of the Council of Maryland. 431

Agent or Commissary to reside in New York if approved by his
Excellency Gen^l Washington until a Commissary is appointed by him.
\Ye wish you to give him every Assistance in the Conduct of this
Business and further Information may be obtained of him.

May 10
Liber No. 78
p. 153

[Council to Gen'1 Washington]

The Sufferings of our Officers in Captivity have for a long Time
claimed our Attention and excited great uneasiness which a Con-
sciousness that we are destitute of the Means of alleviating them has
much augmented; it has been and still is impracticable for the State
to procure a Quantity of Specie adequate to that Purpose which has
determined us to avail ourselves of the Propositions contained in the
enclosed Paper, if your Excellency should be of opinion it may be
done consistent with Propriety, and will afford us your Assistance
in facilitating a Communication with New York by way of Flag.
Your Excellency will perceive that no State will be allowed to dispose
of any of the Monies arising from the Sale of the Articles to be sent
before the Debts of the Officers are discharged; this Restriction if
adhered to will prevent us from Shipping any Produce, because
Vessels cannot be obtained unless the Freight is paid in New York
and the owner allowed to invest it in such Goods as are not prohibited
to be brought back, and therefore trust your Excellency will en-
deavour to effect an Alteration of it in such Manner as will most
likely attain the objects in View, the Relief of our Officers. If your

Ibid.

Excellency has not appointed a Commissary to reside in New York
and should now think it proper to consider that Subject, and no
Person more deserving that M^r Charles Croxall has presented him-
self, it will give us great Pleasure to be informed that the Gentleman
in whom we have reposed a Confidence is approved of by you, but
if Sir you think it right to defer the Appointment, we hope M^r Croxall
may obtain your Permission to go into New York and transact this
Business for the State. M^r Croxall will wait upon your Excellency
and communicate fully every Thing that you may desire to be in-
formed of which relates to his Trust.

P. 154

[Council to Mr. Charles Croxall.]

We intend to send a Quantity of Provisions and Lumber to New
York to discharge the Debts contracted by the Officers from this
State formerly and now Prisoners there and on Long Island and for
the Support of the Prisoners we can obtain the Leave of Congress
to send the Provisions and Passports from the commanding Officer
in New York, should these Events take Place and his Excellency
Washington should not have appointed a Commissary to reside in
New York; we hereby appoint you to act as such for this State until
an Appointment is made by Gen^l Washington to dispose of the Car-

Ibid.

.