of the Council of Maryland, 1777. 255

Manner of a Ship, that too is Lieu^t Gordon's Opinion, and we
are desirous of gratifying them, as they will risk their own Per-
sons in her. Belt says he thinks the Boom and Sail in the
Brig Fashion will be too heavy. We do not know how we
shall get Men for the State Vessels already built; they are all
now useless for want of Men, therefore we cannot think of
making a new Call for them, before the old is gratified.
We are every now and then called on for old Sails, for uses
we know very little of, and therefore are unwilling to part
from the Dolphin's. We are &^ca
M^r Stephen Steward.

C. C.

[Council to Marine Committee.]

In Council Annapolis 15^th May 1777.
Gen^t
We inclose you Copies of two Letters from Cap^t Nicholson,
and of one from us to him. It would have given us Pleasure,
more on the Captains Account than our own, if we could have
wrote you long ago, that he had frankly made us the Satisfac-
tion we had a Right to expect; but we cannot but see from
his Letters, that he has no very good Will to make Conces-
sions and that though his Friends as well as the Congress,
think his first Letter justly reprehensible, he shews little Sign
of a real Concern for having written it. Whether Cap^t
Nicholson apologizes for the Affront given or not, is of but
little Consequence to us, and as we believe the Congress have
Expectations from him as an Officer, we wave the Point of
Satisfaction to us; but as to the Discharge of the People, on
which he has avoided to give us the least Satisfaction, not
having said one Word on it in his Letters, we hope and
expect a peremptory Order for the Discharge of such as
have been impressed and that it may be done in such Manner
as will give full Assurance to us that the Thing is done.
We are Gen^t
Hon^ble Marine Committee With great Respect &^ca
Philad^a

67

May 16^th 1777.
Present as on yesterday. M^r Polk attended

James Polk appointed Surveyor of Somerset County in the
Room of Arnold Elzey deceased, and Commission issued.
Commission issued to William Gilliss appointed Sheriff of
Somerset County, agreeable to the Return filed.
Ordered, That the Western Shore Treasurer pay to James
Polk Junior for the use of W^m M^cBryd one hundred pounds,
to be expended in purchasing Peas for the public.

C. B.