Channel of the River, so as to prevent the approach of Men-of-War to the said Town, agreeable to the Resolve of the late Convention; and have offered to undertake the business and complete the same with all convenient speed, for the sum of six thousand two hundred Pounds, or so much thereof as may be necessary for the purposes aforesaid; and are willing to give bond with condition for the due performance of their agreement:

Therefore Resolved, That the proposition made by the said gentlemen of the Committee of Observation be accepted; and that bond be taken, with conditions that if the said Samuel Purviance, Jun., William Lux, John Moale, Jeremiah Townley Chase, James Calhoun, Andrew Buchanan, Thomas Harrison, Benjamin Griffith, Isaac Guest, John Smith, John Boyd, William Aisquith, and William Buchanan, or the survivors of them, their heirs, executors, or administrators, do and shall, in all things, fulfil the resolve of said Convention, and their said obligators’ agreement with the Council of Safety, and do and shall well and truly layout and expend the aforesaid sum of six thousand two hundred Pounds currency, or so much thereof as may be necessary, in fortifying said Town, and placing obstructions in the Channel of the River, so as in all human probability will prevent Men-of-War approaching said Town, and do, from time to time, render a full and fair account of their expenses, and other transactions in the management of the business aforesaid, and also do and shall well and truly, and in a proper manner, complete the same fortifications and obstructions with all convenient speed, so as in all human probability to prevent the Men-of-War approaching said Town, then the bond to be void, otherwise to be and remain in full force and virtue in law. Which bond was taken accordingly, and filed.

Instructions and Sailing Orders were given to Joseph Oakman, Captain of the Sloop Two Sisters.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to Doctor Daniel Grant four Pounds ten Shillings, for the use of his Room.

Council adjourns to the City of Annapolis, till Tuesday next.

Tuesday, February 6, 1776.

Council met. Present the same Members as on Saturday last.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to Mr. Henry Hollingsworth one hundred Pounds, currency, to enable him to carry on his Saltpetre Works in Cecil County.

Adjourned till next day, ten o’clock.

Wednesday, February 7, 1776.

Council met. Present the same Members as yesterday.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to Mr. John Gassaway thirty Pounds, currency, on account of Captain Nathaniel Rumsey’s Company.

Commission issued to Jacob Duvall, appointed Ensign of Captain John Macgill’s Company of Militia, in Prince George’s County.

Also, to Edward Norwood, appointed Captain, Samuel Godman, First Lieutenant, James Walker, Second Lieutenant, and Horatio Johnson, Ensign, of a Company of Militia in Anne Arundel County.

Also, to Elisha Riggs, appointed Captain, John Marriott, First Lieutenant; Joseph Walker, Jun., Second Lieutenant, and Horatio Johnson, Ensign, of a Company of Militia in said County.

Colonel Smallwood produced and delivered to the Council a copy of the Enrollment of Captain Thomas Ewing’s Company, of regular forces, which was examined with the original, and ordered to be filed.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to Mr. Stephen West two hundred and fifty-nine Pounds nineteen Shillings and three Pence, for Powder and Lead purchased of him by the Convention.

Adjourned till next day, ten o’clock.

Thursday, February 8, 1776.

Council met. Present as yesterday.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western Shore pay to Lieutenant John Kidd six Pounds fifteen Shillings, for one month’s pay.

Ordered, That the said Treasurer pay to Colonel Smallwood a sum not exceeding fifteen hundred Pounds.

Commission issued to Thomas Mayo, appointed Second Lieutenant of Captain John Boone’s Company of Militia in Anne Arundel County.

Adjourned till three o’clock, and met according to adjournment.

Copy of Letter No. 9 was sent to the Deputies of this Province in Congress; and a copy of No. 10 to the Committee of Safety of Virginia.

Ordered, That the Register in Chancery immediately furnish the Council of Safety with a list of the Record Books in the Chancery Office, and prepare for the removal of the Records and Papers in said Office to such place as shall be directed by the said Council.

In consequence of the Resolve of the honourable Convention, made at Annapolis, on the 18th of January last past,

Ordered, That the Records of the Land Office, also, of the Secretary’s Office, including the Provincial and Chancery Court, and also the Records of the Commissary’s Office, be removed on Monday next from the City of Annapolis to William Brown’s house, in London Town, and from thence on Wednesday next, if a fair day, to Upper Marlborough, and there be placed in the Store Houses of Messrs. Samuel Hepburn and David Crawford, under the care and management of one of the Clerks of the said Office respectively.

That the Records of the Secretary’s Office, including the Provincial and Chancery Court, be committed to the care and management of Mr. George Ranken, one of the Clerks of the said Office.

That the Records of the Land Office be committed to the care and management of Mr. David Stewart, one of the Clerks of the said Office.

That the Records of the Commissary’s Office be committed to the care and management of Mr. Elie Vallette, one of the Clerks of the said Office.

That two gentlemen of the Committee of Observation for Anne Arundel County be requested to attend the Records from the City of Annapolis to Mr. William Brown’s, in London Town, and thence on Wednesday next, if a fair day, to Queen Anne’s, when they are to deliver them to two gentlemen of the Committee of Observation for Prince George’s County.

That two gentlemen of the Committee of Observation for Prince George’s County be requested to receive the Records at Queen Anne’s, on Wednesday next, and conduct them from thence, if a fair day, to Upper Marlborough; where they are to be lodged in the Store Houses of Messrs. Samuel Hepburn and David Crawford, agreeable to an order of this Council.

Adjourned till next day, ten o’clock.

Friday, February 9, 1776.

Council met. Present as yesterday. Mr. Rumsey attended.

An agreement was made with Mr. Hugh Young for the exportation of Provision agreeable to a Resolution of Congress, also with Mr. George Woolsey for the like purpose, and copies thereof filed.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to Mr. Hugh Young fifteen hundred Pounds, currency.

Ordered, That the said Treasurer pay to George Woolsey eighteen hundred Pounds, currency.

Permit was given to Mr. Hugh Young to export Tobacco and Iron, or Provision, and in return to import Salt.

Commission issued to John Fulford, appointed Captain of a Company of Matrosses, to be stationed at the City of Annapolis.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to Captain John Fulford two hundred Pounds, common money, for subsist and advance money for his Recruits.

Ordered, That the Committee of Observation for Baltimore County be requested to collect all the publick Arms in their County; and where any of them have been delivered