of the Council of Safety, 1776. 37

[P. Chaille to Council.]

Gentlemen. The Bearer M^r Samuel Smyly is one of the
Owners of the Schooner I inform^t you of when at Annapolis.
She is well fitted as a Merchant man and think she wil answer
your purpose what information M^r Smyly gives you of her
may be rely^d on as he is a Gentleman of integrity.
I am your most Humble Servant. Peter Chaille
July 12^th 1776.

[Murray to Dorchester Committee.]

July 12^th 1776.
In Committee of observation for Dorchester County.
Gentlemen.
Bazil Clarkson of this County was brought before us a few
days ago being charged with going on board the Enemies
Tenders, and carrying some men to join Lord Dunmores
Party, And upon examining into the affair, we thought it our
duty to send him over under the care of Cap^t Hindman to
take his trial before your board. John Rumbley was the
only Witness produced to us against him, whose deposition
we have taken & now send you enclosed. It is said Clarkson
bears a very ill character as to holding a communication with
& carrying men in his boat to the Tenders. And we have
just now been informed that one Job Slacom J^r of this County
will prove that he endeavoured to persuade him & some
others to go with him on board the Tenders and join Lord
Dunmore, but as the guard was just setting off with the
Prisoners, we could not delay them until we sent a summons
for Slacom. There were several other persons apprehended
in this County on suspicion of being unfriendly and having a
communication with the Enemy, but upon our enquiry into
their conduct, we could fix nothing criminal on them, & there-
fore discharged them, tho' some of them were under rather
suspicious circumstances And indeed we are sorry to inform
you that we have lately discovered such an unfriendly disposi-
tion in many of the Inhabitants about the Islands in this
County that we are convinced it will be productive of very ill
consequences unless some steps are immediately taken to
keep them in proper order. And we beg leave to submit it to
your consideration, whether it may not be absolutely neces-
sary for the public service, that part of one of the Independant
Companies be immediately stationed in that part of this
County. The inhabitants there are so much exposed to the
depredations of the Enemy, that we cannot help thinking
many of them have been induced from that circumstance
rather than from inclination to appear friendly towards them,

C. S. C.