Sloop John Grimes, occupied by said Grimes and some dragoons.

Most of the other vessels are small craft, and occupied by tradespeople and negroes—vessels that are not fit to go to sea. The Lively frigate cruising off the Capes.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety, Annapolis.

EDWARD TILLARD TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

July 10, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I have nearly raised my thirty men, as directed by my warrant, and I believe the Lieutenants and Ensigns are in a fair way of raising theirs; but they have but few or no firelocks fit for service among them. If you have none ready, I am told Mr. Stephen West hath some very good ones, which I do not doubt may be procured for the service. I would willingly have firelocks put into the hands of these men that could be depended on, and if you think proper to give me an order I will go and secure them, and fit out my company as soon as completed. I am told his price is six pounds currency apiece.

I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant

EDWARD TILLARD.

To the Honourable Council of Safety.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO JESSE HOLLINGSWORTH.

SIR: We have four hundred and fifty yards of country linen cloth fit for making tents, and want a man from Baltimore immediately to make it up. We shall be much obliged to you if you will send us such a person down without delay, as the service will be greatly forwarded by it. If a person can be got to make it up in Baltimore it shall be sent to you on notice immediately. We are, &c.

To Mr. Jesse Hollingsworth.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO SMYTH, HANDS, AND NICHOLSON.

GENTLEMEN: Do you know of any one who will engage in the tent-making business for the Province? Pray inform us immediately, and as soon as the wagons arrive from below, advise us of it. We are, &c

To Messrs. Smyth, Hands, and Nicholson.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO GENERAL BUCHANAN.

SIR: There is an indispensable necessity that the Militia for the Flying-Camp should be provided as soon as they are raised with cartouch-boxes; but as this cannot be accomplished in proper time, without a return of those which were delivered the Militia in your district when the Otter sloop-of-war was up the bay, there not being a sufficient quantity without them, we desire you will immediately collect and return them to the magazine in this city, or Baltimore town. The service requires the utmost expedition in this matter, and will not admit of a moment's delay. We are, &c.

To Brigadier-General Buchanan.

[Copies of the above letter sent to Colonels A. Hall, Bond, Dorsey, and Rumsey.]

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO EDWARD PARKER.

SIR: The service requires an immediate supply of linen cloth fit for making tents. The encouragement you have met with, and still may expect to meet, together with the punctuality hitherto shown by you, induces us to think you will exert your utmost endeavours to bring in as great a quantity of that sort, and in as small a space of time, as lies in your power. We are, &c.

To Mr. Edward Parker.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO AMOS GARRETT.

SIR: We request you will exert yourselves in supplying us with bayonets; they are much wanted for our Militia of the Flying-Camp. We are, &c.

To Mr. Amos Garrett.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO STEPHEN STEWART.

SIR: We are in great want of tents. Can your sailmaker engage in that business for us? We are, &c.

To Mr. Stephen Stewart.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO JOHN ARCHER AND JAMES HARRIS.

GENTLEMEN: You are by obligation bound to pay three hundred pounds borrowed of the Province, in linen; one-third thereof by the 1st of June, one-third by the 1st of September, and the residue by the 1st of December, in such sizes as should be wanted by this Colony. The publick service requires linen of about a six hundred, or coarser, fit for tenting, or tow linen wove thick, as our troops must very shortly take the field.

We have that confidence in your publick spirit, and ardour to serve your country, that you will, as soon as possible, furnish us with what quantity you can, as some of our countrymen may be too fatally exposed to the inclemency of the weather without it. We are, &c.

To Messrs. John Archer and James Harris.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO RICHARD DALLAM.

SIR: The regular forces were ordered by Convention to march from Annapolis and Baltimore, and an equal number of the Militia to be raised for the Flying-Camp, were directed, when raised, to supply their places.

You must be sensible that all the arms we can procure in the publick way will be immediately wanted; therefore send what you have already made, and all you can make, down to Gerrard Hopkins, the Commissary of Stores at Baltimore.

It will be necessary that the barrels should be proved; the common proof is the weight of the ball in powder, and one ball; this may be done before Mr. John Rumsey and Doctor Thomas Andrews, or either of them, and a certificate taken thereof, as also of their delivery to the Commissary, unless you incline to have them proved before Captain Smith, in BaltimoreWe are, &c.

To Mr. Richard Dallam.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO WILLIAM WHETCROFT.

SIR: The Council of Safety have been informed that you have a servant who understands the business of tent-making; if so, and you are desirous of having him employed in that business, we will immediately set him to work, and find employment for him for some time. We are, &c.

To Mr. William Whetcroft.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO COLONEL DORSEY.

SIR: The regular forces in the pay of this Province leave this city this evening; the sooner, therefore, the company you are to send get here, the better. It will be proper, under the resolves of the Convention, that three companies of our neighbouring Militia should be stationed in Annapolis, until the places of the regular troops ordered from hence can be supplied by the Militia to be raised for the Flying-Camp. When Colonel John Dorsey was with us, we conceived, that your company of Militia might be discharged when the company of Militia raised on Elk-Ridge for the Flying-Camp marched here; but upon further considering the resolve, apprehend there may be three companies of the neighbouring Militia in this city, until the places of the regular troops can be supplied by the Flying-Camp Militia. You may rely on it, however, that the company of your battalion which comes down shall be relieved as soon as possible.

You must be mistaken in what you wrote about the vote of Congress; those only of the Militia that compose the Flying-Camp are to march to Philadelphia, or anywhere out of the Province. We are, &c.

To Colonel Thomas Dorsey.