Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761. 257

Thomas Ringgold without a Fee for M^r John Chappie told
me that he would be obliged to pay all the Costs that they
should be at on that Affair, beside, they say that if the
Steelponeans should break the Way the rest would be obliged
to follow, for that gives the Thing up they will count you
more than Madmen if you should go you may depend upon
it that not half will come back, but will perish with the Cold,
and as for raising of Mony it is out of the Question neither
is it in the Governor's power to accept it, for I have it from
good Authority, for even the Press Master himself is liable
to Damage from every Man that he takes from, for I had it
from his own Mouth and he from a Lawyer from your
Friend.
W^m Coburn.

To M^r Thomas Chandler living in Steelpone: This
The above is a true Copy of a Letter lately in the Hands
of the Clerk of the Company of Militia, under the Command
of. Peregrine Brown Jan: 18: 1758:

Sir
According to your Excellency's Directions I gave Captain
Peregrine Brown his Orders with the necessary Warrants
for pressing Carriages and provisions the 26: of Dec^r I went
immediately after to Wye, upon his Return from Annapolis
he told me he had brought as far as Dockery's a Packet from
your Excellency for me but that by Mistake he had sent it
to Col: Tilghman, instead of one directed for him, if he had
any such packet I cant conceive what is become of it as it

Lib. J. R.

& U. S.

is not yet come to my Hands. I then advised immediately to
call his Men together, and either proceed to the Fort imme-
diately or make Returns of those Men that refused to go.
he met them the 16: Instant when he informs me, every
Man refused to march. I this Day in the most pressing
Manner called upon him to tell me positively whether he
would return Certificates or not but can't get any answer.
The Doctrine here is that the Law put in Execution will
absolutely ruin the Country that there is no Penalty on the
Captain if he refuses to return Certificates, that the Men
by that Means escape Punishment Captain Brown has lately
embarqued in the popular Way and has I am told received
Threats in Case he does any thing that will distress the
People suppose this has some Influence on him. Captain
Browne shewed me a Letter from M^r Hands to him in which
he lets him know your Excellency directs that he shall give
him a positive Answer immediately, whether he will march
17

p. 221