of the Council of Safety, 1775-76. 383

you have Reason to think you can overtake them in standing
further down the Bay, in that case you'll proceed as far as
Prudence will direct you. You must be particularly careful in
your watch while off Annapolis, take care to consult Capt.
Smyth in all cases. Given from under my hand this 14^th April
1776 at Fells Point Baltimore.
James Nicholson.

To M^r John Nicholson Lieutⁿ of the ship Defence.
N. B. If you find M^r Ross, You'll likewise make him
Prisoner
A true copy from the original. Geo. Trumbull elk.
True Copy G. DuVall clk Co. of S.

[Stone to Jenifer.]

M^r Dear Sir. M^r Johnson wrote to you yesterday by Post
and I wrote to M^r Hall, nothing is done since in consequence
of your letter and resolution to the Presd^t We have been
very much engaged for some days in attending to the affairs
of Canada, having rec^d late Intelligence from that quarter.
I presume the Canada department its connections and
Dependencies will ingross our attention for a few days, and
then some ans^r will probably be given to your Letter, what it
will be I can't guess, with any degree of certainty but I am
inclined to think every thing will be left to the Convention :
we shall attend the meeting of that assembly. Gov^r Eden's
letter is published in one of the papers here and various are
the Comments on it. Independant of every thing else it is
very suspicious, but taking M^r Eden's conduct, the letters from
his Brother, who must know his sentiments, into consideration,
I think lessens greatly the charge which the .intercepted letter
would of itself import. If the Commissioners do not arrive
shortly and conduct themselves with great candor and upright-
ness to effect a reconciliation, a seperation will most undoubt-
edly take place and then all Governors & officers must quit
their posts and new men must be placed in the saddle of
power. I wish to conduct affairs so that a just & honorable
reconciliation should take place, or that we should be pretty
unanimous in a resolution to fight it out for Independance, the
proper way to effect this is not to move too quick, but then we
must take care to do every thing which is necessary for our
Security and Defence, not suffer ourselves to be lulled or
wheedled by any deceptious declarations or givings out. You
know my hearty wishes for Peace upon terms of Security and
Justice to America. But war, any thing is preferable to a

Original.