Council of Maryland, 1781-1782. 261

with M^r Steward, about building the Galley. You might have had it
before, if you had applied to us for Information on the Subject, you
never was informed by this Board, that there was not a written
Agreement. In Justice to M^r Steward, we think it necessary to add,
that he positively denies he seized the 6000 Dollars, for the Reasons
you assign. We do not deny that you consulted us, in the Instance
you mentioned. As to your Intentions to consult us in other In-
stances, we know of no Rule by which to judge of your Intentions,
unless it be your Practice, which would be against you, on this
Occasion, as you yourself do not pretend that you have consulted
us in more than one Instance, and desired to do it in only two
others, since the last Session of Assembly. You say, " the Governor

September
11
Liber No. 78
p. 374

and Council surely know the principal Resources the Intendant has
in his Hands, and that it is not long since the Intendant informed
them of every Species of Property on Hand." We have a Return
from your Office, dated the 1^st of April, of the Specifics then on
Hand, and we have another Return, signed by the Commissary, the
28^th of June, of what had been received in eight Counties, 'til May.
If these Returns, which were furnished on our Application, contain
your principal Resources, we must acknowledge we are acquainted
with them. We neither have, nor had any Suspicion, that the present
Intendant would make use of the public Property, for his private
Emolument; but as it is possible that those who may hereafter fill
that Office ( for we cannot agree with you, that in a certain Event,
the Office will be less necessary than at present) may be selfish, cor-
rupt and ambitious, it evinces the Propriety of a Power being some-
where lodged, to guard against their pernicious and destructive
Practices. We still adhere to our Opinion, that there cannot be a Case,
in which it would be proper in us to give our Opinion upon an
Account, previous to your Determination on it. In some Cases it
may be necessary for you to get Information from us, and that, you
will acknowledge, we never refused to give you.
Permit us now to recommend to your serious Consideration the
Necessity of doing some one Act, before the Meeting of the As-
sembly, to convince them that " the Business which the Governor and
Council were not competent to," was properly placed in your Hands.
If we mistake not, it will require the whole Force of your Abilities
for the two or three Months to come, to make them forget, that your
Receipts from the Sales of Specifics, for the first seven Months
of your Administration, amounted to no more than £2201.. 6.. 10.
"Altho' forewarned by past Experiences that the Neglect of Sale
was 10 p Cent Loss to the State," and that the public Accounts
remained in the same Confusion, and the Specifics throughout the
Country, in the same ruinous State you found them.

p. 375