of the Council of Safety, 1775-76. 385

[Council to Hancock.]
To the Honb^le John Hancock Esq^r

Sir. We send you under Guard the Person and Papers of
Alexander Ross. We have examined him, and send also copy
of his Examination. Among his papers we find several that
relate to a Scheme of carrying on the Lumber Trade from
West Florida to the Islands in the West Indies, and two
Letters of Recommendation from Governor Eden and Lord
Dunmore to the Governor of that Department, those papers
we consider as most material of any we could find and have
put them up in a seperate Bundle. The Persons he is sup-
posed to be a Confederate with you have already in your
Custody, we mean Smith & Connolly, and we presume also
their Papers.

C. S. C.

No. 129.

[Council to Maryland Deputies.]
To the Deputies for Maryland in Congress.

Gentⁿ We send the Person of Alexander Ross together
with his Papers, and Copy of his Examination under a Guard
to the Honorable Congress — have wrote the President to that
Purpose. We find several Papers that relate to a Scheme of
Trade in West Florida and two letters of Recommendation,
one from Governor Eden and the other from Lord Dunmore
— these we think are material, his other Papers which we like-
wise send, we have searched, and find Nothing of Consequence.
Since our last Nothing new has occurred except the Examina-
tion of M^r Purveyance before our Board; he at first deny'd
the anonymous Letter, afterwards on Recollection acknowl-
edged it contained some of his Sentiments but could not
remember when he wrote them, he prevaricated most abom-
inably. We hope the Time of calling the Convention will meet
with your Approbation, we apprehended bad Consequences
from Delay. No Messenger as yet returned from Philadel-
phia; You may judge that we wish to hear some favorable
News from you, be it as it may we have the Satisfaction of
thinking that we have done our Duty by endeavouring to keep
Peace in the Province.
P. S. We send you a copy of Gen^l Lee's letter to Sam^l
Purviance.

No. 130.

[Council to Hanson.]

To John Hanson Esq^r Chairman of the Committee of Fred^k
City: Mid. Dist.

In Council of Safety Annapolis April 25^th 1776
Sir,
We received yesterday your Favour of the 15^th Instant and

No. 131.