leave this Province and return to Great Britain, his native country, on account of his infirm state of health, for which purpose he had obtained a warrant from the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Board of Treasury in London; yet the peculiar circumstances of the times, joined to his own inability to prosecute the intended voyage, had unfortunately prevented him from embracing the opportunity within the time limited by the aforesaid warrant, by which means he is utterly disabled, by peculiar circumstances, from making a second application to their Lordships for a renewal of it, and hoping, under such a predicament, to be able, to justify his conduct in his proposed departure, finds himself under the necessity of making immediate application to this Committee for the grant of such a passport as may enable him to leave the Province with safety to himself and that security to his property which he hath ever hitherto enjoyed, so soon as he can, with convenience to the present situation of his affairs, procure a passage for that purpose: Thereupon,

Resolved, unanimously, That the said Daniel Wolstenholme, Esq., have leave to depart this Province (with his effects unmolested) to Great Britain, at any time hereafter as shall by him be judged most convenient for his health and private concerns; and that the Chairman make out a passport, to be delivered to the said Daniel Wolstenholme, Esq., agreeable to this resolve.

Test:

TIMOTHY BOWERS, Clerk.

MAJOR WILLIAMS TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Fredericktown, July 23, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Colonel Stull informs me that at your last Convention, at Annapolis, you did me the very great honour of appointing me Colonel of the Frederick County Battalion, to serve the United States of America in the Flying-Camp, until the first day of December next.

Ever since the commencement of the unnatural war waged by a wicked Ministry against this country, I have considered it as my indispensable duty to exert my feeble abilities in its defence; and entering early into the service, have had the good fortune to be so far recommended to the honourable the Continental Congress as to obtain a commission as Major of a battalion of Riflemen, to serve the United States three years; and being diffident of my abilities to discharge the duties of a more exalted station at present, beg leave to decline the very honourable appointment by which you, gentlemen, have conferred an obligation on me ever to be most gratefully remembered and acknowledged.

I beg leave in a particular manner to profess my gratitude to those worthy gentlemen by whose recommendations I obtained so respectable an appointment. Their favourable opinion I trust will always be maintained by a propriety of conduct in, gentlemen, your most obliged and obedient humble servant,

O. WILLIAMS.

To the Honourable the Provincial Congress of Maryland.

T. HANSON TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Green-Hill, July 23, 1776.

SIR: Enclosed I send you a list of my proportion of men raised as part of the Flying-Camp. This return I should have made sooner had I conceived it a necessary step. Officers that have made their returns taught me to believe that by this opportunity the end would be equally as well answered as if I had come up a few days sooner. I was unwilling, too, to leave the Province whilst I thought I might be of service in repelling Dunmore's men from landing. I hope, therefore, I shall not be suspected of negligence or inattention, as my design was for the best.

I should thank you for any information respecting arms for our men; if any money is allowed the officers to purchase arms; and when the men are to march.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

T. HANSON.

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

JAMES MURRAY TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

In Committee of Observation, Dorchester County,

July 23, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: We received yours of the 16th instant, requesting our assistance in furnishing firelocks and blankets for the use of the Flying-Camp; which you may be assured we shall endeavour to comply with, as far as our situation will admit of; but we think we should be wanting in our regard for the publick cause and the safety and welfare of our country, if we omitted to repeat to your Honours, what we have on several occasions informed you of, our weak and defenceless state. We are satisfied at this time there are not more than a fourth part of the Militiamen in our County who have arms that can be depended on, and these only fowling-pieces and squirrel-guns, not fixed with bayonets. There are others, which are defective, some of which may be repaired, which we are endeavouring tohave done; but a great part of these can never be made fit for service. As to publick arms, we have none that we know of in our County, and but twenty-two taken from Non-Enrollers and Non-Associates.

As to blankets, there are none that we know of in any of the stores here; nor is there any way we can think of by which there appears any probability of getting any, unless it be by applying to different families, some of whom may, on this occasion, perhaps, furnish a few, though this is uncertain, as there seems a scarcity of blankets among the people; however, on our receiving cash, you may be assured we shall endeavour by every means in our power to procure them.

We know of no person this way that can be engaged to make knapsacks with haversacks, priming-wires and brushes, camp-kettles, canteens or wooden bottles; if we should hereafter be informed of any such, we shall advise you of it.

We are, gentlemen, your obedient and very humble Servants. Per order of the Committee of Observation:

JAMES MURRAY, Chairman.

To the Council of Safety of Maryland.

P. S. We learn from Mr. Goldsborough that we are to receive a supply of powder and ball or lead. We should be glad to be furnished with it as quick as possible, being in great want of it.

GENERAL DENT TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Charles County, July 23, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The enclosed is the commission under which I have had the honour to act, and more especially by your late order, until the 21st instant, when an order was presented to me from your Honours, appointing Major Thomas Price to the command.

Be pleased to take notice that I will not in future accept of any commission from any body of men, under whom the same controlling power exists that has deprived me of my late command. If you have had any insinuations touching my conduct during the short time I have been in actual service, justice requires that I should be heard, when, I flatter myself, I shall be able not only to justify my conduct, but in some measure be entitled to the thanks of every sensible and judicious man; which, together with the success of the American arms, have been and still shall be, the study and sincere wish of, your obedient servant,

JNO. DENT.

GENERAL JOHNSON TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Fredericktown, July 23, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Mr. Peter Harrison, who was appointed a Lieutenant in Captain Hardman's company of Militia, having been named by the Committee as Lieutenant of the company of Riflemen now raising in this County, Captain Hardman has had the aid of one Mr. Morris, in Harrison's stead. Morris is a fine, lively young fellow, has been very serviceable in raising the men, and, I think, from what I hear of him, will make a good officer. I shall be glad that his application to fill Harrison's place in Hardman's company may prevail.

I am, gentlemen, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

THO. JOHNSON.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

BALTIMORE COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committee, July 23, 1776:

Present: Samuel Purviance, Jun., (Chairman,) J. Boyd, C. Ridgely of William, J. Calhoun, J. Cockey, J. Griest, J. Standeford, B. Griffith, T. Rutter, J. Moale, W. Buchanan, J. Gittings, E. Talbot, D. Lux, W. Tolly, Jun., A. Britain, T. Sollers, T. Gist.

On application from John Hatton to be relieved part of his Tax on account of his poverty, and it appearing to the Committee that his excuse is just, he is excused.