of the Council of Safety, 1776. 251

part of his men already. I have no doubt bnt the Company
will be filled up in the course of this week, and ready to begin
their march, if your Bord can assist him with some of the arms
brought up by the Defence, which I hope will be done. He
has picked up some arms already and will want cash to pay
for them, the money lodg'd in the Committee's hands being
expended on Cap^t Fiddeman's Company. All the Companies
are I believe now on their march to Camp except Captⁿ Golds-
borough's and the above, Cap^t Goldsborough I expect will set
off in a few days and I hope he will soon be followed by the
Caroline Company. I set out to day on my way to camp.
I am with due respect Gentlemen
Your mo: obed^t Serv^t
W^m Richardson

[Nicholson to Council.]

Baltimore Sep' 1^st 1776.
Gentlemen. The Bearer M^r Morris waits on you with an
application to have M^rMiddleton's privateer stop'd and exam-
ined for 4 Deserters from the Frigate. Circumstances are
very strong that they are or will be on board her, for the par-
ticulars of which refer to him, this I hope you'll think necessary,
for should there not be an example made of those, if to be
found, 30 odd likewise from the Eastern Shore I expect will
leave her in the same manner.
I have sent three craft from this to wait your orders to get a
load of coal. The first two went before I expected or should
have wrote by them, and the last was out of the way. The
Resolution returned here yesterday, the officer says by your
direction. The Defence has required so much caulking that
I do not expect she can be down before the last of the week.
I am fitting and victualling her sufficient to go to sea should
you think proper to order her. I have found great difficulties
in getting her about two months salt provisions and as I did
not use your order in Philadelphia for that purpose (for the
reason refer to Mess^rs Chase & Paca) you'll please to send by
M^r Turnbull £514, one months pay, which shall apply to pay
the ship's necessary disbursements.
I am Gen^l Your most obliged Hble Serv^t
James Nicholson

Original.

[H. Hollingsworth to Council.]

Head of Elk 1^st Sept. 1776.
Gentlemen: Some time since I wrote you how necessary
it would be to have cashed lodged in the county in some per-
son's hands that I could call on occassionally as the service

Original.