of the Council of Maryland. 161

think them suitable for the Soldiers and approve of the Price,
we would have you take them and send them down by the first
opportunity

[Council to Colo. U. Forrest]

Sir Cap^t Middleton who commands the State Boat Dolphin is
now under Orders to proceed down the Bay to observe the Motions
of the Enemy r he is in Want of Hands and we must request of you
to furnish eight Men and such Officer as you may think proper to
appoint, equipped and supplied with necessary Arms & Provisions
to enable him the beter to execute Orders we esteem very prudential

[Council to Colo Henry Hollingsworth]

Sir We have Reason to believe the Enemy have Cruisers or Priva-
teers within or very near our Capes: it would therefore be prudent
for the Officer commanding the Van of the Troops destined to the
Southward before he passes this, to send an Officer to us for any
farther Intelligence we may receive on this Head. We shall keep a
Lookout Boat constantly below, to furnish us with every material
Occurrence, which shall be communicated to the Commandant, in
the most expeditious Manner.

[Council to Governor Jefferson]

Sir A Detachment of 3000 Troops is already embarked at the
Head of Elk, in a Day or two, to proceed down the Bay of Chesa-
peake to your State, to reinforce the Southern Army. We esteem
it highly necessary that every possible Precaution should be used to
prevent any Part from falling in with the Enemy's Cruisers and

Liber C C

No. 22

have, to that End, communicated to your Excellency the Intelligence
we have received from one of our Look out Boats that returned last
Night from the Mouth of Potowmack. The Captain informs us
that there are several small Privateers in the Bay and one or two
as high up as Wiccomico in Virginia. We shall keep our Boats out
constantly, to give us Information, that we may apprize the Com-
manding Officer of every Movement of the Enemy to intercept the
Troops

[Council to the Commissioners of Baltimore, Harford, Cecil, Caro-
line, Kent, Dorchester, Talbot, Worcester and Queen Ann's
Counties & the Comm^rs of Balt^o Town Circular]

Gentlemen The General Assembly, in Conformity to a Requisition
of Congress, have requested us to direct fifteen thousand Barrels of
Flour to be delivered to the Agent of France, including the Quantity
he was, heretofore, permitted to purchase, by Authority of this State.
We therefore request you to have delivered to M^r W^m Smith of
ii

p. 99