164 Letters to the Governor and Council

April 5

Honours be of opinion with me that such a measure is necessary.
I could wish to be impowered to inlist a matross company to consist
of thirty six men for the use of the county. We have in this & Wore,
county a number of men who are dismissed from the Army which
I apprehend would enter into that Service if properly incouraged, and
if your Hon^rs approve of it I will procure such intrenching tools as
may be necessary at the public Expence. Should you not approve of
my Enlisting the men, the intrenching business might be performed
by the Militia on duty. I have not sent any of the Militia of this
county to guard the ammunition. If it is convenient for you to fur-
nish me with it I apprehend that you will direct the Lieu^t of Talbot
to furnish such a guard as may be necessary for that purpose.

April 5

[Zacha For rest, St. Marys County, to Gov. Lee.]

There was a negro man condemned at our last Court to be Hanged
and have understood, that the proceedings of the Court have been
transmitted to you my peculiar situation having no Goal in Our
county, and being obliged to keep the Criminal at my Own house
induces me to hope you'l either send down a warrant for the Execu-
tion or a Reprieve, as I have no way of Securing him properly at my
house, the fellow is very Likely and not more than nineteen years
of age.

April 5

[Ridley & Pringle, Baltimore to His Excellency Tho^s Sim Lee, Esq.]

At the sale of Confiscated property yesterday we bought a Lot
near this Town for One thousand and twenty pounds. One fifth
of which by Law being to be paid in specie we have to beg the favor
of your Honb^le Board to give us an order on the Treasurer to credit
the Commissioners Two hundred and four pounds specie (the 1/5th)
The Certificate for the sum due us in Specie we have inclosed to the
Hon^ble J. T. Chase that the above sum may be endorsed as paid on
Account.

April 6

[Don'1 Yeates, D. Q., Annapolis, to The Hon. The Executive Coun-
cil for the State of Maryland]

Wishing to State to your Hon^r Board dificulties I labour under in
the department of Business in which I stand, in hopes the same may
be considered and some mode of relief Pointed out and Aid given me.
When I entered the business of the department the Q' Master Gen-
eral handed me an Estimate of supplies to be made by this state, in
which estimate, is a Considerable Quantity of Indian Corn and Hay,
this Article of forage I have been informed the Legislator has not
made any provision for, be assured every endeavour in my power has
been tryed to procure a sufficient Quantity to support the business
what I have been able to procure together with the assistance you