of the Council of Safety, 1776. 75

[Nathaniel Smith to Barrister Carroll.]

Charles Carroll E'q^r
Sir
I rec^d your order in Council Safety of the 16^th Ins^t, & Agree-
able theretoo, have sent in the Schooner Resolution, two 18
pounders with all the Aperatus belonging to them, have like-
wise sent 300 18^th Shott, 300 ditto wads 500 nine pound wads
183 5^lb Shott which is all I have but expect more in hourely
as soone as they come and have an opertunity will send
them down to you.
I have not 200 wads of all the other Sizes.
When Coll^o Ware left this he desired I woud take care of
the Magezine & Laberatory. Major Jones Apply'd to me, to
know what the Militia is to do for Catriges in case of an
Attack, as the Regulers took away the gratest part of the
Catriges when they left this,
my Companey are now all employd in the Works here,
shou'd be glad to know wheather the Council Safety wou'd
allow Major Jones or myself to employ Carefull hands (on
Acc^t of the Province) to make a number of Catriges for the
Small armes I am Sir
Your m^o Hhble Servt.
Fort at Whetstone Nath^l Smith
July 18^th 1776.

Original.

[Alexandria Committee to Jenifer.]

Alexandria July 18^th 1776.
Sir. At a meeting of the Committee for this County and
District, a Resolution was entered into to write to your
Council of Safety, and appointed me for that purpose.
I am informed that your commanding officer or officers in
each County have it not in their power to raise the militia (on
any occasion) under his or their command, without application
to your Council of Safety and instructions from them for that
purpose.
Permit me to say I apprehend many dangers may be
avoided, many good consequences (in case of a sudden attack
from the enemies of America) are obvious, had the command-
ing officers in each County on Potowmack River full power to
raise the Militia and order them to march where there was a
real occasion either in your own province or to the assistance
of a sister Colony. We have been frequently allarmed with
Dunmore and his Banditti with the vessels of war paying us a
visit, and when he lately made his appearance in our River, it
was presumed, his intention was to make this place an object

Original.