248 Proceedings and Correspondence

December 20
Liber No. 78 .
p. 18

M^r Hollingsworth for their Vessels, and we are to request if one
or both of the Vessels you are loading with Flour on Account of the
State in a Situation that you will order them to turn
out in Search of the Enemy. We imagine if they have left Patuxent
they are gone over to some of the Islands about or a little below the
Mouth of Choptank which seems to be a favorite Situation of theirs.
Any loss that may happen by the Vessels going down on the Public
Service, we engage on behalf of the State shall be indemnified
as well as the Expences of the Vessels whilst in the Service including
also therein the Addition of Men, Provisions and Stores. We have
Reason to expect the Vessels in Potomack will cooperate with you,
to remove the Difficulty you may make on Account of the Danger
of being shut up in the Harbour of Baltimore by the Ice; we will
engage the State shall pay the Expence of bringing the Flour thence
to this Place, where it may be put on Board the Vessel or Vessels
which may be employed on this Service. We have also Expectations

p. 19

of being assisted by a Vessel belonging to Mess^rs Steward Wallace
and Davidson now lying in the Harbour of Baltimore. The State
will not expect any Part of the Captures. The enclosed are Signals
which will be furnished to the Vessels in Potomack, you will be
pleased to give correspondent Orders.

Ibid.

[Council to Colonel Hooe and Capt. Conway.]

We have had Information by several Vessels in the Course of two
Days past that two of the Enemies small Privateers have captured
several of the Bay Craft as high as the Mouth of Patuxent where
they by the last Account yet remain with their Prizes, one of the
Privateers from all Accounts is the Cat a Schooner of four Guns
the other is said to be of eight. We hear that two Briggs of yours
of superior Force are ready for Sea in Saint Marys River and by
M^r Jesse Hollingsworth we learn that a Vessel of Force in which
he is interested is probably now ready at Alexandria to come round
to Baltimore. The General Assembly have desired that we should
as private as may put in Movement any Force we think can or may
think necessary for the Destruction or Capture of there Enemy
Privateers, and have enabled us to enter all proper Engagements
for that End. We therefore request if your Brigs are in the Situation
represented to us that you will order them to turn out in Search of
the Enemy, we imagine if they have left Patuxent they have gone over
to some of the Islands about or a little below the Mouth of Choptank,
which seems to be a favourite Situation of theirs. Any loss that may
happen by the Vessels going down on this Public Service, we engage
on behalf of the State shall be indemnified, as well as the Expences
of the Vessels whilst on the Public Service including also therein
the Addition of Men Provision and Stores. M^r Hollingsworth will
is Part owner of Yellot and as far as he thinks himself justifiable