462 Journal and Correspondence

C.S.C.

No. 16.

[Council to Dorchester Committee.]

Gentlemen.
We received yours of the 15^th, and would gladly send you a
company or two of Regulars, to assist in suppressing the Riots
in your Country and Caroline, if we had them to spare, there
are no troops here now, but two companies of matrosses which
are necessary to mount guard and do duty in Annapolis.
Should the Fleet that have sailed from Sandy Hook come into
this Bay, we shall be obliged to call in the militia to assist us.
We think it best to wait a little before any thing further is
done about the Salt. When Brigadier General Chamberlaine
returns, we will give instructions to him to assist in bringing
the mutineers to justice. They have some field pieces in
Talbot, which may be of use, but Everything of this kind
ought to be kept to yourselves. We are greatly concerned to
hear of the mutinous spirit of some of your people, and wish
it was in our power to gratify those who are peaceably dis-
posed, by sending a quantity of Salt — there is none here to
be had that we know of — the people in general on the West-
ern Shore want salt, and can get no supplies; we had orders
from the Convention to purchase a considerable quantity of
Beef and Pork for the Troops, and cannot proceed for the
want of Salt. The vessels that went up the Bay, except
Captain Martin were private Adventurers from S^t Eustatia,
and sold their Salt at Baltimore to individuals at a very
extravagant price. Should we receive any soon, you may
depend we shall not forget your application, and should think
ourselves happy in quieting the minds of the people by fur-
nishing them with that necessary article. Perhaps some may
be imported but this is very uncertain. We must all expect
to suffer in the great Struggle for Liberty. We send Col^o
Murray an order on the Treasurer of the Eastern Shore for
£40 to be applied towards defraying the expence of taking
the number of Inhabitants in your county. Since printing our
hand bills which no doubt you have e'er this received, Con-
gress have sent down another express to inform us that Lord
Dunmore has the Command of the Fleet, the destination of
which is either to South Carolina, or this Bay, as they hear
from General Greene. Sould you hear of them at the
mouth of this Bay or Delaware, be pleased to communicate
the intelligence by express.
Oct 18^th 1776
The Committee of Observation for Dorch^r County.