. Large ventures have been lately made for military stores; for which purpose we are now loading a ship for Europe, with tobacco, at Alexandria. Her cargo is all on float, and I hope to have her under sailing in a few days. Notwithstanding the natural plenty of provisions in this Colony, I am very apprehensive of a great scarcity of beef and pork among our troops this summer, occasioned by the people’s not expecting a market, until the slaughter season was past. I find it extremely difficult to lay in a stock for about three hundred men, in the Marine department of this river.

Ill health, and a certain listlessness inseparable from it, have prevented my writing to you so often as I would otherwise have done; but I trust to your friendship to excuse it. The same cause disabled me from attending the Committee of Safety this winter, and induced me to entreat the Convention to leave me out of it. I continue to correspond constantly with that Board, and I hope am no less usefully employed—thinking it, in such times as these are, every man’s duty to contribute his mite to the publick service. I have, in conjunction with Mr. Dalton, the charge of providing and equipping armed vessels for the protection of this river. The thing is new to me, but I must endeavour to improve by experience. I am much obliged to the Board for joining Mr. Dalton with me. He is a steady diligent man, and without such assistance I could not have undertaken it. We are building two row-galleys, which are in considerable forwardness; and have purchased three sloops for cruisers, two of them being only from forty to fifty tons burden, are to mount eight carriage-guns each, three and four-pounders; they are not yet fitted up, and we are exceedingly puzzled to get cannon for them. The other, the American Congress, is a fine stout vessel, of about one hundred and ten tons burden, and has such an easy draft of water as will enable her to run into most of the creeks, or small harbours, if she meets with a vessel of superior force. She mounts fourteen carriage-guns, six and four-pounders, though we have thoughts of mounting two nine-pounders upon her main beam, if we find her able, as we think she is, to bear them; her guns are mounted, and to be tried tomorrow. We have twenty barrels of powder, and about a ton of shot ready—more is making; swivels we have not yet been able to procure, but she may make a tolerable shift without, until they can be furnished. We have got some small-arms, and are taking every method to increase them, and hope to be fully supplied in about a week more. Her company of marines is raised, and have been for some time exercised to the use of the great guns. Her complement of marines and seamen is to be ninety-six men. We are exerting ourselves to the utmost, and hope to have her on her station in less than a fortnight, and that the other vessels will quickly follow her, and be able to protect the inhabitants of this river from the piratical attempts of all the enemy’s cutters, tenders, and small craft.

Immediately upon receipt of your former letters, I applied to some of the Maryland Committees, as well as those on this side; in consequence of which, the several most convenient places on this river were sounded, and thoroughly examined; but effectual batteries were found, in our present circumstances, impracticable. Mr. Lund Washington tells me he sent you the drafts and soundings taken upon this occasion. A regiment, commanded by Colonel Mercer, of Fredericksburgh, is stationed on this part of the river, and I hope we shall be tolerably safe, unless a push is made here with a large body of men. I think we have some reason to hope the Ministry will bungle away another summer, relying partly upon force, and partly upon fraud and negotiation.

The family here join with me in presenting their best compliments to yourself and lady, as well as to Mr. Custis and his. If in any of your affairs here I can render you any acceptable service, I beg you will use that freedom with which I wish you to command, dear, sir, your affectionate and obedient servant,

GEOHGE MASON.

To His Excellency General Washington, Head-Quarters, at Boston.

JOHN DALTON TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Alexandria, April 2, 1776.

SIR: Enclosed is a letter for a gentleman over the Bay. As I have often experienced letters wet, and letters which I have sent by post to that part of the country have miscarried, I am induced to take the liberty to enclose this to you, requesting the favour of you to forward it, by some safe conveyance, the freedom of which I hope you will excuse.

We find it difficult the fitting out the cruising vessels here; the scarcity of sail duck and proper sized cannon plague us much in getting; indeed, am apprehensive we shall not be able to procure light duck for the small sails, and must endeavour to make up the deficiency from old sails, rather than none. The two row-galleys go on very well, and will soon be built, though I am apprehensive of being at a loss for heavy cannon: our choice would be one eighteen-pounder, the other twenty-four. Colonel Mason and myself in particular, and the community at large, thought ourselves highly obliged by the kind indulgence of your Committee of Safety, in lending us ten barrels of powder; it happened just as we had got it down. One ton came from Philadelphia for us; that we immediately returned in the same order.

I am, with regard, sir. your most humble servant,

JOHN DALTON.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

WILLIAM LUX TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Baltimore, April 2, 1776.

GENTLEMAN: The bearer, John Henderson, came from Point-Comfort, in an oyster boat, and another vessel with corn; and having no permit from any Committee in Virginia, we have detained his boat agreeable to your order, until he produce one. He thinks it necessary to make application to your honourable Board for a release, and has desired a line from our Committee to inform you of his situation.

Per order of the Committee:

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

WILLIAM LUX, Deputy-Chairman.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO ST. MARY’S COUNTY COMMITTEE.

GENTLEMAN: We have heretofore written you with regard to the station of Captain John AllenThomas’s Company. Not receiving any answer, we expected the station allotted him at Leonardtown would have been agreeable to you and him, and, indeed, to everybody else, as being the most central place, and from whence the company might march on short notice to any part of the County. He informed us by his letter of the 18th of March, “that he is positive that it is the opinion of every gentleman in the County that the troops should be stationed at or near the mouth of Patuxent and Potomack;” which we are surprised at. This would not only divide the company, but leave a very great extent of country along the water in a manner defenceless. What is to become of Wicomico, Clement’s and Briton’s Bay, and all down to the mouth of the St. Mary’s River, in case the men-of-war should pass unnoticed in the night, or in foggy hazy weather? When the company gets well disciplined, perhaps some of them may be stationed to advantage at or near the mouth of Patuxent. We think best to keep them together at present, till further advanced in military knowledge, and that Leonardtown is the proper station. Should you think otherwise, we should be glad to know your reasons, that we may concur with you. We wish to harmonize in everything that is for the good of the country.

We are, &c.

To the Committee of Observation for St. Mary’s County.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO CAPTAIN THOMAS.

SIR: Yours of the 18th ultimo we only received the 30th. We cannot conceive that any letter that we wrote to you can justify the inference you have drawn, that, if your station is to be at Leonardtown, your Company is to defend that place only. It was preferred, because it