of the Council of Safety, 1776. 355

[Steward to Council.]

October 16^th 1776.
Gentellman. As Captain Patterson boat is so near redey to
sail, I thought it would be as well for him to com up in hir
redey to receve your orders which will be tomorrow as the
large schooner could be got redey in a few days with six carig
guns. If you would consent to swap two field Pises which
you have in Anaplis for two hevee Pises that I tuck out of
the Resolution. The large schooner is persed for ten three
and two pounders but as wee are obliged to put in fore
pounders six will be near equal in wait of mettal (the schooner
is a fine vesell) there is some vessels on the sea shore to sell.
If you want to buy one of them, and load them whare thay
are the danger would be considrebell less to git them out than
giting them out of the Bay. My son will inform you what
sitiwation the vessell ar hear in, I hope you will not think
me foward in atemting to dictate for you as I raley do not
intend it but am redey to oblige you in evrey employmen you
can set me about and am your most obed^t Humble Serv^t
Stephen Steward

Original.

[Peters and Richardson to Johnson.]

Geo: Town Oct^r 16^th 1776
Sir
We presume to adress you as a member of our Conven-
tion on a matter which we think of the utmost importance to
the Public in these times when dispatch at Ferrys is so very
necessary, Coln^l George Mason is propriator of the Land on
the South side of Potowmack and Rents his Ferry over to
George Town which in Virg^a is established by Act of Assembly.
We have also a Ferry on the Maryland side and our misfor-
tune is that no Ferrys in Maryland are established by Law,
this we apprehend occasions the evils we are about to com-
plain of and which we hope our Convention with your assist-
ance will remedy as far as you think it consistant with the
Public good, our Ferry man has always been threatened by
Coln^l Masons Tennant with a suit in Virginia for presuming
to Land in or bring from Virginia any Person, so that we are

to Reap no kind of advantage from our situation on Potow-

mac River it being wholy claimed by the State of Virg^a Yes-
terday our Ferryman was arrested we suppose at the suit of
Coln^l Mason or his Tennant for this offence, tyed by the sherriff
because he attempted to make his Escape and dragged to
Fairfax Goal in Alexandria, to accomplish which the Sherriff
came over to this side got the Maryland Boat to put him over

Original.