of the Council of Safety, 1777. 43

Independant Companies are made out from some memoran-
dums I made in the execution of the Commission I was hon-
oured with by the late Convention and contains every infor-
mation in my power to give you was I to attend in person, I

am sorry to say we found a good deal of discontent prevail-
ing in our army and the Gentlemen very attentive to their
rank. The commissioners determined that a promotion in
Battalion would be doing strict justice and most likely to give
general Satisfaction.
You have my thanks for the honour conferred upon me in
the appointment to your Board and am sorry its not in my
power to accept of the Trust with any tollerable conveniency.
Since the beginning of the present dispute, the little I have
been able to do for my country has been undertaken with
chearfulness, without any consideration of my private affairs,
and now finding some attention to them necessary, have
allotted a few months to remain at home, that should there be
any necessity of leaving them in the Spring, it may be done
with more conveniency and Safety.
I have the honor to be very Respect^ly
Your obliged Hum^ble Serv^t
Jas. Lloyd Chamberlaine.
The Hon^ble Council of Safety
Annapolis

[D. I. Adams to Council.]

The Honble Council of Safety, January 12^th 1777.
Gent. Yesterday in the Council Room I had a slight view
of the Roster, Gen^l Smallwood and Coll^o Price made out of
the rank and promotion of the officers to serve in the Conti-
nental Service.
I observed in their Roster they have pointed out two modes,
and left you at your choice to adopt either. The first is rank-
ing the officers as they stood under the former resolve of Con-
vention, when the regular Troops of this State were first
raised.
The second of their Rank, when they left the State. If the
former Rank is adopted, that is to say, Regular majors to
command Brigadier Genl^s Captains to command L^t Coll^o Lt^s
to command Captains and Ensigns to command Ensigns of
the militia, which was the first establishment of the Troops by
Convention it would be unjust. I am warranted by this asser-
tion by the convention's reconsidering the matter and making
an amendment to the former resolve, giving the Flying Camp
Militia equal rank with the regulars, with this difference, that
the Regular officers should command the officers of the Flying

C. S. C.