280 Journal and Correspondence

C. C.

manned, we can get neither Cordage or Hands, and therefore
believe nothing better can be done with that at Joppa than is
already done with her; we shall be obliged to you to continue
the Hands to keep her upper Works wet and take Care of
her. We had no great Expectation of your Acting as a Judge
in the General Court, we shall be at a great Loss to find such
as will answer the Public Expectation. M^r Sprigg accepted
the Office of Chancellor, merely for a temporary Purpose if
you had been within Reach, so that the Assembly could have
known whether you would accept of the Seals or not, we
believe, if agreeable to you, you would have been appointed,
and we should be glad to know whether you would act in that
Honorable Department. Conway is arrived from Martinique,
Harrison writes that the English have taken & condemned
some French Vessels for having American Produce on Board.
Benj^a Rumsey Esq^r We are &^c

99

[Council to Hancock.]

In Council Annapolis 6^th June 1777
Sir.
The inclosed Petition and Protest were presented to us by
Cap^t Campbell on Behalf of himself and Partners Owners of
the Privateer Schooner Buckskin Cap^t Campbell tells us ver-
bally that, as he has understood, Cap^t Pearce of the Game
Cock of Rhode Island acted much in the same Manner by a
Continental Vessel, as he is represented to have done with the
Buckskin's Prize, and that the Reason why he did not procure
the Depositions of the two men, who were put in to the Prize with
the Protester William Pool is, their not having returned, they
having, as he believes, engaged in some Service to the East-
ward. No method occurs to us, by which we can put this
Matter into a Way of Examination, and on the Facts alledged
being found to be true, to effect that Justice which the Public
and the Individuals injured are entitled to. The evil Conse-
quences of such Conduct not being punished, are too certain,
and as Cap^t Pearce held his Commission from the Congress,
we beg Leave to lay these Papers before that Honorable
Body, that they being apprized of the Complaint may take
such Measures as they may judge adequate to the Occasion
Pres^d of Congress. We are &^ca

100

[Council to Jenifer and Hooe.]

In Council Annapolis 6^th June 1777
Gen^l
We are glad to hear of Conway's Arrival, though we are
apprehensive that his Freight will not make Amends for the