of the Council of Maryland. 383

[Council to Legh Masters, Esqr.]

Yours of the 4^th Instant we have received, respecting Permission
to return to New Providence you have our Approbation to depart and
by this opportunity we have directed to naval Officer of the Port of
Baltimore to give you the necessary Permit on the Terms heretofore
granted you by this Board.

April 8
Liber No. 78
P. 113

[Council to the Marquis Fayette.]

We have just received Information from Col. Beall Lieutenant of
Prince Georges County that six of the Enemy's Ships have burnt Col.
Barnes house on St. Mary's River and plundered him of all his
Property, and have burnt Preist Hunters House at the Mouth of

Ibid.

Port Tobacco Creek and are proceeding up Patowmack River to Alex-
andria with [every] Intention to destroy that Town and plunder the
Inhabitants on the River. The Ships that laid off this City returned
this Morning with a Brig and a small Schooner and stood up the
Bay 'till they got above the Mouth of the Harbour, and then tacked
and stood down, many concurring Accounts lately received induces us
to believe that Gen^l Philips with not less than two thousand Men has
arrived at Portsmouth From these Facts we think we are justified in
concluding that the Enemy have in Contemplation, the effecting a
Junction with Cornwallis which if accomplished must terminate in
the Destruction or Dispersion of the Southern Army if not strongly
and timely reinforced, the plundering Harrassing and distressing the
People on the Shores, the destroying our Town, and military Stores
and getting Possession of the Provisions that have been collected
for our Army; The military Stores and Provisions at this Place and
Baltimore Town must be a capital Object and as we have the strong-
est reasons to think as soon as they have perpetrated their Designs in
Patowmack, if not before they will visit this City and Baltimore,
under these Circumstances we beg Leave to submit to your Con-
sideration the Propriety of detaining the Detachment under your
Command in this State and marching such a Part as you may deem
necessary to our Assistance in Baltimore Town and in this City.

p. 114

[ Council to Genl Buchanan.]

We have just received Intelligence from Col. Joshua Beall of
Prince George's County, that there are six of the Enemy's Ships in
Patowmack supposed to be on their way to Alexandria after plunder-
ing Col. Richard Barnes of S^t Mary's of all his Property and burning
all his Houses with Priest Hunters House in the Mouth of Port
Tobacco Creek. This Morning two Ships a Brigg and a Schooner
appeared off this Harbour, and after looking in have proceeded down
and are now below Tally's Point, what their Intentions are we
cannot possibly say, but from what has been done by them we have

Ibid.