January 1-December 31, 1781 391

[Job Garrettson Baltimore Town to Gov. Lee.]

I have a small vessel called the flying Fish, to do my own private
buisiness & which is now a trimming and repairing in order to get
her ready to carry over two Gentlemen (that are now my prisoners)
to the General Court on the Eastern shore the Session of which com-
mences on Monday or Tuesday next, It seems David Poe has pressed
her into public Service & Insisted she shou'd proceed in the order she
is now in. I cannot procure any other boat on the present Occation
my low & late Indisposition Incapacitates me from either riding on
horseback or in a Carriage so that shou'd David Poe's pert conduct
in regard to the Impress not meet with a Check by your Excellency
& honourable Council granting me a release for my Vessel it will be
utterly impossible for me to execute & discharge my Office, that is to
say I cannot have the prisoners at the eastern shore, the small number
of men she cou'd carry down the bay wou'd be very Insignificant piece
of service to the Public

August 5

[Petition of William Thompson of Charles County, To his Excellency
Thomas Sim Lee Esq^r Governor and the Honourable Council]

Humbly Sheweth That your Petitioner being at Sea in the month
of April 1780 that on the 18^th of the said month he being at the
Masthead in a Gale of Wind, the Mast head broke and he fell on deck
by which fall he received so much hurt that three of his ribs and his
Breast Bone was broke, which renders him very unfit to go through
any hard labour or the fatigues of marching although he was drafted
in June last.
Therefore he prays that your Excellency and Honours will take
his Case in to your mature Consideration and grant him such relief
as you shall think fit. and your Petitioner as in duty Bound will ever
pray.
These are to Certify that I verily believe the facts as Stated in the
above petition to be Strictly true Fran^s Ware
William Thompson the above Petitioner has lived with me ever
since his misfortune at Sea, he has had many Infectuous Swellings
in his Groins out of which Pieces of his Rib have come They still con-
tinue to rise on the least Fatigue. He is now in so ill a state of Health
that, I think he is not able to march ten miles
Hoskins Hanson
Charles County August 5^th I hereby certify that William Thomp-
son is in a very ill state of helth, and in my oppinion entirely unfit
for Military duty. G. R. Brown

August S

[Sam. Smith, Balt., to Gov. Lee.]

I took the Liberty to open your Excell^ys Letter to Gen. Buchanan
& in Consequence have began to put this place in a posture of De-
fence. The Galley has now 100 Men at work on her. I flatter myself

August s
Red Book
No. 27
Letter 127