only did what he had a right to do. He replied, he supposed that he (Lieutenant Nicholson) might think he was right. I answered, that he not only thought so, but was so. Mr. Carroll said that the Council had given no such orders. Both Lieutenant Nicholson and myself assured him that we had orders; and on being asked to show them, we did so, and promised to leave copies of them; which we did, with Mr. Duvall. About two o’clock we went on board, and returned to Baltimore town.

N. B. The paragraphs marked ( ) I recollected since I, Samuel Smith, wrote the narrative delivered to the honourable Council. I wrote it in a great hurry, or I might then have remembered many other circumstances relative to this affair.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO JOHN HANSON.

SIR: We received, yesterday, your favour of the 15th instant, and have sent you, by Robert Owings, eighty-six pounds four shillings and six pence, currency, agreeable to your request. The Committee has our permission to use any part of the publick powder in their possession, whenever they think it necessary for the defence of the Province.

We are, &c.

To John Hanson, Esq., Chairman of the Committee of Frederick County, Middle District.

MARYLAND DELEGATES TO COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Philadelphia, April 25, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: We this day, about twelve o’clock, received your letter of the 22d, by the return of our express. No further proceeding in Congress on Mr. Eden’s affair. King came in on Sunday, about three o’clock, and is but just now discharged: we think proper to mention it, that you may not think him blameable. If Mr. Rogers is able, we wish his attendance here, that as many of us as might be, should be at the Convention. We do not think that the Province ought to be left unrepresented here.

We are, gentlemen, your most obedient servants,

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Philadelphia, April 25, 1776.

SIR: I have delivered in charge to Mr. Hanson and Mr. Cox three hundred thousand dollars, for the service of the Army in Canada, and have directed them, by order of Congress, to deliver the same to you; and am to request you will please to order it to be sent to General Schuyler, at Albany, under the care of an officer and some of the troops destined for Canada, to be delivered to General Schuyler.

Your favours of the 22d and 23d instant, I last night received by Major Palfrey, and are now under the consideration of a Committee.

I beg leave to recommend Mr. Hanson and Mr. Cox to your notice; and am, with esteem, sir, your very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To His Excellency General Washington.

The three hundred thousand dollars are packed in three boxes.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Philadelphia, April 25, 1776.

SIR: I have now time only to inform you that, by order of Congress, I transmit, by this opportunity, three hundred thousand dollars for the supply and pay of the Continental Army in Canada; which I hope will get safe to you.

I shall write you fully in a few days; and am, sir, your very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To Major-General Schuyler, Albany.

The three hundred thousand dollars are packed in three boxes.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read April 29, 1776, and referred to Mr. Harrison, Mr. Rutledge, Mr. Goldsborough, Mr. Paine, Mr, Rodney.]

New-York, April 25, 1776.

SIR: I received, by last evening’s post, a letter from Joshua Wentworth, Esq., of Portsmouth, who I had appointed agent for our little fleet in that Province. It is dated the 15th instant, an extract from which I have the honour of transcribing for your perusal:

“The 3d instant, Commodore Manly brought in the Brigantine Elizabeth, one of the third division which sailed from Nantasket, with a valuable cargo of English goods, and a few hogsheads of rum and sugar, owned by a Mr. Jackson, who was passenger, part freighter, and a very Tory: suppose the cargo worth twenty thousand pounds sterling.

“Those goods are the greater part owned by the late inhabitants of Boston, and by some that were inhabitants when the troops left it; the residue by this Mr. Jackson, and others of the same cast.

“The complicate state of this prize required my immediate setting off for Boston, (expecting I might find some directions for my government there;) when I waited on General Ward, who was obliging enough to give me his opinion, (but not able to direct, having received no instructions to the point,) that the vessel and cargo must be libelled, and a dividend to the captors would follow, of all such goods as might be legally claimed by the friends to America; and those that were the property of persons inimical, might be decreed forfeited.

“Upon further inquiry I was informed a resolve passed in Congress that all vessels and goods retaken previous to a condemnation by a British Court of Admiralty, were liable to a partial decree (by every Colony Judge) to the captors not more than one-third nor less than one-fourth. The present prize falls under this resolve; and any other that may be property of our internal enemies, liable to a full confiscation, may be necessary for my government; therefore I shall be much obliged by your full direction of this capture, and a copy of the Continental resolves thereon.

“This brigantine is owned by a Mr. Richard Hart, of this town, taken on her return from the West-Indies last October, and carried into Boston, not condemned. The rum on board are seventeen hogsheads, and four of sugar, not removed out of her from the time of capture; the other cargo was in general stolen, by virtue of General Howe’s Proclamation, (which undoubtedly you have seen,) appointing one Crean Brush Superintendent, who, by the way, was taken in the prize, and is now confined in the Massachusetts Colony, with Mr. Jackson and sundry others, by order of the General Court, to whom General Ward delivered them. There were a sergeant and twelve privates, of the Fourth or King’s own Regiment, taken prisoners on board, with the others, making sixty-three souls, among whom are four negroes, (two men and two women,) which I have confined in Jail here, concluding they may be esteemed a part of the prize.

“There appeared, from the pillage of this cargo by many of the passengers, the property was in him who could secrete the most; for when examining the chests and bedding of the prisoners, I found great quantities of goods that they had collected while on board, which were taken out of warehouses without packing, and hove promiscuously on board the vessel; even the sailors had provided for their disposal at pleasure. In fact, the destruction of property under cover of General Howe’s Proclamation, is unparalleled. I thought it my duty to be critical in examining for cash, which rendered it necessary to insist on a close scrutiny, and found about one hundred pounds sterling, viz: thirty-six pounds eighteen shillings and seven pence on Mr. Jackson, and sixty-two pounds sixteen shillings on a Mr. Keighley; likewise one hundred and fifty-nine pounds one shilling and nine pence, of Mr. Jackson’s, in five sets of exchange, which I now have in possession, considering that a man so inimical to his country ought to be dispossessed of any interest whereby he could be benefited: added to which, they are Navy-bills, except sixty pounds, the draft of Governour Wentworth. On this point should be obliged by your opinion and direction.

“I am now discharging the cargo, as it is in a perishing situation; and when selected, and the regular course pursued through the Admiralty, I shall advertise, agreeable to his