of the Council of Safety, 1776. 399

and Cities and there will be Orations plenty and equal
Confusion then the next Convention is to alter the work of
the preceding—These very Aristocratical Gentlemen are
laying a Foundation for a plebiscitum in the State and this
may lay a Foundation for future Appeals to the people I have
just now seen Cap^t Valentine Creager Philip Smith 1 Lieut^t
George Need 2 Lieut^t and John Perkinson Ensign of a Com-
pany in the flying Camp from Frederick County they
delivered they say their Roll to Major Jenifer dated the 19^th
of Sept^r 1776, on the 21 of that Month and never received
Commissions altho they have applied to D^r Fisher Col^o Stull
before and M^r Stone since their arrival here who all have
promised to gett them, that they were pushed off by their
Countrymen without under a promise of sending them after
them here where they have staid 3 weeks and the men not
only refuse to march with them but inlist in other Companies
—I need not press you to get the Council of Safety to send
them inclosed to the Cap^t and it will be necessary I suppose
to date them back, they ought to come up by the Return of
the Posts.

When I set off from Annapolis I asked G. Duvall for the
Commissions transmitted to Convention by Congress, he
answered there were none sent they were to be got at Philad^a
When we came here our old Friend the Honble Jn^o Hancock
would have sent us back to get them but he was overruled in
this and we should have got others—I beg if we are continued
in Office that we may not have Favours of that Sort to ask—
And that you will take Care they shall be sent up by the next
post.

The 4 German Companies have been with us and complain
much of the 5 Companies of Pennsylvanians with whom they
are united they say their 4 Companies outnumber the Pennsylva-
nians 100 men & that most of the men of this State in that Bat-
talion are the vilest and lowest Wretches breathing they complain
that they are oblidged to recruit in Maryland & their men will
be turned over to serve under Pennsylvania Captains I inclose
you a Copy of their Inlistment. They agree to inlist in the
Maryland Troops and wish solely to be under a Maryland
Commander they make a good Remark that an Emulation
will naturally arise in the Troops of each State to excell the
others in Courage and serving their Country well and they
say if they behave well as they are this State will get the
Credit of it.

Our Friend Smallwood is to be or is a Brigadier what I
have wrote has been with Pain from bad Ink & Pen it needs
another Excuse as being done currente Calamo. however I