of the Council of Maryland, 1777. 383

If those Men who have no Sense of Duty to their Country,

nor, indeed any Regard to the sacred Obligation of an Oath,
should again assemble in Arms, it will, in our Opinion, best
promote the Public Good and insure its Tranquility, to make
use of the Arms you hold, in the Cause of our common
Liberty. We are &^ca
George Dashiell Esq^r L^t
Somerset County.

C. C.

[Council to J. Dashiell.]

In Council Baltimore 22^d Sept^tr 1777.
Sir
We do not incline to send another Commission in the Stead
of Cap^t Handy's If he is, as we are informed, a proper Man, it
will be very difficult to induce us to part from him, as an
Officer. You have inclosed several Commissions where there
were Resignations. Gen^l may, perhaps, now resign and,
hereafter be desirous of filling Commissions; but we desire
wherever there shall be a Recommendation of a Person who
shall have had before resigned, that the Reasons of the Resig-
nation may accompany the Recommendation.
As we judge Cambridge the most proper Place for the
Imprisonment of the Tory Prisoners, we request such as are
taken in your County may be sent thither. Gen^l Washington,
we hope & expect, will not want the Assistance of your
County Militia, we are sorry there is so much Occasion for
them at Home, and therefore countermand the former Order
for their marching, but we wish them to be frequently exer-
cised and prepared as well as you can, to do effectual Service,
if necessary. The Conduct of those People who have already
experienced Lenity and falsified the solemn Assurances given
to the Public, leaves them no Room to expect a further For-
bearance and if they or others should again assemble in Arms
we are of Opinion that Force ought to be preferred to
Entreaty and Advice. We are Sir &^ca
Joshua Dashiell Esq^r L^t of
Worcester County

166

Tuesday 23^d September 1777
Present as on yesterday.

Ordered that the Western Shore Treasurer pay to Capt
George Cooke one thousand Pounds on Account.
That the said Treasurer pay to Capt. John Hawkins Lowe
forty pounds to be charged to Col Mordecai Gists Regiment.
Adjourned to Annapolis

C. B.