of the Council of Safety, 1777. 109

their power to counteract 81. will they submit? There is
but one Remedy that occurs to me, i. e., to pass an Act incor-
porating the Two houses into one for twelve months, and out
of this conjunction to create an Executive Council.
Perhaps the want of power without consulting the people
may be objected to this plan. I can to this answer, that if
former Coventions had a right to elect members to Congress
and to Council of Safety that were not entrusted by the
people, surely when they have their confidence by Delegation,
they may conjoin for a time, especially when the general Inter-
est is so immediately concerned.
It always appeared to me an impropriety as Agent, to have
any share in divesting the Proprietor of his Rights, but as I
have had frequent and possitive assurances, that compensa-
tion would be made to him for what necessity obliged the
people to take, I am the less delicate on that Subject, than I
otherwise should have been, having the fullest reliance on the
Justice and Equity of the General Assembly of the State of
Maryland. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen
Your Most Ob^t Hbl. Serv^t
Dan of S^t Tho^s Jenifer.

Lib. MA.

Monday, February 3, 1777.
Council met. Present as on Saturday, except M^r Nicholson.

M^r Jenifer, M^r Plater, and M^r Thomas attended.
The Council proceeded to appoint a member in the Room
of James Lloyd Chamberlaine Esquire who declined to act,
and Turbutt Wright Esquire was appointed.
Copy of Letter N^o 134 was sent to Brig^r General Henry
Hooper, Copy of N^o 135 to Col. William Richardson, Copy
of N^o 136 to Capt. James Campbell, Copy of N^o 137 to Col.
Mordecai Gist, and Copy of N^o 138 to the honorable John
Hancock Esquire, President of Congress.
Turbutt Wright Esquire attended and was qualified before
M^r Jenifer by taking the Oath prescribed by the Convention.
Ordered that M^r Joseph Middleton proceed immediately to
Talbot County, with his Pilot Boat, and bring away all Stores
lodged there, belonging to the Public.
That Isaac M^cHard be requested to cause all the Provisions
in Somerset, Worcester and Dorchester Counties belonging
to the Continent or to this State to be brought up to this
Place, or to Baltimore Town with all convenient speed.
Ordered that the Western Shore Treasurer pay to John
Bullen Esquire two hundred and twenty five Pounds nineteen
Shillings and five Pence: the further Sum of ten Pounds two
Shillings and Eight Pence: And the further Sum of One hun-
dred Pounds.

C. S. J.