instruct any persons whom we might recommend to them for that purpose; therefore, should you find any difficulty arise in the management of the works under your care, you may (if you think proper) apply to their managers for such instructions as you may want.

The Council of Safety is very desirous of knowing what forwardness the works under your management are in, and request you would, from time to time, communicate to them what quantity of crude nitre you expect to furnish the publick with.

Adjourned till next day, half after nine o’clock.

Tuesday, February 20, 1776.

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

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to Mr. William Spear one hundred and sixty-eight Pounds twelve Shillings and two Pence, being the balance of his accounts with the Province, as per account filed.

Commission issued to Felix Lucas Massenbaugh, appointed Second Lieutenant of Captain Fulford’s Company of Matrosses.

Also, to Fielder Bowie, appointed Captain of a Company of Militia, in Prince George’s County, belonging to the Eleventh Battalion.

Letter received from Colonel Sim, of Prince George’s County, and answered. (Vide No. 20.)

Ordered, That the Paymaster pay unto Lieutenant Bennett Brano one hundred Pounds, on account of Captain Rezin Beall’s Company.

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

Captain Nathaniel Smith sent to the Council of Safety a copy of the Enrollment of his Company, which was examined with the original, and ordered to be filed.

Ordered, That Captain John Fulford be appointed to prove the Cannon to be furnished by Messieurs Samuel and Daniel Hughes, for the use of the Province, and that the Committee of Observation for the Middle District of Frederick County furnish him with Powder sufficient for that purpose.

A copy of the above order was sent to Captain Fulford, enclosed in a Letter, requesting him to comply therewith. (Vide No. 21.)

A copy of a Letter, (No. 22,) was sent to the Committee of Observation for Baltimore County.

Adjourned till next day, ten o’clock.

Wednesday, February 21, 1776.

Council met. Present as yesterday.

Ordered, That the Treasurers be directed to exchange the Bills of Credit of this Province for any sum in Gold or Silver Coin that may be lodged with them by the several persons appointed to collect the same, to comply with the resolve of Congress.

Copies of Letter No. 23 were sent to the Committees of Observation for Worcester, Dorchester, Talbot, and Calvert Counties, respectively.

Mr. Tilghman has leave of absence.

Adjourned till next day, ten o’clock.

Thursday, February 22, 1776.

Council met. Present the same as yesterday, except Mr. Tilghman and Mr. Hall.

Commissions issued to James Tootell, appointed Captain, Philemon Warfield, First Lieutenant, Launcelot Warfield, Second Lieutenant, and Thomas Warfield, Ensign, of a Company of Militia in Anne Arundel County.

Also, to George Watts, appointed Captain, David Kerr, First Lieutenant, Joseph Mackubin, Second Lieutenant, and Joshua Cromwell, Ensign, of a Company of Militia in said County.

Also, to Henry Hall, appointed Captain, John Worthington, (son of Brice,) First Lieutenant, Nicholas Worthington, Jun., Second Lieutenant, and Gilbert Teildhall, Ensign, of a Company of Militia in said County.

Also, to Absalom Anderson, appointed Ensign of Captain Thomas Mulliken’s Company, in said County, all belonging to the Severn Battalion.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to Mr. Robert Cummins four thousand Pounds, within a month from the 16th instant.

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

Ordered, That the Records of Anne Arundel County Court be removed to-morrow morning, if fair, if not, the first fair day, from the City of Annapolis to Mr. Rezin Gaither’s house, in said County, and there committed to the care of one of the Clerks of Mr. John Brice.

Copy of Letter No. 24 was sent to the Deputies of this Province in Congress.

Adjourned till next day, ten o’clock.

Friday, February 23, 1776.

Council met. Present as yesterday, except Mr. Jenifer, who was directed by the Council to attend Mr. Johnson on publick business at Baltimore Town. Mr. Hall attended.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to Mr. Elie Vallette nine Pounds six Shillings, being the expense of removing the Records of the Commissary’s Office.

Messieurs John Shaw and Archibald Chisholm agreed with the Council of Safety to stock the Gun-barrels made by Mr. Isaac Harris for the use of this Province, at the price the same are done in Philadelphia.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore deliver to Messrs. John Shaw and Archibald Chisholm fifty of the Gun-barrels left with him by Mr. Isaac Harris, to be stocked by said Shaw and Chisholm, and take their receipt for the same.

Ordered, That Major Thomas Tillard deliver to Mr. Isaac Harris three barrels of Gunpowder belonging to this Province, to be by him brought under a guard to the City of Annapolis, and there delivered to the Council of Safety, or to their order.

That the said Isaac Harris be empowered to hire a cart, and one or more horses, as also to employ two persons to assist him in bringing said three barrels of Gunpowder from Pig-Point to Annapolis, and to be a guard on the same.

That Colonel John Hall be, and he is hereby, appointed to receive the Gunpowder from Isaac Harris, and that he take care that the same be stored in some safe place in the City of Annapolis; and that the said John Hall deliver out, or cause to be delivered out, to Isaac Harris, so much of the said Gunpowder as may be necessary for proving the Muskets now made or making by him.

That Isaac Harris call on Mr. Stephen West, and request him to send up to the Council of Safety, by the said Harris, all the Gunlocks and Cutteau-Knives now in his possession, heretofore agreed for by Colonel Smallwood.

Adjourned till next day, ten o’clock.

Saturday, February 24, 1776.

Council met. Present as yesterday.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to Mr. John Bullin twenty-nine Pounds twelve Shillings and two Pence, for twelve hundred and seventy-five pounds of Sulphur.

A Letter was received from Colonel George Dashiell, and answered. (Vide No. 25.)

A Letter was received from the Committee of Correspondence for Queen Anne’s County, and answered. (Vide No. 26.)

Also, a copy of a Letter, (No. 27,) sent to Colonel Peter Waters, of Somerset County.

Commissions issued to Plumer Williams, Captain, Benjamin Schoolfield, First Lieutenant, Ebenezer Finley, Second Lieutenant, and Thomas Williams, Ensign, of a Company of Militia in Somerset County.

Also, to William Fountain, Captain, Daniel Maddux, First Lieutenant, Staughton Maddux, Second Lieutenant, and Collin Fountain, Ensign, of a Company of Militia in said County, both belonging to the Seventeenth Battalion.