156 Journal and Correspondence

over the Bar, he Yell understood from an old man on board
the Tender that Wheland had rec^d an express from the Fleet
ordering him to come up to Potowmac to assist the Fleet in
getting water as quick as possible as orders were come to the
Fleet to go out, as soon as they cou'd, part to Martinico to
fight the French (as they expected a war there) & part to N
York or Hallifax. Wheland soon after ordered fire set to
White's vessel and one other which he had not got over the
Bar, & put this Deponent on shore gave him part of his
cloaths and told him he might take his Boat again, this
Deponant sayeth that Marmaduke Mister was one of the
Persons that kept guard over him one night while he was on
board the Tender, the af^sd Mister ask'd this Deponent who he
was for, whether King or Country, this Deponent answered he
was friend to every person that behav'd well, the af^sd M^r then
commanded in the King's name to tell him the truth, this
Deponent then told him he was born in this country and had
a right to defend his Liberty, Mister then said what those
damn'd Rebels call Liberty I call Slavery and so the people
will find it, this Deponent further sayeth that Marmaduke
Mister set fire to one of the vessels that was burn'd and was
to have the Iron for doing it. This Deponent sayeth that John
Evans Robert Howith, and one Price were likewise on board
the same Tender under the command of the af^sd Joseph
Wheland (he supposes) as he often heard them call him Captⁿ,
this Deponent saith he heard John Evans say he was deter-
mined to have several of the principal people on the Islands
either dead or alive, or get some of their negroes.

This Deponent saith he has seen Joseph Wheland, John
Evans, Robert Howith and Price the four persons above
mentioned since they have been under Guard at the Streights
and that they are the same persons he saw on board of the
Tender above mentioned. This Deponent further saith on
his asking Joseph Wheland for his cloths Wheland threatened
to put him in Irons in the vessels hole, the Deponent like-
wise saith that John Evans told him not to be uneasy about
his cloaths and money for Wheland would give them to him
after he was ready to go from the Island, for the paper money
wou'd be of no more use to him than Blank paper. Sworn
before Hugh Eccleston.

	C. S. J.	Thursday 1st Augt 1776.
		Council met. Present the same members as on yesterday. Ordered That the Treasurer of the Western Shore pay to Joseph Nicholson junior Esquire sixteen Pounds sixteen Shil- lings for 24 Days attendance as a member of the Council.