six more were to set off yesterday. Mr. Hughes has drawn on me for the carriage, and hopes you will place some money in my hands for that purpose. I have paid thirty pounds for these three, and wrote to him to send an order on the Council, as I imagine they would indulge him, when they saw him exerting himself.

Mr. Trumbull tells me you have appointed Captain Nicholson Agent and Paymaster of the Defence. Please let me know: and whether we are to be any further concerned in furnishing anything on the ship’s account, as we may close it finally.

I wish the account in the papers of the surrender of Quebeck could be true; but it will come presently. I have been hard at it, disputing the point of independency, two to one against me.

I wish you health and happiness; and am, honourable sir, your obliged obedient servant,

WILLIAM LUX.

To Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Esq.

P. S. You must excuse half a sheet of paper these times.

JAMES HINDMAN TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Talbot Court-House, April 10, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: When I was in Annapolis you were kind enough to promise me fifty stand of arms. If you think it safe, shall be much obliged to you to send them over by the Miles River Packet, with the accoutrements necessary for them. I shall be able, I am in hopes, to get thirty or forty blankets, and hope you will spare me as many as you can. I am very anxious to get to my station. Pots and camp-kettles please to send me at the same time; hats you also promised me; and cloth, if you have any to spare, as many of my people are very bare of clothes, and begin to grumble about not having them. In our present situation, it is impossible to keep the company all together, as many of them cannot get their board nearer than seven or eight miles, which makes it impossible for them to meet as regularly as they ought; for which reason am very desirous of getting arms and blankets, to remove to my station.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant,

JAMES HINDMAN.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

HENRY SCOTT AND OTHERS TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Bladensburgh, April 10, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: As we would not willingly interfere with any person’s private character, unless obliged so to do, on a matter of the utmost importance, which, in the present case, we are under the necessity of doing, so far as it is consistent with our opinions and safety; yet far be it from us, and sorry, indeed, should we be to do the smallest injustice to any person whatever, nor will we, in any respect, condescend to it. We are apprehensive that Mr. William Hamilton may be appointed Captain, in place of Captain Andrew Beall, by the recommendation of Colonel Joshua Beall, through prejudice to our late Captain, who would not condescend to serve as Captain under him. There has been great confusion in our company since our Captain resigned, and it will be much more so if Hamilton should be appointed Captain, as a great majority of the company are determined not to serve under him—he not being a proper person, in any respect whatever, for that office; and sensible we are that, in the event of his being appointed, (should it so happen,) a company inferior to none in the Province, in the Militia, must inevitably come to nothing, wholly from the dislike of his filling that station. We, therefore, hope and entreat your Honours not to be the cause of destroying so good a company, which you might innocently be induced to do by the recommendations of the Colonel; but we trust that you will take the matter into your serious consideration, and reflect that we are a free people, and have a right to the choice of our own officers, under whom we are to risk our lives and fortunes with theirs, which we will most cheerfully and readily do, whenever called upon, provided we have officers agreeable, and such only we will obey. We therefore pray your Honours would gratify us, in granting a commission to Mr. Andrew Beall, Jun., as our Captain, in place of his father—a young man that we choose, in preference to any man in the company, and who is balloted in by a great majority, having thirty odd votes out of fifty, and there were four candidates. And we further entreat you to give us the liberty of choosing our other officers, which will give great satisfaction to the whole company.

We are, for ourselves, and in behalf of the rest of the company, with much respect, gentlemen, your very obedient servants,

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

The Petition of WILLIAM HAMILTON showeth:

That your Petitioner has undoubted reasons to believe that there are methods carrying on by some to exclude him from the post as Captain, where he now is First Lieutenant, of the company of Militia that Captain Beall has resigned. He (in order to get his son, Andrew Beall, Jun., who was Second Lieutenant, appointed in his place, and from his expectations of being appointed Major) resigned, and solicited the company to recommend his son (who is yet a youth) as Captain over your Petitioner.

And your Petitioner hath proper credentials to produce to your honourable Board, if required, of his being in the Provincial service nine years the last war, at the reduction of Quebeck, &c. Your Petitioner, therefore, hopes your Honours will be pleased to appoint him to the post as Captain, as, by rotation, he humbly thinks he is entitled to. And, in duty bound, will, &c.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY COMMITTEE.

GENTLEMEN: In consequence of a letter received by Mr. James Tilghman, from Edward Tilghman, Esquire, we send you the Association papers of your County, transmitted to the last Convention. Be pleased to return them to us as soon as you have done with them. We are, &c. To the Committee of Observation for Queen Anne’s County.

COLONEL HASLETT TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS,
[Read April 11, 1776.]

Dover, April 10, 1776.

SIR: The officer who commands the detachment of the Delaware Battalion, at Lewes, has written me a circumstantial account of an engagement between them and a tender of the Roebuck man-of-war, a transcript of which I have the honour to enclose you.

The Chairman of the Council of Safety, for that County, very earnestly requests that another company may be sent there, with arms and accoutrements, in aid of that detachment, one-half of which is every day on duty. On mentioning this request to General Rodney, one of our Kent Council of Safety, I have reason to believe it will be granted by them, on a promise of returning those arms (the property of the County) whenever the Council shall think the interest of the community calls for them. Having anticipated the order of Congress, with respect to the two companies now at Lewes, I hope my directing another to the same duty will receive your approbation.

I am, sir, with the greatest respect, your most humble servant,

JOHN HASLETT.

To the Honourable Colonel Hancock.

Extract of a Letter from the Commanding Officer at LEWES, dated APRIL 9th, 1776.

On Sunday, 7th April, an express came from the Light-House Guard, to Lewes, with intelligence that Captain

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