Council of Maryland, 1781-1782. 131

ticular, or to confined Instructions, we will inform you generally
that, to afford Security to the Bay Trade, Safety to the Inhabitants
on the Shores, by taking, destroying, or driving off the Vessels of
the Enemy, and to depopulate the Tangier Islands, within the Limits
of this State, are the Objects of your Cruize, and we leave it to your
Judgment and Experience to execute them in the speediest and most
effectual Manner in your Power, suggesting only our Opinion that,
as there is great Cause to suspect the People of the Tangiers have
acted a very principal Part in the late Depredations, your first Object
should be, to seize all the Inhabitants of these Islands, within this
State below Hooper's Streights, and between the Sound and the Bay,
with all their Vessels, Boats, Canoes, and other Property, and turn
the Whole over to the Lieutenants of the Counties in which they
respectively reside to whom we have written on the Subject, and who
will dispose of them agreeable to Law. Should there be any Men
willing to go in the Barges, you may take them, if you think proper.
It will be necessary for you to take an Account of the Number and
Names of the People you deliver over, and their Property. You will
write us by every Opportunity, of your Prospects and Success, and
we wish you to keep a Journal of your Proceedings, to be laid before
this Board on your Return, which must be as soon as you have
effected the Purposes of your Cruize. The Barges are to be brought
to this Place.

April 13
Liber No. 78
p. 340

[Circular. Council To the Lieutenants of Worcester, Dorchester
and Somerset Counties]

Commodore Grason, in the Barges belonging to the State, has
Orders to remove the Inhabitants and their Effects from the Tan-
gier Islands, and to deliver them over to the Lieutenants of the Coun-
ties in which they respectively reside. You will make out exact Re-
turns of those you receive and transmit them to us. The Effects, you
will have taken Care of for the present, and furnish us with an Ac-
count of them. The old Men, Women and Children must be disposed
of as the Law directs, for which Purpose you will send a List of
their Names to the County Court, that Provision may be made for
them. The Men deemed enlisted Soldiers for the War, must be
secured for the present, or such as choose it, may be permitted to go
on Board the Barges. You will be pleased to give all the Assistance
in your Power, to the Commodore in this Business. We send Ex-
tracts from the Law alluded to.

Ibid.

[Council to Capt. Daniel Bryan.]

You will proceed with the Articles wanted by Commodore Grason,
to Miles River, where you will put yourself under his Command.

Ibid.