intercepted letters of Lord George Germaine’s, to his Excellency—one of the 10th of November last, and two, both of the 23d of December; one of which, seeming to disclose something of a confidential correspondence, was thought of so dangerous a nature that it ought to be explained.

The two Letters necessary to mention here, are as follows, (Nos. 2 and 3.)

[“Circular.]

“SIR: The King being determined, in concurrence with Parliament, to pursue the most vigorous measures for reducing his rebellious subjects in North America to obedience, and for restoring loyal Government, has given the royal signature to the enclosed act, which I am commanded by his Majesty to transmit to you; and at the same time to signify to you his Majesty’s pleasure, that you do exhort all persons upon whom the execution of this law shall depend, to pay a due attention thereto, and to use their best endeavours for carrying the provisions of it into effect; and I trust that when his Majesty’s deluded subjects in the aforesaid Colonies are better apprized of the fatal consequence of the conduct they have adopted, and see the determined spirit of the nation to maintain its constitutional rights, they will avail themselves of the means which the justice and benevolence of the supreme legislature have held out to them, of being restored to the King’s grace and peace, and that a happy and lasting reconciliation and union will be effected.

“And I have the satisfaction to acquaint you that, in order to accelerate this desirable object, the proper steps have been taken for passing a commission under the great seal, in conformity to the last section but one of that act, and that a Commissioner or Commissioners, to be appointed for that purpose, will have full power to inquire into the state and condition of all the Colonies, and to confer with proper persons upon such points as may be necessary for effecting a restoration of the publick tranquillity.

“I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

“GEORGE GERMAINE.

“To Robert Eden, Esq., Deputy-Governour of Maryland. ”

“A true copy:

“J. PENDLETON, C. C. Safety for Virginia.

“SIR: It was not till the 27th of November that your despatch to Lord Dartmouth, of the 27th of August, was received here, when I had the honour of laying it before the King. And I have it in command from his Majesty to express to you his Majesty’s approbation of your zeal for the publick service, and of the unalterable attachment you have shown to his person and Government, from the first commencement of the present unhappy disputes, which have involved his Majesty’s faithful servants in the Colonies in difficulties and distress that are only to be equalled by the fortitude with which they are borne.

“Your letter contains a great deal of very useful information, and your confidential communication of the characters of individuals, more especially of such as come over into England, is of great advantage; and you may rest assured that every possible precaution will be used that no part of your letter shall transpire.

“An armament, consisting of seven regiments and a fleet of frigates and small ships, is now in readiness to proceed to the Southern Colonies, in order to attempt the restoration of legal Government in that part of America. It will proceed, in the first place, to North-Carolina, and from thence either to South-Carolina or Virginia, as circumstances of greater or less advantage shall point out: if to the latter, it may have very important consequences to the Colony under your government, and therefore you will do well to consider of every measure by which you may, in conjunction with Lord Dunmore, give facility and assistance to its operations.

“I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

“GEORGE GERMAINE.

“To Robert Eden, Esq., Deputy-Governour of Maryland. ”

“Copy:

“J. PENDLETON, C. C. Safety for Virginia. ”

That the gentlemen requested to see the copy of his Excellency’s letter of the 27th of August, which he could not gratify them in, having sent all his letters and copies to the end of last September to England, and not kept any since. They then wished his Excellency to give his parole not to leave the Province until the Convention was to meet, which he declined, hut promised they should find him at home the next day at twelve o’clock; on which day he sent for the above-mentioned gentlemen, about eleven o’clock, and was waited upon by C. Carroll, Esq., Barrister, and W. Paca, Esq., to whom he gave the following Letter:

“GENTLEMEN: However unwelcome might be your errand, your polite behaviour to me yesterday merits my acknowledgments; and on mature consideration of the proposal you made to me, I find it is incumbent on me to tell you that I will not accord to it; nor can I, whilst I act in any degree as Govornour of this Province, give my parole to walk about in it a prisoner at large, under any obligation whatever: the necessity must be obvious of my ceasing to act as Governour, should I become a prisoner.

“Neither will I, voluntarily, give you any satisfaction on that head, further than that I had, and have no intention, during these times, of leaving the Province, whilst my continuing here can, in my own opinion, preserve its tranquillity. My resolution was, as the letters you have of mine show, to continue here whilst I could serve the Province; nor shall the indignity now offered me alter it.

“I shall persevere in my line of duty, by what I think the rule of right; but not without some chagrin at knowing myself, unmeritedly the object of suspicion, although I have the satisfaction to think that a considerable part of the most respectable persons in the Province entertain a very different opinion of me than is to be inferred from your proposed arrest.

“May I not challenge you to say to the world if any troops have arrived at, or any hostile measures been proceeded in, against this Province, from any request of mine, or information from me, to the Secretary of State?

“I have above told you my resolution of continuing in my station as long as permitted, or the ostensible form of the established Government can contribute to preserve the peace of the Province; and I will add one further assurance, in hopes it may be satisfactory to you, that as your Convention is to meet shortly, they shall find me here, and willing to continue acting in the same line I have hitherto done, so long as Maryland can reap any peaceful benefit from my service, provided I can have assurances that my peaceable departure shall not be impeded whenever I find my remaining any longer here unnecessary, or that my private affairs at home indispensably demand my return.

“Consistent with my honour and insulted station, I cannot add more, but that, if made a prisoner, I shall consider myself treated as an enemy, and such a proceeding as a breach of that confidence I have implicitly reposed in you, which I thought my conduct and the publick declaration of the Convention justified.

“I am, gentlemen, with respect, your obedient humble servant,

“ROBERT EDEN.

“To Charles Carroll, Barrister, John Hall, and William Paca, Esqs. ”

His Excellency was promised an answer to the above letter the next day.

On the 18th day of April, in the morning, one of the Baltimore privateer boats boarded his Excellency’s, which was going out to call back a gentleman’s vessel just sailed from hence, which they also took, and detained them both.

Mr. Samuel Smith, of Baltimore, who was with the troops in the Baltimore boat, came on shore, and went to C. Carroll, Esq., Barrister, with Mr. Nicholson, the Captain of her; when Mr. Smith produced Mr. S. Purviance’s order for seizing his Excellency, and Mr. Robert Smith, and their papers, as also his Excellency’s boat, and to carry them all to Baltimore; the boat was set at liberty that evening. The same evening his Excellency received an answer to his letter, which is as follows:

“SIR: In times of publick distress and convulsion, when a free people are threatened with a deprivation of their