562 Proceedings and Correspondence

August 15
Liber C. B.

No. 24

p. 131

August IS
Liber No. 78
p. 247

said William Barney be discharged from the Duty for which he was
drafted.

[Council to The commanding Officer of the British Navy or land
Forces at or near Portsmouth.]

A Boat the Dolphin belonging to this State commanded by M^r
William Middleton was in the Month of March last, taken by one
of the British Squadron then in Chesepeak, soon afterwards the Cap^t
of a French armed Vessel brought in here Capt Penny and part of
the Company of a British Vessel the Endeavour which he had taken
on his Passage Cap^t Pennv represented himself to be related to
Gentlemen of Rank in the British Navy, and requested that his Parole
might be taken to return Middleton in his Stead. A Copy of his
Parole we have the Honor to enclose; but we have not heard since
from Cap^t Penny neither has Middleton returned. We request Sir,
that Enquiry may be made and Middleton may be released, or Penny
returned according to the Terms of his Parole. We have also to
inform you that about the 1^st July past one of the British Barges
captured in the Mouth of Patuxent a small Bay Schooner laden with
Tobacco, on Board of which was a young Gentlemen M^r James
Thomas Owner of the Vessel and Tobacco. His Parents, who are
People of Credit have heard that he is very ill in Jail at Portsmouth,
and since he was a Prisner, badly wounded, and that he suffers for the
Conveniences of Life, under these Circumstance common Humanity
induces us to comply with the request of the Parents and Relations
of M^r Thomas in giving the Bearer hereof Lieutenant Col. John
Thomas of the S^t Mary's Militia, permission to go with a Flag to
endeavour to obtain the Release of his Brother, either on Parole or on
Exchange, at the same Time to carry him some Money and Neces-
saries for his Support and Recovery. He will be attended by Doctr
Mud and four Hands to navigate the Boat. There are in Maryland
several Persons who have been taken by the Inhabitants plundering
on the Shores. If you think proper to release M^r Thomas, we will
immediately release in his Stead any British Citizen who is a Prisoner
here in like Circumstances. As we have truly stated the only Motives
for this Address, we have to request that the Bearer, who will comply
with the Formalities required, may be received with Indulgence and
respect shewn to Flags of Truce

Ibid,
p. 248

[Council to John Smith Brookes Esqr.]

We have yours of the 13^th Instant by M^r Scott who has delivered
twenty nine Head of Cattle to Ml^r Chrysal, we cannot conceive how
you could have misunderstood our Letters as they were certainly
positive to forward the Cattle to his Place, by their not being com-
plied with the Troops have suffered for flesh Provisions, we request