of the Council of Maryland. 75

their Privateers or Cruisers in the Bay and declares that any Decla-
rations by him of his Trading with them were made without any
foundation in Truth, and in the Hour of Indiscretion and Folly
when the Behavior, Conduct and Conversation of the Company,
induced him, greatly intoxicated with Liquor to utter sentiments
foreign to the Truth, and to accuse himself with Crimes of which
he is intirely innocent.
Your Petitioner further begs leave to represent that he has a Wife
and three small Children, with two orphan Girls, who depend alto-
gether on his Labour for their Support. Your Petitioner therefore
humbly solicits your Honours, that he may be admitted to give
security or Bail for his appearance to answer any Charge exhibited
against him, and for his good behavior and that he may be ordered
to be prosecuted and Tried at the ensuing General Court to be held
for the Eastern Shore, or that if under all Circumstances your
Honours should think his going at large will be dangerous to the
State, that he may be confined in Dorchester County or some of the
adjacent Counties, where your Petitioner may be better enabled to
support himself in his Imprisonment, and be visited and comforted
by his Wife, Children and Friends
Your Petitioner requests and hopes he may be brought to his
Trial, as soon as may be. If he is innocent his confinement and loss
of Liberty will be a heavy punishment and ruinous to his property
which is small, but if guilty, Imprisonment is inadequate to his sup-
posed Offence and the punishment ought to be inflicted as soon as
possible

September 4

[Don'l Yeates. D. O M, Head Elk, to Gov. Lee]

Sir being informed there was stores of this States purchase for
our army, now lying at the Landings of Duck Creek and Appo-
quinimick in the Delaware State, I think it my duty to inform you
I have been over there in order to examine into their present state,
these Stores are three hund^d and odd Barrels of flow'r and some
Indian corn and has been stored at those places for a considerable
time past, from which circumstance its more than probable some
damage has Accrued as well as a heavy charge for Storage, my in-
structions direct me to examine all stores forwarded by me Col^o Hol-
lingsworth declines going into a View of this property as its not in
this State, I have applyed to Captain Johnson the purchaser of a
great part of it he desires to be directed by you in this matter,
inclosed is his letter on the subject, as I dont presume to know every
circumstance attending the delay of this property or Judge where
the damage should Center if any, I am only desireous of giveing you
the present circumstance so far as I know and have it in my Power
to forward it if fit, for use or any part that may, consistant with
my duty.

September 4