of the Council of Safety, 1777. 143

plained rather than any thing else. But the case be as it will
most Honourable Gentlemen, I should not have acted as I did
had not passion overcome me, and for what I have done most
Honourable Gentlemen I am heartily sorry, and most earnestly
beg your pardons, and shall for the future endeavor to con-
duct myself with good and hope you will grant me a
releasement from my present unhappy place of confinement as
I have a family at home and no one to conduct or manage
affairs in its proper sphere, things must go to rack and ruin.
Therefore most Honourable Gentlemen hope that you will
take the low and furlorn and distressed condition of your poor
petitioner into your most serious consideration and grant me
some relief If it does not lye in your power most honourable
Gentlemen to bring or settle matters at this juncture of Time,
hope that you will grant me liberty of absence to go home to
my family, until your Honours can give me a hearing, for
which I will give Sufficient security, and your poor Petitioner
as in duty bound will ever pray. Vincent Trapnall.
So God bless the Congress and direct our General.

[George Cook to Jenifer.]

Dear Sir. Baltimore February 18^th 1777.
I have endevored for some time past, for to gett my dark
Francis Muire to a fair settlement of the publick money
received by me for the use of the ship Defence, he has refused
delivering up all the books relative to the business he trans-
acted and will not come to a settlement. I this day advised
with M^r Chase who told me to lay it before the Honble Senate
and House of Assembly. I have by the bearer Mr. Robertson
sent a memoriall down to lay before you. I hope for your
kindness in assisting to have this Muire brought to a fair
settlement, and to send such orders as may be in my power to
oblige him to justice, for all this time theres no knowing how
to act, I have lay'd him under an arest, and shall give orders
to have him under confinement till I have the pleasure of hear-
ing from Annapolis, from your great kindnesses I have pre-
sumed to trouble you. Honored Sir, I am

Your must humble Servant

George Cook.
The Honble Dan^l of St. Thos. Jenifer Esq.
Annapolis

[Memorial of George Cook.]

To the Hon^ble the House of Assembly of the State of Mary-
land.
The memorial of George Cook of the Ship Defence ;
Sheweth That your memorialist did employ Francis Muire as

C. S. C.