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are guilty of the most wanton Destruction of Property on the Shores.
Unfortunately for the People who are exposed to their Ravages, there
is no Force belonging to Government, able to oppose them. Were
our Barges completely manned and fitted, they would be quite insuffi-
cient for the Purpose, and the State Ship building by Mr Steward
cannot be finished in any reasonable Time. Under these disagreeable
Circumstances, we are compelled, once more, to put the Patriotism
and Public Spirit of the Merchants of Baltimore Town, to the Proof.
We understand they have generally determined, not to send out their
Shipping, until the Result of the Negotiations carrying on in Europe,
is known, and we therefore flatter ourselves they will be able, with-
out Injury to themselves, to afford us the Aid we have to solicit on the
present Occasion; which is, to lend three armed Sloops or Schooners
of eight or ten Guns and upwards, completely manned, and 50 Men
over and above the Crews of these Vessels, for one Month, if their
Services should be so long wanted. We want the 150 Men, to man
three Barges belonging to the State, which are now at this Place.
We propose that the armed Vessels and Barges shall be commanded
by such Officers as the Merchants shall appoint. From the best In-
formation we can obtain, there are thirteen Barges, one Sloop, and
two Schooners, belonging to the Enemy, now in the Bay : their largest
Vessel mounts 10 Guns, the greater Part of their Barges, we appre-
hend, are small; and we think the Force we have mentioned, added
to the Pole Cat, which we expect to get, will be quite sufficient to drive
them out of the Bay : but if we should be disappointed in the Pole
Cat, we shall in that Case, be under the Necessity of requesting one
more Sloop or Schooner, and that no Time may be lost, we beg you
will be so obliging as to consult Commodore La Ville Brune, on this
Subject. The Whole of the Prizes taken by this Equipment, shall
be divided among the Crews, agreeable to the Practice in like Cases,
and we will agree to pay the Men, at the End of the Cruize, at the
Rate of three Pounds per Month, and the inferior Officers in Pro-
portion; the Commanding Officer £20. and the other Captains £15.,
the Lieutenants £10. p Month, besides furnishing them with a suffi-
cient Quantity of good Provisions and Liquors. As for the Sloops,
or Schooners, we will agree to pay for them, if it should be required,
such Price as you shall agree upon, by the Month; and we will engage
that the Value of them shall be paid to the Owners, in Case of Loss
or Capture; and any Damage they may sustain, shall be repaired at
the public Expence. We need not add that the utmost Dispatch is
essentially necessary in this Business. Whaland has taken Post with
a considerable Force, and is building Barracks at Cages Streights,
and there are Vessels now in Patuxent, doing great Damage. The
Warehouses all over the State, are in the greatest Danger. We send
an Express with this, and we hope to hear from you by his Return.
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February 19
Liber No. 78
p. 415
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