of the Council of Maryland, 1778-1779. 11

sorry that a Shop of so much Value to the Public should be
discontinued. We are &^ca
Col^o William Richardson

[Gov. Johnson to Assembly.]

April 6^th 1778.
Gentlemen of the General Assembly.
From the Letters received from Worcester and Somerset
Counties, which I have laid before you and the Conversations
I have had with People from thence as well as from the Insurrec-
tions some Time since, I am apprehensive that unless decisive
Measures are speedily taken the Balance in Somerset County,
will be in Favor of our Enemies & Toryism. If that should
be the Case and our Friends are left under Apprehension of
suffering instantly all the Cruelties which brutal Rage can
inflict and the Enemies of their Country fear nothing but a slow

C. C.

Prosecution for the atrocious Villanies, entertaining at the same
Time the Hope that their Guilt may be shielded by the Forms
incident to the Proceedings of Courts, Mens Minds will be
influenced by the immediate Evil and the Consequent Influence
will probably extend much to the Prejudice of the State. I cannot
therefore but entreat your Advice & Assistance in a Matter
which appears to me of so great Magnitude and submit to your
Consideration whether it will not be well, immediately to order
one hundred or one hundred and fifty of the Militia from some
of the other Counties, into Somerset to do Duty there 'til a
sufficient Regular Force can be raised for that Service and to
proclaim Martial Law in Somerset County and erect a Court
Martial competent to the Trial of Spies, Piracies and such of
our own People as may be taken in Arms, with a Power of
ordering the Execution of the Guilty without waiting for the
Assent of any other Authority.
The General Assembly.

[Council to G. Dashiell]

In Council 6^th April 1778.
Sir
We are sorry for the Loss the Gentlemen of your County
have sustained by their Negroes going away, but we cannot
conceive the Enemy would restore them, unless their Masters
make Concessions which no American ought to do. It is very
unlikely that if a man avowed his Principles to support the
Cause of America, that he would be so far favoured as to have

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