of the Council of Maryland. 603

[Council Circular to the Commissaries of the Several Counties.]

Yesterday Evening we received certain Intelligence by a French
Cutter which arrived at Baltimore Town, that the French Fleet con-
sisting of 28 Ships of the Line and 4 Frigates came into our Bay on
the 26^th ult^o and had landed 3000 Troops in Virginia. The Intelli-
gence is confirmed as to the Arrival of the Fleet, by a Letter from
Virginia from one of the Marquis Fayette's Family. There never
has been a Time which required the Exertions of the State more than
the present. The Fate of Lord Cornwallis and his Army will in a
great Measure, depend upon them. Relying therefore on your
Patriotizm Zeal and Activity, we trust you will do every Thing in
your Power to procure the Cattle heretofore ordered. Not a Moment
is to be lost and to enable you to act with more Facility, and to ease
the Inhabitants we have sent you [ ]F³ £ to pay, in Part for the Cattle,
and you may inform the Persons of whom you get them, that the
Residue shall be paid as soon as sufficient Subscriptions shall be
received on which the Money is to issue. If you cannot procure the
whole of the Cattle by Purchase and should meet with any Resistance
or Difficulties in collecting them by seizure, you may employ Persons
to assist you, and call on the Lieutenant of your County whom we
have directed to order out as many of the Light Horse Militia to aid
you in the Execution of this Order, as will be necessary.

[ ] Money sent to each County :
To Somerset £1700 to Worcester 1700£ to Dorchester1100£ to
Talbot 950£ to Caroline 350£ to Queen Anns 95o£ to Kent 800£ to
Cecil 950£ to Harford 800£ to Baltimore 1100£ to Ann Arundel
500£ to Prince Georges 5oo£ to Charles 500£ to Saint Mary's 500£ to
Calvert 500£ to Montgomery 800£ to Frederick 1100£ and to Wash-
ington 800£.

September s
Liber No. 78
p. 274
Ibid.

p. 275

[Council to President of the Special Council.]

We most sincerely congratulate you on the Arrival of Count de
Grasse. We do ourselves the Honor of enclosing Copies of the
Letters which confirm this happy Event. Circular Letters are dis-
patched to the respective Commissaries, urging them to use every
Exertion in their Power to procure and forward the Supplies,
agreeably to our former Orders. As they will probably be wanted
before they can be collected, without the most strenuous Exertions,
we beg Leave to request every Aid in your Power that this Business
may not be a Moment retarded. To give the more Energy to the
Exertions of the Commissaries, and to satisfy and quiet the appre-
hensions of the Inhabitants, each Commissary is furnished with a
Sum of Money to enable him to pay in Part for the Cattle

Ibid.