of the Council of Maryland, 1777-1778. 461

Pass granted to Mr. Limes of Baltimore Town to go to
General Smallwood from thence into Philadelphia if he thinks
proper.

C. B.

[Council to W. Buchanan.]

In Council Annapolis 8 Jan^y 1778.
Sir.
M^r M^oGermant just now delivered us your Letter of the
10^th of December. It is a principal Object with us, as well as
with the Legislature of this State, to render every possible
Aid to the Army and, if there was a pressing Necessity for
seizing Salt and Provisions within this State, we have no
Doubt but, on its being disclosed to the Assembly, for which
there was a full Opportunity, due Provision would have been
made, but it would, in all likelihood, have been limited by the
Occasion, and modified in such a Manner as to prevent, as
far as possible, any Oppression or useless Violence. Besides
our not being yet informed of any Resolution of Congress,
under which Col^o Blaine could suppose himself empowered to
seize Salt imported into the Inlets or Stock in Somerset or
Worcester County, he seems to have left M^r M^cGerment at
full Liberty, nay, to require him to seize all Salt imported
there and all Cattle, without making the Necessity of the
Army or our Inhabitants any Rule and, so far from attending
to the great Principle on which the Seizure of Property can,
in any Instance, be justified, that is, the Payment of the full
Price, Certificates only were to be given, no Price to be men-
tioned and the fifth Quarter of the Cattle to be sunk which,
according to M^r M^cGermonts Explanation, was not to be taken
into the Account at all. We can never approve such Orders
or the Execution of them, and, we flatter ourselves that they
were given without your Privity. We should be glad to be
advised from Time to Time, what Gentlemen are employed in

your Department, in this State, and the Extent of their Pow-
ers, that we may know who to assist and how far Assistance
is desired. Unnecessary & wanton Violence, as stated to us,
on Oath, was lately committed by M^r Huggins, on the Person
and Property of Yeiser, of Baltimore Town and ought to be
enquired into. We last Sunday received Letters from
Congress and from the Board of War which give us the very
disagreeable but first Notice of the Army being in Danger of
suffering for Want of Provisions. The State of our Treasury
would not allow us to do a great Deal but, on disclosing the
Matter to M^r Chase, he immediately went to Baltimore to
endeavour, if possible, to throw in something towards a tem-
porary Supply and, by a Letter from him, we hope, he will
succeed. We had taken Steps to collect what Beef we could

C. C.

38