January 1-December 31, 1781 191

in case of their sudden approach, to be ready to Assist the people
in driving off their Stock, and securing their property & Craft along
shore.
I shall be more particular in any inteligence I shall communicate
for the future, my first to you on this Occasion was from a letter of
M^r George Lees to M^r Sydebottram in which he Earnestly requested
the Assistance of his or any other Craft to remove himself & Effects
up to Bladensburgh, my second with respect to burning Portobacco
Warehouse was by a letter from Coll^l Addison to myself. I had an
oppertunity from Piscatoway yesterday of writing to Coll^l Ware
desiring that he would for the future on any such alarms of the
Enemie coming up the river, Endeavour to get the best inteligence
he could of the appearance of their forces, & send an Acc^t thereof
to Coll^l Lyles below Piscatoway who is to send it forward to Coll^l
Addison & he to me, such a Chain of inteligence might prevent a
great deal of unnecessary Expence Trouble, & confusion.
If you approve of the scheem of keeping part of the militia on
duty, I could wish to know how they are to be supported in provi-
sion, Whether by the commissary, or find themselves during a short
Touer of duty, & paid money in Lieu of the rations, & how mutch.

April 16

[Chris^r Birckhead Talbot County to His Excellency
Tho^s Sim Lee Esq^r]

I am informed that there is a late Act of Assembly, respecting
the Regulation of the Militia: Should take it as a favour if I cou'd
be furnish'd with it

April 16

[H. Hollingsworth, Head of Elk, to His Excellency the Governor
in Council.]

And please Your Excell^cys & Honours Notwithstanding my let-
ters of the 11^th and 13^th I am now constrained to inform you that
Col^o Ephraim Blain C. G. of Purchases (who will be with you before
this) has lodged a letter at my office on this day, acquainting that he
is on his way to your Excellency & Honours, and so by Kent Island
to the Eastern shore, in order to hasten the provisions out of it
towards Trentown, as every necessary directions has been given to
the Commissarys of each Counties to have their provisions collected
put up and forwarded to the Head of Chester according to your
former Orders I have only to acquaint your Excellency and Honours
that the Teams belonging to this and the adjacent County s which
went with the Marquis are not returned, and that I am too feeble and
poor to go into distant Countys to hire Teams for this Service unless
strengthened by your Honourable Board. I therefore most earnestly
Intreat that an order be sent me by Col^o Blain (if not already sent)
(according to my former application) on the Eastern shore Treasury,
for such a sum as may be thought sufficient to defray the expence

April 16
Red Book
No. 30
Letter 106