clothes. I am surprised that the arms, &c., which the Council determined before I left them to order from Baltimore to this place, for the use of the Eastern-Shore, are not yet arrived. I am fearful some accident has happened to them. I have been told that the Militia on this shore begin to be dissatisfied that they have not some proportion of ammunition sent them. I hope there is some on its way before now.

Since my return home, I have purchased of the gunsmith in this town ten rifles, at five pounds each, which will be ready to be delivered in two or three days, and ten more may be had in about two weeks more. I have also bought eighty pair of shoes for the troops, at seven shillings and nine pence per pair; and if the Council would have me to contract for the two hundred pair which was talked about, I can do it at ten shillings, and not under—of this they will please to write me. Captain Veazey has bought as much cloth in the County as will make eighty suits, and hopes to get as much more as will clothe his whole company. If the Council should not have procured blankets enough for the troops, some may be had in this County. Mr. Cummings has not yet sent an ounce of provision for the company quartered at this place, notwithstanding his promises.

I propose joining the Council the last of next week, and hope my attendance will not be wanted before; if it should, they will please write to me. My long absence from home makes my stay in the County for some time very necessary; but if the publick business calls, I will obey; and am, gentlemen, with the greatest regard and respect, your most humble servant,

THOMAS SMITH.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

CAPTAIN SAMUEL SMITH TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Baltimore Town, April 9, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Since my return I have made inquiry, and found a person a professed stocker of guns, who will immediately finish your number of guns at fifteen shillings each; it is the customary price. The gunsmiths, as yet, do very little work, and I see no probability of my company being armed by them these three months. I shall be much obliged if you will permit me to fit the Province arms I now have. I shall not want more than fifteen or sixteen.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient and obliged servant,

SAMUEL SMITH.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO WILLIAM LUX.

SIR: Be pleased to send us immediately, in Captain Nicholson’s small tender, all the spare blankets, and two-third parts of the linens imported in the Wild-Duck, Captain Tibbet. Show this to Captain Nicholson, and he will in consequence of it despatch his tender with them.

We are, &c.

To Mr. William Lux, Baltimore.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO THE COMMITTEE OFSAFETY OF VIRGINIA.

GENTLEMEN: We have, agreeable to the request in yours of the 4th instant, forwarded the packet received by Samuel Solomon, to the Honourable John Hancock, by an express. We are, &c.

To the Committee of Safety of Virginia.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO DELEGATES IN CONGRESS.

GENTLEMEN: We this moment received the enclosed, which we have forwarded by express. You will be pleased to acknowledge the time that it is delivered, and oblige, gentlemen, your, &c.

To the Delegates of Maryland, in Congress.

MARYLAND DELEGATES TO COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Philadelphia, April 9, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The bearer (Thomas Rhoads) is hired on purpose to carry our paper (fifty-one reams) to Annapolis, for which we have advanced part of the price, and are to pay the rest on his return. We chose to send the paper by land at once, to avoid all hazard, and prevent every disappointment. The plates are not yet done. Mr. Rittenhouse now promises they shall be done by next Saturday; and as the Assembly is adjourned, we hope he will fulfil his promise. They shall be forwarded by the post, or some safe hand, as soon as done.

We are, gentlemen, your most obedient servants,

THOMASJOHNSON, JUN.,

T. STONE,

R. ALEXANDER.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE.

In Committee of Inspection and Observation, April 9, 1776.

Whereas the Continental Congress did lately resolve, “That if any person shall be so lost to all virtue and regard for this country, as to refuse the Bills of Credit emitted by the authority of Congress, or should obstruct or discourage the currency thereof, and be convicted by the; Committee of the City, County, or District, where he should reside, such person should be deemed, published, and treated as an enemy of this country, and be precluded from all trade or intercourse with the inhabitants of these Colonies:”

And whereas, Townsend Speakman, Druggist, of this city, being charged with a breach of this resolve, in refusing to receive the above Bills of Credit in payment, appeared before the Committee for the City and Liberties, acknowledged the truth of the charge, and alleged, in his defence, scruples of conscience thereupon, as being money emitted for the purpose of war:

The Committee, pursuant to the trust reposed in them, proceeded to consider the charge and defence, and were of opinion, that if such allegation was true, yet, as the Congress have made no exception, and as such conduct tends to subvert the most essential rights and liberties of their fellow-citizens, and, by destroying the means of defence, to expose their lives and properties to unavoidable ruin, it ought not to be admitted. But it appears by his own acknowledgment, that he has heretofore received, and does continue to receive, Bills of Credit emitted in this and the neighbouring Provinces, though frequently issued for the purpose of war; therefore, such objection is not well founded, nor the present pretence consistent with his former conduct. This Committee, therefore, (the party having declared he did not mean to appeal to any other Board,) do unanimously hold up to the world the said Townsend Speakman as an enemy to his country, and precluded from all trade or intercourse with the inhabitants of these Colonies.

Ordered, That the above be published.

Extract from the Minutes:

J. B. SMITH, Secretary.

LETTER II.&—TO CATO.

Philadelphia, April 9, 1776.

Before I enter on the more immediate purpose of this letter, I think it necessary, once for all, to endeavour to settle, as clearly as I can, the following point, viz: How far personality is concerned in any political debate. The general maxim is, that measures, and not men, is the thing in question; and the maxim is undeniably just when rightly understood. Cato, as a refuge for himself, hath quoted the author of Common Sense, who, in his preface, says: “That the object for attention is the doctrine itself, not the man;” that is, not the rank or condition of the man; for whether he is with those whose fortune is already made, or with those whose fortune is yet to make, or among those who seldom think or care whether they make any, is a matter wholly out of the question, and entirely confined to himself. But the political characters, political dependencies, and political connections of men, being of a publick nature, differ exceedingly from the circumstances of private life; and they are, in many instances, so nearly related to the measures they propose, that, to prevent our being deceived by the last, we must be acquainted with the first. A total ignorance