If you think proper to have that number complete, you will please let me know. The officers that have been acting aboard are William Ward, Captain; Henry Auchinlick, Lieutenant; Bennet Johnson. Master; and, as far as I can discover, are proper persons. Mr. Dorsey, one of the ship’s Midshipmen, I understand, has made application for a Lieutenancy of Marines; I think him very capable.

I am, gentlemen, with much sincerity, your obliged humble servant, to command,

JAMESNICHOLSON.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

HUGH YOUNG TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Baltimore, April 22, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I have the pleasure of advising you of the safe arrival of the Brigantine Beith, in the West-Indies, the 3d ultimo, without any interruption. I sent you, by Mr. Lux, a letter for you from him, but have learned that he forgot it; I suppose he has sent it since his return.

I am sorry to advise you of the loss of the Brigantine Nancy, Captain Wise, somewhere in the bay, a few clays ago. I have not received any letter from him, but have it from a gentleman from the Eastern-Shore of undoubted authority, and believe it to be a fact. It appears, from the care Captain Wise had taken, that it is morally impossible for any vessel to pass our ravenous enemies. However, if you think the Schooner Ninety has any chance, you will please give the Committee orders to allow me to load her, as her cargo is all ready. If you think otherwise, I shall be glad to know what I am to do with the cargo. I shall be much obliged for a few lines on the subject by the first opportunity.

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

HUGHYOUNG.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

SOLOMON WRIGHT TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Queen Anne’s County, April 22, 1776.

Captain George Noble Sweat having, under an especial order of this Committee, returned a list of a Company of Militia in Wye, whereby it appears that the said George Noble Sweat is chosen Captain, Nehemiah Noble First Lieutenant, James Bartlett Second Lieutenant, and Thomas Duffe Ensign of the said Company; and that there are in the said Company four Sergeants, four Corporals, and fiftytwo Privates. The above officers are recommended to the Council of Safety for commissions.

Signed per order of the Committee of Observation:

SOLOMON WRIGHT, Chairman.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO THE DELECATES IN CONVENTION.

GENTLEMEN: Very urgent affairs of the Province require your attendance in Convention. We, therefore, earnestly request you would meet punctually at Annapolis, on Friday, the 7 th of May next, at which time we have determined a Convention ought to be held.

We are, &c.

To the Delegates in Convention.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO DELEGATES IN CONGRESS.

GENTLEMEN: You have our thanks for the anxiety you express on our accounts, if the thanks of such blackened, insulted (but we think injured) characters are worth your acceptance. We must say, that if the same justice were done us that we would do unto others, in similar circumstances, a copy of the anonymous letter you mention, traducing our reputations, would not have been refused us by the Congress; for we sincerely declare to you and the world, that were we in possession of any paper reflecting in so gross a manner on that, or any other respectable body on the Continent, we should think it unjust and ungentlemanly to withhold it from them, and, by thus secreting, prevent the discovery of the author of so foul a calumny, and shelter him from the censure, not to say punishment, he deserves.

We wrote you fully in our last two letters, and sent copies of all such papers as we thought material. The Governour voluntarily gave us his parole in the fullest manner, and has since confirmed it by letter, assuring us that he will not leave the Province till the Convention sits. We are firmly persuaded he will not stir, or do anything against the peace thereof. He also assured us, in the most explicit terms, that he had received no other letters from the Ministry but what he gave up, and which we sent you copies of We examined his bureau and closet, and found several letters in them to Administration, and his friends in England, wherein he represents this Province in a favourable point of view.

We were not without our suspicions that a plan had been concerted by the two persons you mention, and have determined, if possible, to get to the bottom of it; and for that purpose, on Saturday last, before the receipt of your express, issued our order to Mr. Samuel Purviance, Chairman, Mr. William Lux, Deputy Chairman, and Mr. George Lux, Clerk, of the Committee of Observation for Baltimore County, to appear before us this day, and to bring with them all the proceedings, papers, letters, orders, entries, instructions, &c., relative to the intercepted letters. We are resolved to have a full and open examination of the affair, and shall then cheerfully submit our conduct to the publick.

We consider the authority of the whole Province trampled upon and insulted, (if not conspired against:) and, having your letters holding forth the same sentiment, we have thought it advisable (as we know not to what lengths this matter may be carried) to call a Convention, to be held at the City of Annapolis, on Tuesday, the 7th of May next, at which time we shall be glad to see all the gentlemen Deputies that can be spared from Congress. We shall endeavour to have all our proceedings ready to lay before them on the first day of their meeting, and shall submit to them whether our conduct has been either timid, inactive, or in any other particulars unjustifiable.

Our proceedings with the Governour are such as are, in our opinions, in every respect defensible. We are convinced, from his declarations and answers, and from his manner of behaving to us, that he will not leave the Province. Little minds might have been gratified with actual imprisonment, and further severities, but we do not imagine the Congress meant any such outrage on humanity. We have had all the advantages we could have had if we had committed him to the publick jail, and, we are persuaded, many more. Nobody can believe that we are courting the Governour at present: it is the peace and happiness of the Province we wish to preserve; and we are persuaded that it will be best done by keeping up the ostensible form of our chartered Constitution. We feel for you. The insult offered by Mr. Hancock, in not admitting you to his presence, must have been grating. Our Province is the object of attention, and we are to be plunged into all the horrors of anarchy only to gratify a few individuals out of Congress. However, we shall still persevere in doing our duty with unremitting zeal, and not fail to assist our neighbours, if necessary. And, upon the whole, after again repeating our thanks, permit us to assure you, that we are persuaded when our transactions come to be fully canvassed, and the true interest of this Province considered, that you will have no occasion to blush for our conduct.

We are, &c.

To the Deputies of Maryland, in Congress.

N. B. We have received the Surgeon’s instruments, and delivered them safe to Doctor Weisenthal.

COLONEL MORGAN TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Carlisle, April 22, 1776.

SIR: I have just now had the honour to receive the instructions of Congress, dated the 19th instant, relating to the Indian Department; which they may be assured I will strictly observe; and that my attention, as I have now no other business to the westward, shall be devoted to the publick service.

Isaac Stell, the Interpreter, being taken ill with the smallpox at a Mr. White’s, twenty-two miles on this side of Lancaster,