Letters to the Council. 417

Last I have Agreed for Nine Hundred & Two Bushells Corn Two
Hundred and three Bushells Rye forty five Bushell Wheat and
three Barrells flour (the flour 66 at £50 p C^t the Cash given in)
I think there is but very Little if any more to be got in my Neigh-
bourhood

Red Book
No. 32

[Luther Martin Baltimore Town to His Excellency The Governor]

Sir I have before me your Excellencys Letter of the third Instant
delivered to me by M^r Enloes, and as I cannot concur altogether
in the State already presented, must beg leave to trouble your Excel-
lency with the following Narrative of facts as they appeared from
the Evidence at the Trial
A certain Stephen Joyce, with others was in the House of M^r
Beachum at Fells point where he behaved, without any provocation,
in a very disorderly and abusive manner, particularly towards George
Blackstone, until Blackstone irritated by his Abuse and being chal-
lenged by him to fight went out of Doors with Joyce for that Pur-
pose, but upon M^r Beachums remonstrating to Blackstone the Im-
propriety of his exposing himself in that manner Blackstone returned
quietly into the house into which Joyce followed him continuing his
Abuse until M^r Beachum pushed him out and fastened the Door.
Joyce being much under the Influence of Intoxication & Passion con-
ducted himself like a Madman tearing his Hair and beating his
fists ag^t the walls of the House and the Pales of the Garden and
having by so doing Skinned his knuckles, his hands and face were
bloody. At this time no Violence had been offered to him or In-
jury done him, save the putting him out of the house in consequence
of his abusive conduct there. In that Situation Joyce ran a small
distance to the House where Joel Higginbottom (who had been his
fellow-Prentice) lived, and finding him at the Door catched him
under the Arm and telling him he had been extremely illused
requested him to go with him and instantly hurried him away. They
went together to Beachums, and having opened the Door Joyce
as before began to abuse Blackstone challenging him to come out
& fight him, which Blackstone refused telling him at the same time
if he struck him he would apply to the Laws for redress. Joel Hig-
ginbottom also stripped and told the Company if there were any
there that had anything to say to Joyce he was ready to answer him
or to that purpose. And also called upon Blackstone to come out &
fight Joyce, telling him he should have faire play, during these
Transactions one Samuel Dunn who was with the company in the
house, who has the character of having been a very quiet inoffensive
young Man, and who appears not to have interfered in any measure
in the Quarrel before that time, went out of the House and was
standing in the Yard or Garden, I do not recollect which, where
were Joyce and Higgenbottom. The Witnesses agree that he ap-
27

February 5
Red Book
No. 29

Letter
No. 2