ADMIRAL HOPKINS TO GENERAL BABCOCK.

New-London, April 17, 1776.

SIR: I this moment received an express from General Washington —the contents are enclosed. Have sent the Cabot with ten pieces of cannon, with orders to deliver them to you as soon as possible. Have given the Captain orders to land them in Newport, if possible, if not, at Rowland’s Ferry. Your own prudence will suggest what steps may be necessary for the publick safety.

I am, with great respect, your humble servant,

ESECK HOPKINS.

To Henry Babcock, Esq., Brigadier-General and Commander of the Troops on Rhode-Island.

ADMIRAL HOPKINS TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

New-London, April 17, 1776.

HONOURED SIR: Enclosed you have a copy of General Washington’s letter of the 14th, received by express. Your own prudence will suggest what steps will be necessary for the publick safety.

I am, with great respect, your Honour’s most obedient, humble servant,

ESECK HOPKINS.

To the Honourable Jonathan Trumbull, Esq., Governour of the Colony of Connecticut.

COLONEL SMALLWOOD TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

April 18, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Captain Adams yesterday morning took Alexander Ross, at Chestertown, and immediately afterwards fell in with Ensign Chambers. They have conducted him to this place; and Captain Adams now waits upon you for further orders respecting the prisoner.

I am, your very obedient servant,

W. SMALLWOOD.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety.

ANDREW BEALL TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Bladensburgh, April 18, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: It is with reluctance I take up my pen to address you on a matter I would wish to be silent on, were I not urged to do it by the strongest entreaties of a company inferior to none in the Province, which I respect, and which I have the highest satisfaction in obliging. My resigning has thrown the company into great confusion and concern, for fear Mr. William Hamilton, my First Lieutenant, should take place as Captain, who they look upon not to be worthy, or in any respect proper for that office; but perhaps may be recommended by the Colonel, through prejudice to me, as I would not condescend to serve under him. If it so happens that he should be appointed Captain, it will be the utter destruction of the company, as they are determined not to serve under him.

I would not willingly interfere with the gentleman’s private character, therefore shall only relate the matter to your Honours how he came to be appointed Lieutenant; which was, as he had been a soldier several years in the last war, I imagined he must have been better qualified than any Other person I had the opportunity of getting at that time; however, found myself much deceived, for he was as ignorant as those who had never seen a musket thrown in their lives, and surprisingly awkward in every respect, and still continues so.

There are many young men in the company who are much better qualified, in every respect, and 1 believe as many so as in any company in the Province. Mr. Hamilton is a poor man, and has a wife and several children, and no person to work for them but himself, therefore cannot make the appearance that an officer ought to make; is a person of no education, neither is he qualified in any respect whatever to keep company with the other gentlemen officers, which is a material objection by the company, as they would not choose to serve under an officer who could not keep company with, and be looked upon by other officers, but more particularly, as he is esteemed a very improper person in other respects. And, of more consequence to those under him, there are other objections, which I do not choose to meddle with; yet I hope have said enough to evince to you how very displeasing he is to the company, and the ill consequences that might arise in case of his appointment; and what I can with much truth and certainty assure would come to pass, i. e. the breaking up of a company of much consequence.

Relying on your Honours’ wisdom in not appointing a person so disagreeable, (as nothing but my particular desire to have the company kept together, and to be satisfied, could have induced me to write in this manner,) I remain, with the utmost respect, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant,

ANDREW BEALL.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

We, the subscribers, do hereby certify, that we prefer Andrew Beall, Jun., to any other person as Captain, in place of his father.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

N. B. If the Council of Safety, or Convention, should want to be informed with regard to William Hamilton, who is First Lieutenant of the Company, Peter Brown, a Sergeant in Captain Lucas’s Company, can inform.

Bladensburgh, April 18, 1776.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO DELEGATES IN CORGRESS,

GENTLEMEN: The bearer, Captain Walter Hanson, of Port-Tobacco, has been recommended to us by Mr. Hooe, as a genius in the mechanical way, and as a person that may be of service to this Province in gaining a proper knowledge of erecting and working powder-mills, or some other useful and necessary manufacture. The errand he comes on will, no doubt, recommend him to your notice; and, also, entitle him to every aid and assistance in your power, to attain such a laudable end.

We are, &c.

To the Deputies for Maryland, in Congress.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read April 22, 1776.]

Annapolis, April 18, 1776.

SIR: Your letter, enclosing the resolves of Congress, was this day delivered to us. We were furnished with the intercepted letters some time before the receipt of yours, and had taken such measures as, in our judgment, were competent to the occasion. To dissolve the Government, and subvert the Constitution, by the seizure and imprisonment of the Governour, we conceive to be a measure of too much delicacy and magnitude to be adopted without calling and consulting the Convention of this Province. We saw no necessity urging us to such an extreme; and were determined, therefore, not to expose the Province to immediate anarchy and convulsion, if an assurance could be obtained from the Governour that he would not depart before our Convention met, to decide upon this important business. He cheerfully gave this assurance, and voluntarily put into our hands all the letters he had received from the Secretary of State since September last, and offered us the inspection of the papers in his possession; assuring us his letters, antecedent to that time, had been transmitted to Great Britain, on prospect of his private affairs requiring his presence there; and explained and vindicated his conduct in such a manner, that we feel no apprehension of danger from him. Under these circumstances