412 Journal and Correspondence

C. S. C.

in the character of a common zealous member of the com-
munity, not of an officer. What appeared irregular or offen-
sive in the mode, I hope I have explained to your satisfaction
and I entreat that it may be entirely attributed to a mistake
for which I am heartily concerned, as it has prejudiced me in
the opinions of men whose esteem I am most ambitious of
obtaining.
I am D^r Sir, Your most obed^{t
humble Servt
Charles Lee :}

To Dan^l of S^t Tho^s Jenifer Esq^r Pres^t of the Council of Safety
of M^d

Original.

[Woolsey to Council.]

Baltimore May 6^th 1776.
Gentlemen. I received your favour of the 3^d Inst, by Cap^t
Fulford and observe the contents, and never was so much
surprised as on the Receipt, on your Informing me that you
never heard from me since the 9^th Feb^y which was the time I
Contracted with you for the Brig Rogers, and also that it does
not appear to you that I have done any thing, In the purchase
of her cargo, it certainly must appear to you, that when the
Committee took the Vessells here, to sink for the Safety of
this Town, that mine was detained as well as all others, & I
do suppose that Charles Carrol Esq^r must Know that was the
Case, however soon after the Otter was here M^r W^m Lux was
going to Annapolis, & I requested him to let you know, that

my Brig was detain'd, and the Cargo ready to put on board
her, and requested your further Instructions, on his Return he
told me you had not any further orders to give me but if you
had any further you would send them to me hereafter on which
account I thought it was unnecessary to give you any more
Trouble but Resolved, to load the Vessell as soon as Posses-
sion was given to me, unless orders had come from you to the
contrary.
Last Monday they gave me Possession, & I now have Nine
Hundred Barrells on board her, and I shall have her ready for
the sea this Week, and I hope in the end shall give you every
necessary Satisfaction, tho you seem to think by what you say
in your letter, that I have not laid out the publick money
properly, if I had been one of those kind of men, M^r Thomas
Jones of this Town, would not have given me a letter to any
friend he had, & that time I contracted with you he gave me
a few lines to Dan^l of S^t Thom^s Jenifer Esq^r your President.
However I must confess I was to blame to trust any man, &
see now I should have wrote you in Preference of sending by
M^r Lux, but if he has Deceived me I cannot help it now, but