white servants, belonging to the several persons so applying, had run away from the service of their masters. We are also informed that a soldier in the service of this Province had deserted from Captain Scott’s company.

A flag is sent with a list of the servants, and to request the delivery of them and of the soldier, if they should be found on board; and if they, or any others, should hereafter attempt to get on board, we expect they will not be received. We are authorized by the Convention to say that the people of this Province will strictly observe the truce, in confidence that Captain Montagu will do the same.

By order and on behalf of the Council of Safety.

I am your obedient, humble servant,

CHARLES CARROLL, V. P.

To George Montagu, Esq.

In Council of Safety, Annapolis, June 24, 1776.

SIR: Application having been made this morning by Mr. Samuel Galloway and other inhabitants of this Province to our Board, representing that a number of servants had left their masters, a list of which we send you enclosed, and that they had reason to believe they were gone on board the ship of war or tenders now at anchor in the road, we request the favour of your Excellency to interpose your good offices with Captain Montagu for the delivery of the servants to their respective masters, if they should be found on board. We are authorized by the Convention to say that the people of this Province will strictly observe the truce, in confidence that Captain Montagu will do the same.

By order and in behalf of the Council of Safety.

I am, with respect and regard, your Excellency’s most obedient humble servant,

CHARLES CARROLL, V.P.

To His Excellency Robert Eden, Esq.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety:
The Petition of SAMUEL GALLOWAY, on behalf of himself and JAMES CHESTON, humbly showeth:

That on Sunday evening, of the 23d instant, Hugh Job, a tailor, James Brooke, a painter, Robert Skinner, carver, John Kelly, a gardener, and Thomas Wilkinson, a waiting- man, made their escape from your petitioners’ house at West River, in a batteau; and that your petitioners have great reason to entertain a suspicion that they have, or will endeavour, to get on board the Fowey ship of war, now lying off this city. Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray this honourable Board that they will immediately take such steps as they shall think most proper for the apprehension of the above-mentioned servants; and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

SAMUEL GALLOWAY.

June 24, 1776.

Fowey, off Annapolis, June 24, 1776.

SIR: It is my wish, in every respect, inviolably to pre-serve the truce under which his Majesty’s ship Fowey came up this bay for his Excellency your Governour; and as soon as his effects are all on board—which I expect them to be to-morrow morning—the Fowey will return to the fleet, without committing any hostility, if his Majesty’s colours receive no insult.

With regard to the servants for whose return you apply, my instructions prohibit my discharging them, to suffer, perhaps, a severe and ignominious servitude; nor is it in my power to deliver up any subjects of his Majesty who embrace his service, and risk their lives in seizing an opportunity for that purpose.

The orders to his Majesty’s ships are peremptory, to re-ceive all persons well-affected, and give them every protection. Such boats alongside this ship as are the property of any inhabitants of Maryland shall, under the truce, be immediately restored to the persons claiming them. I intended to have had them landed this evening. I hope that no obstruction will be given to the remainder of Governour Eden’s baggage, and that of the gentlemen going down with him being immediately put on board, as I have orders to proceed down the bay as soon as that service, which brought me up, is completed. I am, sir, your humble servant,

GEORGE MONTAGU.

To Charles Carroll, Esq.

His Majesty’s Ship Fowey, June 24, 1776.

SIR: In answer to your letter by Captain Stone, which I have just received, relative to the application made by Mr. Galloway and others, on account of some runaway servants, I can only say that Captain Montagu’s orders “to receive on board, and give protection to, all British well-affected subjects, ” are positive, and that he does not consider it in his power, consistently with those orders, to comply with your request.

He says you cannot consider this refusal any violation of the truce; that the Fowey has not, and will not, receive any runaway slaves on board; that he is bound by, and must follow, his instructions; that all vessels belonging to this place now alongside he intends giving up; and that he has never sent ashore to bring servants off, or encourage deserters. I can add no more than that every exertion of my interest or interposition on this subject must prove ineffectual against the King’s orders.

I hope we shall get away to-morrow, and not be delayed by any obstruction to the baggage or stock of the gentlemen here as yet not brought off.

Wishing peace and prosperity to the Province on constitutional principles, I am, sir, your obedient humble servant,

ROBERT EDEN.

To Charles Carroll, Esq., Barrister, V. P. of the Council of Safety, Annapolis.

Fowey, off Annapolis, June 25, 1776.

SIR: I have been waiting all this day for the return of the boat with the remainder of the Governour’s baggage, but, to my great astonishment, perceive the boat is still alongside of the wharf; and as I yesterday received a letter from Mr. Carroll, on behalf of your Board, am apprehensive she is detained. If that is the case, it will break off the truce that is now subsisting between his Majesty’s ship under my command and the Province of Maryland. I desire that you will be pleased to let me know the reason of this delay of the boat, that I may take my measures accordingly; and desire that his Majesty’s boat, now sent on shore, will return with an immediate answer.

I am, sir, your humble servant,

GEORGE MONTAGU.

To the President of the Council of Safety.

In Council of Safety, Annapolis, June 25, 1776.

SIB: By command of the Convention I enclose you their resolution of yesterday, which expresses the occasion of discontinuing an intercourse with the Fowey, which was wished and expected to have ended more satisfactorily.* Any measures that may be attempted for the ostensible cause of stopping the Governour’s barge, must properly be imputed to your breach of the truce, and will be resented in full proportion to the injury.

For and on behalf of the Council of Safety.

I am, sir, your obedient, humble servant,

DAN. OF ST. THOMAS JENIFER, Pres’t.

To George Montagu, Esq.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO CAPTAIN BEALL.

SIR: We are directed by the Convention to inform you that Captain Montagu, of the Fowey ship of war, has broke the truce, that you may be prepared to repel any violence which he may offer on his passage down the bay, or attempts to procure provisions.

We are, &c.

To Captain Rezin Beall.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO COLONEL MATTHEWS.

SIR: Captain Speake, of the schooner John, has informed us that you have been so kind as to appoint a guard over the powder and other articles imported into Accomack County for the use of this Province; for which we return our thanks, and hope you will continue your good offices.

* Wednesday, June 26, about noon, the Fowey hoisted sail, and went down the bay.

*