of the Council of Maryland. 183

at this Time unrepresented in Congress and " That Matters of great
Importance are now lying before Congress, which require the united
Councils and vigorous Exertions of all the States," at the same Time
earnestly requesting that Maryland may be represented as soon as
possible. We take the Liberty of enclosing you an Extract of a
second Letter from the President, received by the same Opportunity
which fully evinces the Propriety of the first and the Necessity of an
immediate Compliance with the Request therein contained

[Council to the Agents appointed to receive Loans on the several
Counties]

Sir The exhausted State of the Continental Treasury, arising
from the Depreciation of the Paper Currency, the Backwardness of
the States in furnishing their respective Quotas and the want of other
effectual Resources, have induced Congress to solicit this State in
the most earnest and pressing Manner to supply them with 1.234.350
Dollars by the 15^th of lune. This Money is our Proportion of ten
millions of Dollars to be appropriated to the sole Purpose of bring-
ing Our Army into the Field. The Recess of the General Assembly
at this alarming Crisis and the Impossibility of convening them in
proper Time to take Measures to comply with the above Requisition,
make it incumbent on us to exert ourselves and to devise the most
effectual Means in our Power to obtain that Sum. We are deeply
impressed with the Necessity of putting our Army in motion and
furnishing such Supplies as the Exigency and Nature of the Service
require. In this Situation, no Mode so likely to procure the desired
sum, within the Time limited, has occurred to us, as that of attempt-
ing a Loan. We are the more inclined to think this Measure cannot
fail of Success from a recent Instance, that the Contributions of some
of our virtuous and patriotic Citizens have afforded us. We know
such is the Virtue and Patriotism of our Citizens, that they will con-
tribute their Money and exert themselves to the utmost, to relieve
our Army and enable them to cooperate with our noble Ally in ac-

Liber C C
No. 22

complishing a Termination of the present War, and removing those
Evils and Calamities which are incident to it. We request you to
apply to all the Inhabitants of your County, who you think can and
will lend Money on this important Occasion, shew them this and the
enclosed Extracts of a Letter from Congress and conjure them by
that Love of their Country and Desire of Independence and estab-
lishing a permanent and happy Peace, which are the desirable Ob-
jects we are contending for, to lend us all the Money they can spare,
upon this trying Emergency. The Money you obtain, you are to give
a Receipt for and to engage the Repayment of, with 6 p Cent Interest
by this State, as soon as a Sufficient Sum of the present Assessment
is collected to enable us to do it. We desire you to pay the Money
to the Treasurer of either Shore, as fast as it is obtained.

p. 108