And thereupon, Ordered, That the said Alexander Ross deliver to Colonel Smallwood’s order, all and singular his papers, of what sort soever, now at Daniel Grant’s Tavern, in Baltimore Town.

Ordered, That the officer appointed to bring Alexander Ross’s papers from Baltimore Town have full power to take possession of the said Ross’s portmanteau, and all the papers lodged with Mr. Grant, and to convey the same to the Council.

Adjourned till Monday morning, ten o’clock.

Monday, April 22, 1776.

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

Captain Kell having resigned the Schooner Dolphin, Duncan Hill was admitted and sworn Captain, and desired to advert to the Instructions heretofore given Captain Kell, and to govern himself by them.

The following lines were addressed to the Committee of Northampton County, in Virginia, at the foot of the Instructions, viz:

“The Council of Safety return many thanks to the Committee of Northampton County, in Virginia, for their friendly assistance heretofore to Captain Kell; and as he has resigned the command, request the continuance of their favour and advice to Captain Duncan Hill.”

Captain John Allen Thomas has leave to procure leathern Caps for his Independent Company, instead of Hats.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to Captain George Stricker fifty-one Pounds eighteen Shillings, for one hundred and two pair of Shoes, and the wagonage of them to Annapolis.

Resolved, That there be a Convention of the Delegates of this Province held at the City of Annapolis, on Tuesday, the 7th of May next.

Copies of Letter No. 127 were sent to the Delegates in Convention for each County and District within the Province, respectively; and a copy of No. 128 to the Deputies of this Province in Congress.

Ordered, That the Commissary of Stores deliver to Captain John Allen Thomas thirteen Muskets, four Rifles, six Musket Bullet-moulds, four Rifle Bullet-moulds, and five and a half rolls of Osnaburghs.

Ordered, That the Commissary of Stores deliver to Captain John Allen Thomas, for Captain Rezin Beall’s Independent Company, twenty-nine Muskets, four Rifles, Powder-horns, Pouches, and Bullet-moulds, six Musket Bullet-moulds, three hundred Gun-flints, one hundred Gun-slings, sixty-two Cartouch-boxes and Belts, one hundred and four Hats, and five bolts of Osnaburghs.

Ordered, That Captain John Allen Thomas be requested to purchase all the Buckshot he can procure in St. Mary’s County.

Ordered, That Colonel Joshua Beall be requested to send four barrels and twenty kegs of Musket Gunpowder, out of the Gunpowder now in his possession, to the Committee of Observation for Charles County, and thirty-five Muskets from John Yost, in a covered wagon, under a guard of a commissioned officer and two privates, of Militia; the thirty-five Muskets for Captain Rezin Beall’s Company.

Ordered, That the Committee of Observation for Charles County be requested to convey one barrel and ten kegs of the Gunpowder to be sent them by Colonel Joshua Beall, to the Committee of Observation for St. Mary’s County, and one barrel and ten kegs of the same Powder to the Committee of Calvert County; also, six hundred pounds of Lead to the Committee of St. Mary’s County; and six hundred pounds of Lead to the Committee of Calvert County, for the use of the said Counties.

Adjourned till next day, ten o’clock.

Tuesday, April 23, 1776.

Council met. Present as yesterday.

Colonel John Veazey returns to the Council five hundred Pounds, in Bills of Credit of this Province, which were sent him by Captain Robert Craig, on the 14th day of February last, for the purpose of purchasing Gunpowder.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Western-Shore pay to Captain John Allen Thomas twenty-eight Pounds fourteen Shillings and five Pence, being the balance of his general account to the 3d of April.

Ordered, That the said Treasurer pay to Captain Thomas three hundred and ninety-four Pounds one Shilling and eight Pence, on account of his Company.

Ordered, That Mr. Athanasius Ford, of St. Mary’s County, pay to Captain John Allen Thomas twenty-seven Pounds seven Shillings and six Pence, for so much money paid him over and above the just amount of his account, on the 12th instant.

Ordered, That the Commissary of Stores deliver to Captain Thomas half a realm of Cartridge-Paper, and ten pieces of Check.

Adjourned till three o’clock, and met accordingly.

Alexander Ross was brought before the Council, in custody of Captain Peter Adams, was examined, and remanded back in custody as aforesaid.

Ordered, That Colonel Smallwood detach a commissioned officer to arrest Samuel Purviance, Jun., Chairman of the Committee of Observation for Baltimore County, William Lux, Deputy Chairman, and George Lux, Clerk of said Committee, wherever they may be found in the Province of Maryland; and that the said officer bring the said Samuel Purviance, Jun., William Lux, and George Lux, to the Council of Safety, at the City of Annapolis, under a sufficient guard.

Adjourned till next day, ten o’clock.

Wednesday, April 24, 1776.

Council met. Present as yesterday.

Mr. William Lux, in obedience to the order of the 20th instant, appeared before the Council, and delivered to them an attested copy of the Proceedings of the Committee of Observation for Baltimore County, in consequence of intercepted Letters from Lord George Germaine to Robert Eden, Esquire, Deputy Governour of Maryland, which were transmitted to them by the honourable Committee of Safety of Virginia.

Adjourned till three o’clock, and met accordingly. Mr. Hands attended.

Mr. Samuel Purviance, Jun., Chairman of the Committee of Observation for Baltimore County, in obedience to the order of the 20th instant, appeared before the Council, and was informed by the President that instructions of a very extraordinary nature from him as Chairman of the Committee of Baltimore County to Captain Samuel Smith, and other matters of great importance, had come to the knowledge of the Council of Safety, for which they had thought proper to call him before them to answer the charge which they imported.

The Instructions were then read in presence of Mr. Purviance, and are as follows:

“Baltimore, April 14, 1776.

“SIR: You are requested by the gentlemen of the Committee to proceed in Captain Nicholson’s tender, with any officer he may send to assist you, and such a number of armed men as may be necessary, and therewith proceed as speedily as possible for Annapolis. Should you, before you get there, meet the Governour’s boat or barge, you must by all means endeavour to board her. And in case Governour Eden, his Secretary Mr. Smith, or Mr. Alexander Ross, are found on board, you are by all means to seize their persons and papers, and instantly return with them under the strictest guard to Baltimore; for doing which you may depend on being protected and justified by the Committee, and held blameless. In case you should not meet such boat or persons, you will please to proceed immediately to Annapolis, and use every precaution to prevent alarm, by obliging the men not to appear in numbers on deck, and causing the boat to lie at a distance, whilst you go ashore with the letter delivered you for the gentlemen of the Baltimore Committee, who may be at Annapolis, whose directions you will please to follow after your arrival there.

“You will please to take blunderbusses, and any quantity you see necessary of arms, out of Captain Nicholson’s vessel, which he will readily furnish. Please to consult in everything