of the Council of Safety, 1775-76. 377

9. Q. You know of no anonymous letter to the following
purport (reading a recital of it)
A. No.
10. Q. Nothing in your hand writing to that purport.
A. I wrote a private letter in my own name, & signed
therewith, to M^r Hancock as a private person, & which I
desired he might not shew to congress, It was principally rela-
tive to the letter I rec^d from Gen^l Lee. I mentioned likewise
to him that three Gentⁿ of our committee were to wait on the
council next day with y^r dispatches received from Virginia;
That I would gladly go as one; but that I had reason to
believe I did not stand in a favourable light with the council,
who I understood had taken great offence at a letter or order
I had written to Cap^t Nicholson at the time the Otter was in
our river. I likewise told him my opinion, that I did not
expect or had doubts whether the Council would take so spir-
ited a step as to seize the Governor, And the event proves I
was not mistaken. I believe I likewise mentioned to him y^r
design of sending y^r tender to Annap^s to prevent the Gov-
ernor's escape should he attempt it. A measure which
appeared to me strictly proper, both from y^r tenor of the Sec-
retary of State letters & General Lee's letter to me :
11. Q. You know of nothing sent from you, representing
yourself as an object against whom the Council of Safety had
levelled their power.
A. I had good reason to know I was disliked by the
Council, but never had any apprehensions of their power
against me.
12. Q. Have you ever represented yourself as thought by
the Council of Safety, a warm hotheaded man, & that your
power must be pulled down, or you would throw things into
confusion.
A. I was well informed I was considered in that light by y^r
Council & I have mentioned it in conversation to many of my
friends
13. Question repeated.
Makes no answer.
14. Q. The question was asked again, & M^r Purviance
desired to recollect.
A. It is very possible I may have made such representa-
tions in letters written to some of my friends, as well as in
private conversation.
15. Q. Were they inclosed in the Packet to Congress.
A. I never wrote the congress upon any such subject.
16. Q. How long has it been since you wrote such letters.
A. I cant say. I never wrote any thing with a view to
prejudice the Council of Safety :

C. S. J.