of the Council of Safety, 1777. 17

on their expedition, accordingly they met and went down to
Plain Dealing to the amount of 17 men with muskets, (though
no ammunition) where they,found a number of negroes which
they expected belonging to the plantation, and the Trustee
from home, however his wife was, to whom they apply'd for
salt, tho she as well as the negroes had their lesson, say'd
there was none there, Colston told her he was credibly
informed there was a considerable quantity there, which had
laid some time untouched, therefore insisted to have the door
of the house in which the salt lay opened, or they would break
it open, at the same time telling her their necessity and like-
wise of the money for the quantity they wanted, as they did
not mean to rob them of it, but to pay a full price, on which
the woman say'd if they would not be too lavish, they might

get what they wanted, and opened the door called a negroe,

and they ordered him to measure out carefully 17 1/2 Bushels
for which they paid her 35 Dollars. Then went home and
wrote M^r Chamberlaine their necessity and what they had
done, that if the sum they paid for the salt was not sufficient,
they would still pay him the price he asked, tho' on hearing it
he pursued them to Caroline County as quick as possible and
took a poor lad that was a hireling to a man that sent it with
them, who I immagine is still confined: the above is a true
state of case, in which I make no doubt your Hon^rs will judge
of us favourable as the case will admit of. I need not remind
you of these distressing times, for that reason as no violence
has been and hope you'll not think them men of seditious
principles, who might be desirous of stirring up partie faction.
They are by no means such. I know several of the leading
men to be men of reputation, who bears and is deserving of a
good a moral character as most men in the country; I could
wish our leading Gent, on this side of the Bay was as little
inclined to partie designs and self-interest as Colston, who
was their leader of that Salt company. They have been sin-
cere in their Country's cause and have acted like men of
Spirit and principle ever since these distressing times com-
menced, which is more than can be said with truth of any
engrosser of Salt here.
They have not passed through the country publishing the
numberless and great difficulties, that we are at in carrying
on the War against G. Britain, neither have they through any
dastardly conduct or conversation endeavoured to disunite
and weaken our cause; which too many of our first Gentle-
men have done and in public acts, and speaks with such timid
duplicity, which leaves the ignorant in doubt. Was they real
friends to their country as they stile themselves, would they
ingross that necessary article salt, and keep it from the neces-

C. S. C.