364 Journal and Correspondence

proper to send his Tender with an Officer & some men to
Annapolis, observing to him, that if the Governor had made
his Escape from Annapolis, she would be the properest Ves-
sell to pursue after him, as she could both row & sail. Cap^t
Nicholson agreeing with me in the Propriety of the measure
he consented at my Request to get his Boat ready for the
Purpose, and to send one of his Officers in her. As I could
not attend the Committee that day, I spoke to most of the
Gentlemen, who had been at my House the Evening before,
and to Gen^l Buchanan, and told them, I had spoke to Cap^t
Nicholson for his Tender, which measure they all approved of.
I accordingly applied to Major Gist, to whom the Dispatches
from Virg^a had been shewn, and obtained his Consent to let
Cap^t Sam^l Smith with a few Men of his Company go in the
Tender to Annapolis.

Cap^t Sam^l Smith accordingly met me in the street just at
Dinner Time, told me he was ready to go, and waited for
Orders. I had not thought before on the Propriety of Orders.
The Committee was then broke up for Dinner, and conse-
quently I had no opportunity of consulting them immediately ;
and for the Sake of Secrecy which so important a Business
required, I thought it improper to communicate the matter to
any others, than the Gentlemen who had seen the Papers
already, of whom three were gone off to Ann^g to wait on the
Council, M^r W^m Buchanan had rode out of Town, & M^r W^m
Lux & M^r Harrison, with whom I had engaged to dine that
day, were gone out of Town. In these Circumstances I sat
down & without the Concurrence or Advice of any Person
wrote very hastily those Orders, which I delivered to Major
Gist, & which I signed as Chairman of the Committee.

I do candidly acknowledge to you, I had my own Doubts
whether I was to consider Gen^l Lee's Letter directed to
me as Chair" of the Com. as a private Letter to myself, or
as a Letter to the Committee: Yet the Contents of it together
with the Dispatches reced from the Council of Virg^a I con-
sidered as a sufficient Call upon me & every Person well
affected to the Interests of America to use the best Endeav-
ours to sieze Persons, of whom there were such strong
Reasons to believe their being inimical.

I hope, Gentlemen, the Circumstances I have mentioned,
which are all strictly true, and the extreme Importance of the
Occasion will at least palliate my offence in taking (what may
be deemed by some) a very rash Step; but which I hope the
Necessity of the Case will justify me in to you & the Publick.
I am Gentlemen y^r most Obed^t Serv^t
Sam Purviance Jun^r
To the Committee of Observation for
Baltimore County