of the Council of Maryland. 21

of the Progress you make in your Purchases and your Prospects.
Every Assistance in our Power will be afforded you in the Execution
of your Commission.

[Council to The Honble, the President of the Board of War]

Sir. We had not the Honor of receiving your Favor of the 11^th
of the current Month 'til Yesterday. Before this its probable the
Prisoners destined for Washington County have left Philadelphia.
We lament the Necessity Col^o Rawlings was under of discharging
the Militia Guard; we are yet ignorant of the Cause, but conclude
from our Knowlege of the Col^o that the Measure was a prudential
one. Orders heretofore given the Lieutenants of the several Coun-
ties in the Vicinity of Fort Frederick, to furnish the necessary Guard,
are considered as still subsisting and we doubt not a Proper one will
be in Readiness to receive the Prisoners upon their Arrival. The
Powder furnished the Continent in Consequence of the Requisition
of your Honorable Board was sold under a Resolution of our Assem-
bly directing the Governor and Council to dispose of such Quantity
of that Article as might be spared. Frequent, and the most pressing
Applications of Individuals had little Weight with this Board when

put in Competition with your Requisition, and it was immediately

determined the Public Interest should be preferred: thirty thousand
Pounds, the utmost Quantity we could spare, were accordingly de-
livered to your Agent and, as we are informed, was removed to
Baltimore, returning it again to our Magazines would be attended
with much Expence and Trouble and, all Circumstances considered,
we flatter ourselves you will not view our Conduct in not consenting
to credit the Continent for the Powder, in an unfavourable Light.

Liber C C

No. 22

[Council to Capt. John Green]

Sir. You have herewith an Invoice of 62 Barrels of Flour and
5 of Beef, the Cargo of the Dolphin, which you are to deliver with-
out Loss of Time, to the French Agent or his Deputy; one or the
other, we have Reason to believe, is now at Hampton, for the use
of his most Christian Majesty's Fleet or that Part of it which may
be in Chesapeake Bay. In the Absence of the Agent or his Deputy,
you are to deliver your Cargo to the Commander of the Fleet, taking
a Receipt therefor.
As the Fleet may have immediate Occasion for these Provisions
and their Stay in this Bay limited, We trust, without repeating it,
you are sufficiently impressed with the Necessity of Dispatch. We
wish you a safe Voyage and are &^ca

[Council to Capt. George p. Keeports]

Sir. Being informed by M^r Randall that there are a Number of
Blankets, at this Time for Sale in Baltimore and as we shall have

p. 41