Before I conclude, let me once more repeat confidentially to you, that if Buckwith is the man in whose favour you meditate so gross a piece of injustice, you will make a very bad bargain, as be is certainly, unless fame belies him, neither possessed of courage, abilities, or integrity. In God's name, if a real genius, or acknowledged hero, favoured by Heaven with a more than common portion of ethereal spirit, should present himself, (a la Lippe, or Braganza,) receive him with open arms, as an immediate present from God, and invest him with the command of the whole. No man loves, respects, and reverences another, more than I do General Washington. I esteem his virtues, private and publick; I know him to be a man of sense, courage, and firmness; but if a hero should start up, endowed with the attributes which, according to my persuasion, reside in the two I have mentioned, and who would charge himself with the mighty task of your political salvation, General Washington ought, and, I am convinced, would resign the truncheon. But that a little, paltry, impudent adventurer should sneakingly stipulate for the second rank, when, if his motives were pure, he could be equally serviceable in the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth, it is not to be endured, it is a gross imposition on common understanding, and a grosser attempt to rob an individual. I must beg and conjure you, my dear friend, for such I am sure you are, to consider the delicate, perhaps you will say false, notions in which soldiers are bred; and that you will be careful of putting to so severe a trial the sensibility of one, who is, most sincerely, devotedly, and affectionately, yours,

CHARLES LEE.

To * * *.

P. S. I am extremely shocked with the pallid complexion of your publick councils. Is it possible that such a despicable group as the Maryland Convention should lay an embargo on the great vessel of the Commonwealth! Can you be so weak as to hunt for the chimera Absolute Unanimity! Why do you not advise the aggregate of the people to enfranchise themselves? Your idea of quitting Canada from want of specie is to me inconceivable, when you can or ought to command plate sufficient to purchase ten Canadas.

Williamsburgh, July 19, 1776.

From Hampton we learn, that advice was brought there, from the Eastern-Shore, of a tender, mounting two carriage and twelve swivel guns, being driven ashore in a squall of wind, five or six days ago, with eighteen pirates on board, (among them Mr. James Parker, late of Norfolk, merchant,) who immediately surrendered themselves to a party of our troops, and begged for quarters. A boat from another tender, her consort, attempted to cut her out from the creek where she was secured, but our people, perceiving their design, laid in ambush for them, and, when nigh enough, rushed into the water and fired upon them, killing five of the crew, it was supposed, as three were seen to fall overboard, and two to drop down in the boat; upon which the pirates tacked about, and rowed faster than they came to their tender.

Benjamin Woodward, against whom an information was lodged for attempting to counterfeit the paper currency of the American States, was brought to town last Wednesday, with four other persons, suspected to be accomplices, and lodged in the publick jail. They were taken in Pittsyvania County, with types and other implements to carry on their wicked and destructive schemes.

COLONEL A. SOMERVILLE TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

July 17, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: You will be informed by Mr. Hopewell that the enemy hath landed on St. George's Island; that Captain Beall is wounded; that they want men in St. Mary's. I shall proceed down to their assistance with about fifty of the best men that I can get, now stationed at Drum Point, and shall leave orders for as many more to follow, unless ordered otherwise by you, and shall leave a guard at Drum Point. I shall want cash to victual the men who go to St. Mary's. Please send us such sum by bearer as you may think sufficient, which shall be accounted for. You will also send orders. Major Wilkinson commands in Calvert until Colonel Marshall's return.

Gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

ALEX.SOMERVILLE.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

GEORGE SCOTT TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OP SAFETY.

Fredericktown, July 19, 1776.

HONOURED SIR: Some time past I purchased a parcel of country linen, about four hundred and twenty yards, in order to send into the lower Counties to get a quantity of wool for our factory, but on inquiry found it could not be had, there being a great scarcity of that necessary article. It is very well calculated for the troops, and I have been told that the Council of Safety wanted a quantity for that purpose. Should you incline to take it, please give me an answer by Mr. John Ross Key, the bearer of this, who will return in a few days.

I am, honoured sir, your obedient servant,

GEORGE SCOTT.

THOMAS BOUEK TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Cambridge, July 19, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I have to acquaint you that we have not met with the wished for success in raising the company you ordered us to raise in this County. The Militia having been discharged till after harvest, we have not had an opportunity of recruiting the men; add to this, that on my returning from Annapolis, the Cambridge Blues were ordered to march to the straits, where the enemy was said to have landed; unwilling to desert them at a time of danger, I commanded them on that occasion, so that it has not been in my power to exert myself as yet. Mr. Lynch has made up his complement; they are here, and are a likely set of men. We have about forty or fifty men engaged; in Somerset there were none willing to engage. I expect some next week from Worcester, I wait to know how many, which, when informed of, shall proceed to Annapolis, to receive your orders whether I shall continue to inlist or not. Our Militia companies will meet next week, when we shall have a better opportunity of completing our number. Could I have engaged to take the men into immediate pay, the company would have been nearly completed. Mr. Lynch carries our warrants.

I am, gentlemen, your obedient humble servant,

THOMAS BOURK.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland, Annapolis.

GENERAL HOOPER TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY

Dorchester County, July 19, 1776.

SIR: On receipt of yours of the 15th instant, I immediately ordered a draught of fifteen privates and proper officers to be made from each company of Militia of this brigade, and those draughted in Dorchester and Caroline Counties to be stationed in Dorchester, and the draughted Militia of Somerset and Worcester Counties to be stationed in Somerset County. The men so draughted are ordered to be at the several places of rendezvous on Wednesday, the 24th instant.

If your Board should not approve of this disposition of the Militia, you will please to let me know it, and I shall make such alterations therein as you may direct. Although I have ordered out the Militia, to be in readiness to repel any attempt of the enemy to land in this district, agreeably to your directions, yet I think it will be difficult to keep them together without some money. The country people here who have provisions to sell show a great unwillingness to part with it, unless paid for at the same time. I would therefore wish that your Board would take some order about subsisting the Militia of this district, when called out in defence of the Province, by directing that the Treasurer of the Eastern Shore should pay to the Committee of Observation for Dorchester County such a sum of money as you may think necessary, to be applied for the purpose of victualling and subsisting the Militia of the lower district when in actual service, as the commanding officer of said brigade shall direct. I have applied to General Chamberlain for four hundred pounds of gunpowder and sixteen pounds of lead. If you should have received any further intelligence of Dunmore and his fleet, I should be glad to know it.

I am, respectfully, sir, your very humble servant,

HENRY HOOPER.

To the Hon. Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, President of the Council of Safety.