of the Council of Safety, 1776. 565

into the house he observ'd them coming out and M^rs Milward
with them with the key in her hand, and that they with M^rs
Milward went to the house where the salt was stored and M^rs
Milward agreed to open the doore when the people (or at
least) most of them went into the house and got as he thinks
seventeen Bushells of salt, that the salt was measured by a
negro man belonging to the plantation as he understood, that
he paid to Colson fifteen shillings for a bushell of the salt and
believes the rest of the Company paid him at the same rate
for the salt they got, that they return'd home by the same
way they came out, and that none of the Guns were charged
but one, and that one was order'd by Colson to be drawn
whilst they were marching through the woods from M^rs
Nichols's and further sayeth not.
This confession was made before me the subscriber on the
30^th day of December 1776. W^m Hayward.

C.S.C.

Tuesday, December 31, 1776.

Council met. Present as on yesterday.
M^r Jenifer attended.
Copy of Letter N^o 76 was sent to M^r Jesse Hollingsworth,
and Copy of N^o 77 to M^r William Lux.
Samuel Wilson Esquire, a member of the Council attended,
and was qualified before M^r Hall by taking the Oath prescribed
by the Convention.
Ordered That the Western Shore Treasurer pay to Samuel
Minskie four Pounds eight Shillings.
Permit granted to Richard Somervell Master of the Sloop
Rebecca, to go to S^t Thomas's.
Commission granted to Richard Somervell Commander of
Schooner John mounting six Guns as a private Letter of
Marque.
Adjourned till next Day 10 O'Clock.

C. S. J.

[Council to J. Hollingsworth.]

M^r Jesse Hollingsworth
Sir. We received two Letters from you, one by M^r S.
Steward, the other by M^r Crockett. 'tis very well that you
purchased the Brigg, two thirds of her belongs to the State of
Maryland, as also two thirds of all the other money the Prizes
sold for, and so you may inform the Marshall, therefore we
have sent only 2000 Pounds currency for her loading and
Outfit. We do not expect Congress will want her as they
have wrote only for a small armed Schooner which we have
let them have.

C. S. C.
No. 76.