Thursday, April 18, 1776.

Council met. Present as yesterday.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to Mr. Allen Quynn eight Pounds fifteen Shillings, for two thousand three hundred and forty-six feet of Plank.

Alexander Ross, according to order, being brought before the Council, in custody of Captain Peter Adams and Mr. Benjamin Chambers,

Ordered, That he be kept in custody of Captain Adams till to-morrow morning.

A Letter was received from John Hancock, Esq., enclosing the following Resolves of Congress, to wit:

“In Congress, April 16, 1776.

“Whereas information has been this day laid before Congress, from which there is great reason to believe that Robert Eden, Esquire, Governour of the Colony of Maryland, has lately carried on a correspondence with the British Ministry highly dangerous to the liberties of America:

“Resolved, therefore, That the Council of Safety of Maryland be earnestly requested immediately to cause the person and papers of Governour Eden to be seized and secured, and such of the papers as relate to the American dispute without delay conveyed safely to Congress; and that copies of the intercepted Letters from the Secretary of State be enclosed to the said Council of Safety.

“Resolved, That the Council of Safety of Maryland be requested to cause the person and papers of Alexander Ross to be immediately seized and secured; and that the papers be sent safely to Congress.

“And to prevent said Alexander Ross having any opportunity to escape,

“Resolved, That the like request be made to the Committees of Observation for Baltimore and Frederick Counties, in Maryland, in one of which Counties the said Ross probably now is.

“Extract from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.

“Ordered by Congress to be transmitted to the honourable the Council of Safety of the Colony of Maryland.

“JOHN HANCOCK, President.”

After consideration of the above Resolves, a copy of Letter No. 123 was sent to John Hancock, Esquire, President of the Congress.

Adjourned till next day, nine o’clock.

Friday, April 19, 1776.

Council met. Present as yesterday.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to Captain Thomas Conway twenty-five Pounds, currency, as a gratuity for his diligence and care in importing Powder.

Ordered, That the said Treasurer pay to Messrs. Jenifer and Hooe two hundred and fifty-six Pounds one Shilling and eight Pence, being the balance of their account in consequence of an adventure by the Sloop Molly, Thomas Conway, master.

Ordered, That the said Treasurer pay to Mr. Jacob Schley sixty Pounds nine Shillings and three Pence, for repairing Muskets, &c.

Ordered, That the Commissary of Stores deliver to Captain Thomas Conway twelve Cutlasses.

Copy of Letter No. 124 was sent to Mr. Richard Harrison, Martinico; and copy of No. 125 to the Deputies of Maryland in Congress.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to the Clerk twenty Pounds, to pay expenses, &c.; and that he render an account of the expenditure of the same.

Copy of Letter No. 126 was sent to Lieutenant-Colonel Ware.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Eastern-Shore pay to Lieutenant Benjamin Brookes two hundred and fifty Pounds, on account of Captain John Gunby’s Company.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the said Shore pay to Captain Thomas Woolford one hundred Pounds, currency.

The Council agrees with Jacob Schley, of Frederick County, who is to supply ten large Rifles, carrying a ball of four ounces weight, for a sum not exceeding fifteen Pounds each.

Adjourned till next day, ten o’clock.

Saturday, April 20, 1776.

Council met. Present as yesterday.

Commissions issued to Alexander McFadon, appointed First Lieutenant, John Peter, Second Lieutenant, and Edward Gale, Ensign, of Captain Thomas Richardson’s Company of Militia in the Lower District of Frederick County.

Also, to Joseph Smith, appointed Colonel of the Thirty-Sixth Battalion, in the room of Samuel Beall, who resigned; Richard Davis, Lieutenant-Colonel, Charles Swearingen, First Major, and Christian Orndorff, Second Major, of said Battalion.

Also, to John Reynolds, appointed Captain of a Company of Militia in the Upper District of Frederick County, in the room of Christian Orndorff, appointed Second Major of the thirty-sixth Battalion; Abraham Baker, First Lieutenant, and Christopher Orndorff, Second Lieutenant, of said Company.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to Colonel John Stull thirty-seven Pounds nineteen Shillings and six Pence, for fifty-one Blankets.

Ordered, That the said Treasurer pay to Mr. Jacob Schley fifty Pounds, on account of his contract for Rifles.

Ordered, That Mr. George Lux, Clerk to the Committee of Observation for Baltimore County, attend the Council of Safety, at the City of Annapolis, on Monday, the 22d instant, and bring with him the Proceedings of the said Committee in consequence of copies of intercepted Letters from Lord George Germaine to Robert Eden, Esq., Deputy Governour of Maryland, which were transmitted to them by the honourable the Committee of Safety of Virginia; and, also, all Resolves, Orders, Instructions, Requisitions, Letters, Papers, and Writings, relative to, or concerning the same, which now are in his possession, or were delivered to him as Clerk of the said Committee of Baltimore.

The Governour having desired that Messrs. Charles Carroll, John Hall, James Tilghman, and William Paca, would attend him at ten o’clock this morning, they waited on him accordingly, and he delivered them the original in his own handwriting, of which the following is a copy:

“Saturday morning.

“GENTLEMEN: I took the liberty of sending for you this morning, and hope the motive of my so doing will not be disagreeable.

“Your polite behaviour to me and the confidence you have reposed in me, (which evinces your good opinion of my past and present conduct,) deserve the best return I can make. I see that your personal safety and future respect from your constituents are involved in my meriting that opinion, and not disgracing that confidence; therefore, what you could not by requisition, however respectful, or your representation of probably a more disagreeable proceeding, obtain from me—my parole not to leave the Province till the Convention met, I voluntarily now give you, as your conduct towards me justly entitles you to it.”

Mr. Allen Quynn was appointed Messenger to the Council.

Ordered, That Mr. Samuel Purviance, Chairman of the Committee of Observation for Baltimore County, attend the Council of Safety, at the City of Annapolis, on Monday, the 22d instant.

Ordered, That Mr. William Lux, Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Baltimore, attend the Council of Safety, at the City of Annapolis, on Monday, the 22d instant.

Ordered, That Alexander Ross be brought before the Council at three o’clock, in the afternoon.

Adjourned till three o’clock, and met accordingly.

Mr. Benjamin Harwood acknowledges before the Council to have received five thousand Pounds, currency, from the Treasurer of the Eastern-Shore, in consequence of an order for that purpose.

Alexander Ross, according to order, was brought before the Council and examined, and after examination, was remanded back in custody of Captain Adams.