of the Council of Safety, 1777. 23

Monday, January 6. 1777
Council met. Present as on Saturday.

Permit granted to Johan Anthony Contrire Master of the
Sloop Desire, to proceed from the Port of Annapolis to the
Island of S^t Domingo.
Ordered That the Commissary of Stores deliver to Capt.
Deams blue Knap and Bays sufficient for 86 mens Suits, 86

Pair of Shoes and 86 Shirts.

Ordered That the said Commissary reserve Cloth enough
for the Matross Companies in the Service of this State.
Copy of Letter N^o 86 was sent to General Chamberlaine,
Copy of N^o 87 to Beman Eichelberger, and Copy of N^o 88 to
Jesse Hollingsworth.
Ordered That the Western Shore Treasurer pay to Capt.
Frederick Deams two hundred Pounds.
That the said Treasurer pay to the Clerk thirty Pounds for
Expresses.
That the said Treasurer pay to Robert Johnson for the use
of Francis Burgess forty two Pounds.
Adjourned till next Day 10 O'Clock.

C. S. J.

[Council to Chamberlaine.]
Sir. Jan^y 6^th 1777.
We are much at loss how to proceed in the military line
for want of proper information from the Commissioners, and
are sorry that you are under such circumstances that it is not
in your power to give us the satisfaction we require. Col
Rumsey is engaged with the Militia under his command, M^r
Contee, we have heard, is ill, and Mr. Hanson, from the dis-
tance between us, we fear will not attend. These considera-
tions we doubt not will weigh with and induce you to come
over to give us what assistance you ran, more especially when
we inform you that the Council of Safety have chosen you a
member of that Board, which being thin, your attendance is
the more necessary. We are very certain that the want of
salt creates much uneasiness, every day proves more and
more the melancholy truth; therefore it is undoubtedly incum-
bent upon every person having more of that article than will
answer his immediate wants, to spare to those who are dis-
tressed. We know of no vessel lately arrived with a quan-
tity of salt belonging to the public, but if there had, you must
be sensible that and much more would be required by us to
comply with the order of the late Convention. We have cer-
tain advice that seven thousand Bushels of salt have been
imported into Baltimore in the course of last week, it would
therefore be well for some who can do it, to send a vessel or

C. S. C.

No. 86.