410 Journal and Correspondence

C C.

of Maryland has lately in a secret manner departed to Somer-
set County the Place of his former Residence is supposed to
have counterfeit money and to have gone down for some
secret and invidious purpose. Robert Alexander is still on
board the Fleet.
N. B. The Gentleman who gives the above Information
has just come from the Fleet on his Parole in order to be
exchanged for a British Officer the Exchange not yet being
effected I am not at large to mention his Name but believe
his information may be depended on
5 Nov^r 1777. W Smallwood

C. B.

Thursday 6 November 1777.
Present as on yesterday.

Josiah Cathel of Capt. Browns Company of Matrosses hav-
ing procured two men to inlist into the said Company under
Captain Brown's promise to endeavor to procure his dis-
charge on his so doing. He is therefore discharged from
further Service.
Ordered That the western shore Treasurer pay to John
Rogers one hundred pounds for so much advanced Lieut
Francis Ware of Charles County, and to be charged to L^t F.
Ware.

C. C.

187

[Gov. Johnson to Delegates.]

Gentlemen of the House of Delegates.
Soon after the Enemy's Fleet passed by Annapolis and
before it was discovered whether Philadelphia was the Object,
or that the Intention, as many supposed, was to cut off the
Eastern from the Western Shore I received a Letter from the
Honb^l William Paca Esq^r who happened then to be at Chester
Town, advising me of the Disposition of the People on that
Shore to exert themselves in their Defence, of their want of
Money and many other Things, and requesting what Assis-
tance the Government could possibly give, and that Things
might be conducted with the more Regularity and, conse-
quently, with the better Effect, desiring blank Commissions
might be sent over to be filled up with the Advice of the
County Lieutenants and principal Gentlemen. I received the
Letter about twelve ^oClock at night and dispatched the Boat
time enough to cross the Bay before Morning and, under an
Impression that no regular Intercourse could be kept up

between the two shores, I sent what Things I could which

were immediately necessary. The blank Commissions and
my Request to the Treasurer of the Eastern Shore, to advance,