of the Council of Maryland. 407

future Orders. We are convinced you cannot upon Reflexion think
it right and correspondent to the Views and Designs of the Gen'
Assembly that all the Means levied, and a far greater Part of the
Provisions procured on the Eastern shore for the Support of the
Army should be appropriated to the sole Purpose of defending one
Part of the State; because thereby the first and great objects of the
Assembly must be frustrated the Quota of Money and Provision
required by this State by Congress cannot be supplied our officers and
soldiers in Captivity cannot be relieved nor can the Cloathing for the
Recruits be obtained nor the requisition of Gen^l Green completed;
should this Board take the same Precautions for the Defence of the
Western Shore and similar Systems prevail in other States, and the
Money and Specific supplies raised in Pursuance of the requisition of
Congress applied to State Purposes, we leave to your Honors to
Suggest the Evils that would result therefrom, we think there would
be reason to dread the most alarming Consequences. We are at a
Loss to account for the Motives that induced you to desire to be
informed whence the Power of exporting Provisions arises, and how
the Business is to be conducted, as it cannot possibly be comprehended
within the Line of your Duty. We only proposed that the Stock
which might be in Danger of falling into the Hands of the Enemy,
should be removed to the Eastern Shore, and did not mean to impose
the Hardships or Difficulties on the people of removing them to this
Shore if convenient places of Security could be found on the Eastern
Shore It is our wish to be informed of the Nature of your Application
to Congress for Arms and Ammunition, the Terms upon which they
were obtained and you now propose to dispose of them; If they are
to be accounted for by the State, we think the Proposition ought to
have been communicated to us, the Application made by this Board
and Ammunition obtained subject to our Distribution. We are con-

April 20
Liber 78
P. 137

strained by the exhausted State of the Western Shore Treasury and
the incessant Demands made on us for considerable Sums, to direct
the Treasurer of the Eastern Shore to send over by [ ] thousand
Pounds of the Money remaining in his Hands, and expect his comply-
ing therewith will not be prevented or delayed by your Interposition.
As the Laws will be printed in a few Days and nearly as soon as they
could be transcribed, we thought it best not to incur that Expence and
shall send them over immediately after they are printed. In Case
of Invasion, your Board may appoint an Officer to act in any Vacancy
in the Militia until our Pleasure is known. Where it is necessary tc
make such Appointment, and it is accordingly made and communi-
cated, and the Person approved, we shall send him a Commission. If
your Honors will [ ] one hundred Stand of Arms with Bayonet;
sent to Dorchester the 2^d of February last to what you mention, you
will find the Number allotted to you has been exceeded one hundred

p. 138