of the Council of Maryland, 1777. 315

Philadelphia and we have Reason to think he will be ordered
by Congress to Sussex to prevent any future Communication

between the Disaffected there and the Enemy's Ships of War.
We presume it would not have the desired Effect to begin the
Building of a Gondola at this late Season, as the Mischief
might be accomplished before she could be finished; we there-
fore have some Thoughts of sending one of the Gondolas
from hence, in Aid of your Battery, if we should think
the Voyage round can be effected; in the mean Time, we
hope your Battery will continue to deter the Enemy from
making any Attempts upon the Inlet of Sinepuxent
L^t Col^o Purnall We are &^ca

C. C.

[Council to N. Smith.]

In Council 9^th July 1777.
Sir.
We have appointed Lieu^t Judah to the Office mentioned in
your Letter of the 7^th Ins^t and make no Doubt of his discharg-
ing the Trust reposed in him with Fidelity. There is a small
Quantity of Steel here, belonging to this State, which we
expect will answer M^r Dorsey's present purpose, and which
we shall contrive to him by the first Opportunity. It does not
seem to us that the late Law respecting the additional Bounty
of thirty Dollars exclusive of the Continental Allowance, will
justify our adopting the Mode you propose to promote the
recruiting Service, in as much as the Law has pointed out a
different Plan, and does not allow of any Deviation from it.
We have had before us, (in Consequence of your Complaint
respecting Cap^t Cooke) the two Officers of the Ship Defence
who were immediately employed by the Cap^t in executing the
Business we had sent him upon; the one his L^t who informs
us that upon the Captain's Arrival in Baltimore Town, he, the
Lieu^t went at the Captain's Desire, to request your Assistance
for a Guard over a Vessel which had Salt on board, as repre-
sented, with Design of removing the same out of this State,
contrary to the Law lately passed against forestalling. That
he endeavoured to find you, but not being able to meet with you
readily, he then went to the Guard House, enquired for the
Officer of the Guard, and finding no commanding Officer
there, he requested the Sergeant, who, he was told, com-
manded the Guard, to aid Cap^t Cooke with two File of Men,
which was chearfully complyed with and that the Men were,
in a very short Time, discharged. The other Person (the
second Mate) informed us that he went, by the Captain's
Order by Water to the Fort Wharf in Execution of the Busi-
ness before mentioned and that tho' he desired, as a Favour,

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