210 Journal and Correspondence

December 25

me belonging to the Corps and the Commanding officer of this De-
partment orders him and myself to retire from the Corps, the last of
this month, leaving the Men without any officer of the State of
Mary^d to Command them. I shall do every thing in my Power to
keep them together till I have some instructions respecting them.
Therefore have sent your Honor a return of the Corps, Likewise of
the Officers, and make no doubt but that you will be pleas'd to give
me instructions respecting the Corps, as I shou'd be happy in obeying
your orders in Marching the Corps from this Department it, I cou'd
be taken into the Maryland Line, and from your known goodness
and your knowledge of the injustice having been done the officers
of the Corps, beg leave to Solicit your Interest in geting me annexed
to the Maryland Line as I have a great desire of Continuing in the
Service of my Country; My distant and remote situation renders it
out of my Power to make Personal application to continue in the
Service

December 26

[Pat. Sim Smith to Gov. Lee.]

Dear Sir You will herewith receive two Prisoners Peter Laurence
and William Follett. they belong to the Schooner Sukey a privateer
from New York Commanded by a Captain Ridley. they were put on
board a prize Schooner from the Eastern Shore called the Vienna,
loaded with Corn & plank, Laurence was prize Master and was
carrying the Prize to New York when the Crew raised retook Her
& brought her into Patuxent. I have to request you will take charge
of them & either Convey them to Annapolis & deliver them to the
Governor & Council, or put them in the care of some officer for
that purpose. I hope this may be done without delay

December 29

[H. Hollingsworth, Head of Elk to His Excellency,
Thomas Sim Lee, Esqr. in Council]

Gentlemen On my return to this place I found s.ome Wheat and
Flour in motion, which is detained untill your further orders, as it
could not be ceized with propriety, the Wheat being on the way to
the Mills (for manufacturing, and the Flour on its way to market,
the owners being intirely unacquainted with the Law, which they
now appear disposed to comply with, it do not strike me that they
are culpable, or the wheat or Flour seizable by the Law, further then
to Stop it. shall meet my coleagues the commiss^rs of this county to
morrow to see if any thing further can be done, the Result of which
shall inform your Excellency and Honors of; last night came to this
Village Coli: William Montgomery a Member of the Assembly of
Pennsylvania, of him I have obtained the Inclosed Paper, with the
Bill for Exporting Flour from Philad^a (under certain easy restric-
tions) as it is likely the General Assembly are not yet risen I have
taken the liberty of forwarding the Act, as early as in my power.