Council of Maryland, 1782-1783. 443

In Virtue of the Resolution of the General Assembly passed the
31^st of May last, Charles Beatty of Montgomery County and Nor-
mand Bruce of Frederick County are appointed to examine, and
report their Opinion of opening, clearing and making navigable the
River Potomack from the Mouth of the Eastern Branch to the Line
of this State, the Time the work would take, and the Expences, and
compute the expence of making the said River navigable at each
Fall.—

August 1
Liber C. B.
No. 24
p. 435

[Ben Stoddert Pres^t in Council to Thomas Harwood Esq^r]

We are favored with your's of the 15^th Ult^o. It is necessary for
Us to observe that we have no power of dispensing with a Law —
Nor can We undertake to Justify you in doing it, altho' We think
in the present instance, the measure would be highly agreeable to the
General Assembly for the reasons which follow. It is certainly bad
policy to distress the Citizens who are purchasers of Confiscated
Property, by issuing executions against them when the Money aris-
ing therefrom cannot be applied to the Service of the State, but
must remain locked up in the Treasury, 'till after the last of Decem-
ber 1784 the time of the redemption of the Bills of Credit, to redeem
which the property was sold. We think it would be highly oppres-
sive because from the Scarcity of Specie the Debtors can with diffi-
culty procure sufficient to discharge their Assessments (of which the
General Assembly were so strongly impressed, that at their last Ses-
sion, they extended the time of collection to this Month) and there
is not more than Twenty five thousand pounds of the last Emission
in Circulation, a Sum greatly inadequate to the satisfaction of the
first payment, which too is dispersed through the State, and not at-
tainable by the Debtors; from whence it must be evident to the most
undiscerning that their property, if executed, will be sold for little
or Nothing, whereby they and their families will be greatly injured,
if not reduced to Beggary, without the prospect of benefit to the
Public; an event which would be much lamented by the General As-
sembly, and might excite a general disgust against the Government —
We are &^ca

August 1
Liber No. 78

p. 447

[W^m Paca in Council Annapolis to Charles Beatty &
Normand Bruce Esquires]

In consequence of the enclosed Resolution of the General Assem-
bly, We have appointed, you to execute the Duties therein specified,
and to make the Report required, to the General Assembly at their
Annual meeting in November —
The base Payment of your Expences, is a reward so inadequate
to the trouble you will be at, that we should have little hopes of your
undertaking this Business, did we not entertain an high opinion of
your Zeal to render the Public a Service so essential as laying the
foundation for opening the Navigation of Potomack.

p. 448