Letters to the Council. 529

fleet added to the hatred to me they have taken for my steady At-
tachment to the Independence of America and my Acceptance of
the Execution of the Act to procure flour and other provisions for
the Army Especially The seizure of the wheat at New Markett
that was Intended to be Carried out of the State has caused those
Villians to hire some Abandoned Wretch to set those Mills on fire
I am the more Inclined to this Opinion because it was known that
I was at Annapolis and it is said the Tories were Industrously
reporting that I was at Annapolis to apply for a Commission of
the like nature. Now Gentlemen I have no doubt but you'll Con-
sider this Crime in full as heinious a light as myself and that it pro-
ceeded from the same Motives I therefore request the favour of
you to apply for me to the Governor and Council to Issue their
proclamation Offering a reward to any person whoe will discover
the persons Concerned and proclaiming full and free pardon to the
person making the Information unless he should be the principal
and if the Governo^r and Council can doe nothing for me to apply
to the General Assembly or both in your Discretion to doe what you
think Just and reasonable for me if any Expence should Acrue in
printing or any other manner if you'll pay it for me I will reim-
burse you the money.

June 29

The deposition of John Cooper aged seventeen being duly sworn
saith, that he has been Clark to Col^o Isaac Perkins about five months
& superintendant of his Mills, that on the 27^th instant at night
between Sun set & Dark he was at the Mill, at which time, no fire
was in the Mill or near it to his knowledge, that the negroe Fellow
(Miller) brought him the said Cooper the Key of the Mill within
ten minutes after; that about one o'Clock in the night, he was
awaked by Daniel Greenwood blacksmith to the said Isaac Perkins,
who told him that the mill was on fire that he immediately arose &
went towards the Mill, at which time it was nearly consumed
together with a Saw Mill & fulling Mill, & that about an hour &
half, the said Mills were entirely reduced to ashes, that there was
destroy'd in the Griest Mill a Quantity of Flour which he sup-
poses to be from fifty to ninety barrells & about one hundred &
thirty or forty barrells of ship stuff & that he is of opinion the said
Mills were set on fire designedly. W. Bordley

June 28

[H. Hollingsworth, D. Q. M. Gl. Head of Elk, to His Excellency,
Thomas Sim Lee in Council]

Gentlemen. Inclosed is the account of Flour & Wheat that has
come to this Post since the seizing Law took Place. I have apply'd to
M^r Pat. Ewing's assistant for an account of his which he says it cant
yet be had untill he settles with the Millers, and as several of them
Lives out of the neighbourhood I cant conveniently procure the
34

June 28