of the Council of Safety, 1775-76. 167

[Purviance to Council.]

Baltimore Feb: 17^th 1776.
Gentlemen. In pursuance of your orders to mount the
Cannon fit for use at this place, We have engaged a number
of Workmen in making wheels & Carriages for the purpose,
it being the general opinion of all who have a knowledge of
such matters that it is best to mount them as Field Peices,
which purpose the guns now here will be very suitable for as
they are all light, say, 2, 3 and 4 pounders to the amo^t of 20
Pieces besides 6 of 9 Pd^s & 2 of 12 Pd^s belonging to Cap^t
Stone We had the whole of the guns examined by M^r Geo.
Mathews who has pronounced them good. The Comm^ee have
directed me to apply to you for orders to provide a parcel of
Shot suitable to the guns. M^r Dan^l Hughes is very anxious to
have some person appointed to go to Antitem to prove the
guns which his brother has cast. I apprehend Cap^t Fulford
is the best qualified to do it of any person here, it may be of
consequence how soon it is done, as those if they stand Proof,
might be speedily got down here, We have ab 50 hands at
work on a battery since tuesday at Whetstone, and near 200
more employed in providing timber, Logs, Smiths work &c
for the Boom. I hope we shall have part of our Battery ready
to mount some guns before the end of next week, M^r Alex-
ander writes me that M^r Morris had promised our delegates
part of some Powder w^h was arrived at Philad^a & which they
w^d immediately forward to this Town.
I am with much respect Gentlemen
Your most h^ble Serv^t Sam^l Purviance Jun^r

Original.

[Veazey and Thompson to Council.]

Cecil County 17^th Feby. 1776
Gentⁿ
We are told you purpose raising at the Request of the Con-
gress a Second Battalion in this Province, Should that be the
case, we beg leave to recommend M^r John Ward, son of John
Ward Sen^r to your notice as an officer in the Battalion, we
think him well Quallified for that Purpose, he is a young man
of very respectable Parents of an Exceeding good Character is
well attached to the Cause, and has behaved himself well as an
officer in the Militia. We are
Gentlemen, your very obedient Ser^ts
John Veazey Jun^r
Jno. D. Thompson

Original.