98 Letters to the Governor and Council

March 2

to call the Court, which they as often refused, and by which refusal,
& neglect only, the Court fell. Nicholas Thomas Esquire as well as
others well knows the above facts to be true. Your Excellency there-
fore, knowing or at least may know the foreman of that Grand jury
to be a man of a Suspicious Character, especially in the common
Cause, & of course my Enemy, and seeing their inniquitous proceed-
ings against me in this matter, will judge whether I appear as an
object worthy your attention or not, If I do, you'll grant the above
request which shall be duly acknowledged by your Excellencies
Mo. obed^t Humble Serv^t

Copy Presentment against John Gibson Esq^r Talbot County found
at September Term 1778 in the General Court for the Eastern
Shore to wit

Maryland ss.
We the Grand Inquest for the Body of the Eastern Shore of the
State af^d do upon our Oaths Present John Gibson, Henry Banning
and Howes Goldsborough Justices of Talbot County for not holding
Court in the Month of August last
Testes W^m Perry, Foreman
Evidence
Richard Skinner
True Copy
James Earle Clk
G C. E S.

April 3
[Draft]

[Thomas Sim Lee, Governor, Annapolis To John Gibson,
Talbot Court House]

I rec^d your Letter of the 2^d March with the Enclosure.
There being a Variety of Opinions entertained with Respect to the
Propriety of the Governors remitting Fines ab^t Common Law, I
some Time past made Application to the Gen^l Assembly for their
Interposition in that and other Matters but Business requiring im-
mediate Dispatch, I imagine prevented their going fully into a Con-
sidation of the Subject. Under such Circumstances I do not think
myself justifiable in interposing in Cases of this Kind until I am
ascertained of the Opinion of the Assembly, and am therefore con-
strained to decline it in yours

March 2
Brown Book
No. 7
Letter 55

[J. Gouvion, Lt. Col. of Engineers, Patuxen River, to Gov. Lee.]

I would take it as a great favour, if your Excellency would send
an express to the Marquis, to let him know that the french fleet is yet
in the bay, and she is entirely clear of british cruizers, you will ex-
cuse the liberty I take, considering that it is only for the publick
Service