366 Journal and Correspondence.

February 21
Liber No. 78
p. 419

Parliament, of the 5^th of December last; there is some Reason to
think that Orders have been given by the British Crown, prohibiting
offensive Operations on the Continent. Under this Impression, we
beg Leave to inform your Excellency, that if such Orders were ever
given, they have been most shamefully violated by the Enemys
Barges and armed Vessels, in the Bay of Chesapeake. There are now
in the Bay, eleven Barges, and one Sloop, and two Schooners, who
proceed in detached Parties, not only capturing our Vessels, but
landing on our Shores, and wasting and plundering the Property of
the People of this State. On Thursday last, a Party, under the Com-
mand of Whaland, went up Patuxent, plundered the Town of Bene-
dict, and burnt and destroyed the dwelling House and out Houses
of M^r Benjamin Mackall, with his Furniture, Tobacco, and other
moveable Property; Col^o Plater was also plundered of some of his
Negroes. Another Party, the Day before Yesterday, consisting of
five Barges and a Sloop, came as high up as Kent Point, nearly oppo-

p. 420

site to this City, and were cruising, by last Accounts, in the Eastern
Bay and about Poplar Island. The most of their Barges keep about
the Tangier Islands, and from thence make Excursions up the Rivers
on the Eastern Shore, robbing and plundering on the Shores.
The Intention of this Address is, to possess your Excellency with
Information of the Enemy's Conduct and Operations in this State,
in Order that if your Excellency should be of Opinion that such Out-
rages are not authorized by the British Crown or his Officers, your
Excellency may be enabled to make such a Communication to the
British General and Admiral, as your Excellency may consider proper
and likely to put a stop to farther Depredations.

February 24
Liber C. B.
No. 24
p. 387

Monday 24^th February 1783.
Present His Excellency & all Members.
Ordered that the western shore Treasurer pay to James Baldwin
eight pounds, eight shillings and nine pence specie due him for Wood
per Account passed. —
That the said Treasurer pay to Thomas Rutland, twenty nine
pounds, two shillings and six pence, and John Dove five pounds, five
shillings out of the Money set apart for Contingent Expences of Gov-
ernment per Accounts passed. —
That the said Treasurer pay to Benedict Eglin sixteen shillings
specie for forage found 11 Horses on their way to join the Southern
Army per Account passed. —
That the said Treasurer pay to Elizabeth Issabell two pounds three
shillings and six pence due her per Account passed. —
That the said Treasurer pay to Thomas Hopewell four pounds
ten shillings — Rachel Forry Twenty six pounds, six shillings and
George Patrick six pounds, two shillings specie agreeable to the "Act
to adjust the Debts due from this State " per Accounts passed. —