January 1-December 31, 1781 367

[Jno. Chaires, Queen Anns County to the Governor and Council.]

I have Collected Ten Horses, five for light horse and five for
Draught, which are all that were to be got from nonjurors in this
County, the commissioners of the Tax has not given me instructions
how to get the deficient number.

July 25

[George Dashiell, Som^t C^ty, to Gov Lee.]

I embrace this opertunity by Serjeant Davis to inform your Ex-
cellency, that the draught directed to be made by the Act to procure
recruits, was caried into effect in this county on the 20^th of June &
that the men draughted may be march'd to such place of rendezvous
as your Excellency may direct immediately, but from the scarcity of
money it has not been in my power to collect the I/ on the property
from the classes they were draughted from, it is probable the money
will be collected by the time I receive your Excellencies instructions
relative to them; The draught under the act to raise two battalions of
Militia to reinforce the American Army &c will be made in this
county on the 30^th Ins^t in consequence of the former draught a few
recruits have been raised to serve three years, and could be imme-
diately march'd to Annapolis if furnish'd with their cloathing in the
county, but am apprehensive they will not be willing to leave the
county without the cloathing which they are to receive from the
State, I have apprehended and shall in a few days send forward to
me of the persons enumerated in your Excellencys Warrant, I re-
quest your instructions relative to the draughts and recruits above
mentioned. M^r McBryde has declined to act under your Excellencies
appointment for the purchasing of cloathing &c I dont find any power
vested in the Co^ty Lieu^t to appoint a person to execute any other part
of the law but that which relates to procuring the horses, Cloathing is
not to be had here, A considerable quantity of black cattle may be
procured, belonging principally to the disaffected & are much ex-
posed to the depredations of the enemy, under these circumstances,
y^r Excellency will judge of the Expediency of securing them for the
use of the State.

July 25

[The Humble Petition of Benj^a Howard Jun^r of Harford County
To The Hon^ble The Governor & Council of the State of
Maryland.]

Humbly Sheweth That your Petitioner is a son to the late Benj^a
Howard Dec^d of the County afores^d and havcing taken the Man-
agement of the Personal Property & Estate into his own hands to
keep it from Sinking or being Involved by Taxes or Assesments was
seized on and Distressed by the high Sherriff of said County for
fines Imposed on the said Benj^a Howard (when surviveing) for
Preaching the Gospel — And that as your Petitioner has associated

July 25