378 Journal and Correspondence

17. Q. Were they written within a week past.
A. I believe not.

18. Q. Do you remember that you impressed Gen^l Lee
with an idea that the Council of Safety were timid & inactive:

A. General Lee seemed as well acquainted with public
affairs in Mary^d as I was: And it can't be doubted that we
conversed on many public subjects. That I ever took pains to
impress him with an ill opinion of the council I deny.

19. Q. Do you know of a single instance of inactivity in
the Council of Safety with respect to Baltimore Town.

A. I do not know that I was called here to give my opinion
of the Council of Safety, to their Faces But I know that I have
heard many complaints, some of them perhaps I thought ill-
founded: If I think otherwise of any other part of them I have
a right to exercise my Judgment.

20. Q. Did we not give you the earliest intelligence on
the late alarm.

A. You did every thing in your power. I have passed
many encomiums on you for it, in private letters to my Friends.

21. Q. Did you not give instructions to Cap^t Samuel Smith.
A. Yes.

22. Q. Were they under an oath of Secrecy.

A. They were not.

23. Q. Why was not Cap^t Smith to consult the Council of
Safety when he came to Annapolis:

A. It was my intention he should.

24. Q. Were his instructions to be shewn to the Council.

A. I did not tell him to shew them, but presumed when he
got to Annapolis, he would be under their directions:

25. Q. Was Cap^t Smith to consult the commanding officer
and lay him under an oath of Secrecy:

A. I gave him no such orders, I expected he was to take
directions from the Council.

26. Q. Did you expect the Governor was going down the
Bay when you sent the tender:

A. My expectation was that the Governor would attempt
to escape upon being informed his letters were intercepted,
otherwise I should not have sent the tender, a letter I wrote to
the deputation of the Committee will explain my conduct on
that head:

27. Q. Have you a copy of that letter.
A. I have the letter itself.

28. Q. Your instructions were that the Governor should
be carried to Baltimore Town. Why not del^d to the Council
of Safety.

A. I will give you my ideas of the matter. I conceived,
that at the seat of Government he would have numerous