the time Mr. Richard Hall was on duty at Baltimore Town, with endeavouring to seduce said Richard Hall from his post; and the said Stephen Gartrill having been called upon and heard in his defence, and alleging, in excuse, that he was requested by the wife of the said Richard Hall, who had lately lost her child, to come home, and that he had no designs inimical to the people of this Province,

Ordered, That the said Stephen Gartrill ask pardon for his offence, at the head of the Elkridge Battalion, at the time of their next meeting, and that he be discharged on payment of one moiety of all expenses attending the bringing him down to Annapolis, and of the guard staying here.

The Proceedings of the Committee of Observation of Anne Arundel County being read, charging James Morris with speaking words inimical to the liberties of America, and that he was suspected of other high and dangerous offences, and the said Morris being called upon and heard in his defence,

Ordered, That the said James Morris give security for his appearance before the Committee of Observation, on the 1st Thursday in April next, and for his good behaviour in the mean time; and that he be dismissed for the present, on complying with the above order, and paying one moiety of all expenses attending the bringing him down to Annapolis, and of the guard staying here.

Copy of Letter No. 73 was sent to the Committee of Observation for Anne Arundel County.

James Morris, recognized to the Council, in the sum of twenty Pounds, and three securities (Richard Hall, Alexander Molville, and Stephen Gartrill) in the sum of ten Pounds, currency, each, for the appearance of James Morris before the Committee of Observation for Anne Arundel County, on the 1st Thursday in April next, and for his good behaviour in the mean time.

Ordered, That the Petition of Henry Ridgely and others, against issuing Commissions to the Officers of Captain John Burgess’s Company, be taken into consideration on Wednesday, the 3d day of April next, and that notice be given to the parties to attend the Council on that day.

Notice was given accordingly.

Ordered, That Captain Joseph Robson, of Dorchester County, deliver to Captain Thomas Woolford ten Muskets, with the accoutrements thereto belonging, the property of this Province, which were received from the Committee of Kent County.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Eastern-Shore pay to Captain Thomas Woolford fifty-five Pounds thirteen Shillings and nine Pence for Blankets, for his Company.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to John Fluke eight Pounds five Shillings, for wagonage.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to Mr. John Brice fifty-five Shillings, for Walnut Plank.

Ordered, That the said Treasurer pay to Mr. Thomas Gassaway eleven Pounds six Shillings and six Pence, for four hundred and fifty-three pounds of Lead.

Adjourned till next day, nine o’clock.

Thursday, March 21, 1776.

Council met. Present as yesterday.

Copy of Letter No. 73 was sent to the Committee of Observation for Queen Anne’s County.

A Letter was received from the Committee of Observation for Dorchester County, and answered. (Vide No. 74.)

Ordered, That the Committee of Observation for Caroline County be requested to send to the Committee of Talbot County for a barrel of Gunpowder lodged with them for the use of Caroline County, and that a commissioned officer of the Militia guard the same, and the Treasurer of the Eastern-Shore pay the expense thereof.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Eastern-Shore pay to Lieutenant William Harrison five hundred Pounds, currency, on account of Captain Veazey’s Company.

Ordered, That the said Treasurer pay to Captain Thomas Woolford two hundred and fifty Pounds, currency, on account of his Company.

Adjourned till three o’clock, and met accordingly.

Copy of Letter No. 73 was sent to the Committees of Observation for Somerset and Worcester Counties, mutatis mutandis.

Ordered, That Colonel Smallwood deliver to Lieutenant William Harrison two bolts of Osnaburghs for the use of Captain Veazey’s Independent Company.

Ordered., That Colonel Smallwood deliver to Captain Thomas Woolford twenty pieces Osnaburghs, fifty Cartouchboxes and Belts, thirty-one French Muskets and Bayonets with Slings, and half a ream of Cartridge-paper. The Osnaburghs to be equally distributed between the Captains James Hindman, John Gunby, John Watkins, and Thomas Woolford, for the use of their respective Companies.

Ordered, That Captain Thomas Woolford be empowered to contract for the making as many Bayonets and Scabbards as may be necessary for such of the Muskets in the hands of his Company as are not already fitted with them.

The Council contracted with Edward Timmins for the making of steel Ramrods, at five Shillings each.

Adjourned till next day, nine o’clock.

Friday, March 22, 1776.

Council met. Present as yesterday, except Mr. Carroll.

The Council contracted with Isaac Harris to make two hundred steel Ramrods, at three Shillings and nine Pence each.

Ordered, That Colonel Smallwood deliver to Lieutenant John Stewart fifty stand of French Arms, four bolts Osnaburghs, and half a ream of Cartridge-paper, for the use of Captain John Allen Thomas’s Independent Company.

Copy of Letter No. 75 was sent to the Committee of Observation for Talbot County.

Ordered, That the Captains of the several Independent Companies, and also the Captains of the Artillery Companies, render a particular account of the expenditure of the Moneys supplied them for the use of their respective Companies, up to the 3d day of April next.

Adjourned till three o’clock, and met accordingly.

Copy of Letter No. 76 was sent to Captain John Alien Thomas.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Eastern-Shore pay to the Committee of Observation for Kent County, or their order, their account of expenses for sending Powder and Arms to Queen Anne’s, Talbot, and Dorchester Counties, as well as the expense of the carriage of Powder and Arms ordered to be sent from Philadelphia to Chestertown, under the care of Mr. Huston.

Copy of Letter No. 77 was sent to the Committee of Observation for Kent County.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Eastern-Shore pay to Lieutenant Moses Chaille three hundred and fifty Pounds, currency, on account of Captain Watkins’s Company.

Copy of Letter No. 78 was sent to the Deputies of this Province in Congress; and copy of No. 79 to the Committee of Observation for Charles County.

Mr. Charles Wallace produced and delivered to the Council unsigned Bills of Credit, to the amount of six thousand Pounds, currency, which he was ordered to bring from the Treasurer of the Eastern-Shore.

Ordered, That the same be delivered to the Treasurer of the Western-Shore.

Copy of Letter No. 80 was sent to the Chairman of the Committee of Observation for the Middle District of Frederick County.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to Silas Howell, William Sellars, and John Wilson, (whose vessel was taken from them in Chesapeake Bay by the Otter sloop-of-war,) thirty Shillings each, to pay their expenses to Philadelphia.

Adjourned till next day, nine o’clock.

Saturday, March 23, 1776.

Council met. Present as yesterday.

Copies of Letter No. 81 were sent to Doctors Ephraim Howard and Samuel Coale, respectively.