of the Council of Maryland. 101

in Port, three of the Men I shall recover, they being on board the
Confederacy.

[Jonas Chambers Dated at Head of Elk to His Excellency
Governor Sim Lee]

May it Please Your Excellency I Receiv^d a Certificate 27^th Aug^t
1780 signed John Smith Brookes, Commissary of Purchase for
Prince Geo^s County, for 18 B^bls Herring at 130£ p^r B^ble & on the
28th Day after the Date of said Certificate I produced the same to
your Excellency, Either to Receive the contents or to no If it would
pay my Publick Assess, Viz. Money & tobacco tax (as for tobacco
in this part of Cecil County they Raise none) & also If I Remember
Right, Your Excellency informed me it would answer that End
in aney part of the s^d State, I have since produc'^d it to the Collector
or Shf of s^d County of Cecil, Who has Laid it before the Com-
missioners & has absolutely Refused taking it in pay for myself &
Neighbours, for s^d tax, I no not how to pay my taxes which is
onley £340 odd £ I went to Potomack Last Spring & cur^d 192 B^ls
of Shadd & Herrings of Which the Publick has had the greatest
part, & I cannot command Aney Cash for the same, part of the
objection is, Because herrings is not Mentioned in the Act. I Look
up to your Excellencys goodness to send me & answer to convince
the commissioners in my favour that s^d Certificate will answer s^d
End, as they have Desired me to Wright to you on the occation &
would waight for an answer, Which I hope you would be Pleased
to favour me by this Post, for Which I shall be for Ever Bound
to Pray &c, &c.

I take the freedom to Subscribe myself Your most obedient &
B^ble Serv^t

September

12

Brown Book
No. S
Letter
No. 21
September
13

[L. Master, Baltimore to the Honble ——— Leigh, Esqr]

Sir I came here from New Providence with a Flag & 33
Prisoners intending to call at Annap^s but being unacquainted &
not able to get a Pilote I unfortunately overrun the port a good
way, & by good luck met with a man th^t untook to carry us to this
port it being the unanimous opinion of the Capt^ns there on board th^t
it w^d be highly imprudent to attempt to return having had the
misfortune to loose my sheet Anchor & Spring my mast w^ch I hope
y^r Honour will think a sufficient plea for my not paying my respects
to you.
I came from N Prov^e at a very few days notice w^ch prevented me
cleaning my Vessel as it was thought improper to stay on Acc^t of
the approaching Equinox so th^t I hope your Honour will allow me
to go on shore (w^ch I am not permitted to do) while she is cleaning
& to get a Mast & do whatever is necessary for the preservation of
myself & property & y^r Honour will greatly oblige

September
13