of the Council of Maryland. 369

more convenient in many respects and much nearer to Annapolis, and
Alexandria in Case the Troops should be ordered to either. We
approve of the Measure of the Sea Captains and Inhabitants of Fells
Point having formed themselves into a Company of Matrosses and
have appointed and commissioned the Officers elected by them.

March 30
Liber No. 78

p. 101

[Council to General Gist.]

The Col Commandant of the Detachment here that was destined
for Portsmouth has received Orders to be in readiness to move at a

Ibid.

Moments warning and the necessary preparations are making for
transporting the Cannon, Stores and Baggage, some Sea Vessels and
most of the Craft belonging to the Bay have been impressed to trans-
port the Detachment from Elk to this place on their way down, and
a very numerous Expence incurred on that Account and by Means
of the Exertions of the State to facilitate the Movement of the
Troops. The transports now lye in Severn River, and will as well
as the City and the public Property in and about it be exposed to the
Enemy, the State Boats now here being too inconsiderable to make
effectual resistance against the Force in the Power of the Ships to
land. We apprehend the Preservation of the Transports, the public
Property the City and the Safety of the Citizens to be objects of
general as well as particular Concern to the State and therefore
request you to order one hundred and fifty or two hundred Men to
this Place for the Protection of the Inhabitants, the Transports and
the public Property. If it was necessary to suggest any further
Reasons to induce a Complyance with our requisition we should men-
tion the disagreeable Situation of the Citizens; the small Pox is almost
in every Family and will be very infectious in a few Days and there-
fore if an Attempt should be made by the Enemy, no Succour could be
expected from the Militia most of whom have not had it; This is
not the only Inconvenience they must encounter if compelled to desert
their Habitations, they would have no place to fly to the Country.
People would avoid them as much as they would the Enemy.

p. 102

[Council to Thomas Sprigg, Esqr.]

We have enclosed the Commission you requested. We think that
notwithstanding your Returns to us of the Select Companies of
Militia, you may receive others into the Companies so as they do not
exceed the Numbers limitted by the Law. Capt. Mountjoy Bailey of
Frederick County is appointed to receive and provide for the recruits
procured in your County, and in Frederick, you will be so obliging
as to send the Recruits furnished in Washington County to him, The
Recruits by the Law are not to be removed from the County until
they are provided with Cloathing allowed them, yet we suppose they
cannot have any objection, when we assure them they shall not be
marched from the place of rendezvous until they receive their cloath-
24

Ibid.