86 VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS, NOVEMBER SESSION, 1808.

always considered himself ill-treated by the council, and had abused them for their conduct, and had remarked,
that the council by their conduct would injure the republican cause, but that he never had used any threats, di-
rectly or indirectly, to intimidate the council, with a view to the election of delegates for the city; that he had ne-
ver threatened to change his politics, or designed to influence the council to pay his account, by any declara-
tion of that sort; and that in the height of the dispute relative to the account, he called on Mr. Boyle to solicit
him to become a candidate for the assembly, to represent this city: That this deponent's meaning, in saying the
conduct of the council in this instance would injure the republican cause, was, that it was calculated to do so,
because it was unjust in its nature: That it is the opinion of this deponent the election of Mr. Boyle was secured
long before the last order of the council to pay the account: That inferences might have been drawn, by young
men of his acquaintance, from the manner in which he abused the council when they were mentioned in his pre-
sence; that he was not very violent in the election, but that he had never had any idea of changing his political
sentiments for that reason: That the advance charges on the Baltimore prices for cabinet-work in Annapolis
are generally from twenty to thirty per cent. That after Mr. Crook had valued the work, in conversation with
the deponent, he (Crook.) appeared to be perfectly satisfied that the account was right, and then the deponent

wrote to Baltimore for Mr. Camp, to come downrto value the work also, in hopes that after that the dispute

would end; and this deponent believes that Mr. Camp's letter to him of April 8th, 1808, was put into the pos-
session of the council, or of Mr. Duvall, one of the council, soon after it was received.
(A true Copy. S. Lowdermilk, clk.)

(C.)
To John Hanson Thomas, Esquire, chairman of the committee who wen appointed to inquire into the expenses incurred by the

Executive in fitting up the house of delegates room with desks, &c. under a resolution of November session, 1806.
Annapolis, 22d December, 1808.

SIR,

IN obedience to the order of your committee, I shall hereunto subjoin answers, under oath, to the four inter-
rogatories put to me.

To the first I reply, that to the best of my recollection, I never had any conversation with the Messrs
Tucks, or either of them, on the subject of their claim against the Executive, for fitting up the chamber of the
house of delegates, until after I had understood that they had been fully paid—sometime after I had received such
advice, Mr. Washington Tuck called on me, I think in the month of September last, to consult with me on a
piece of private business; after it was discussed, I asked him if it was true that the claim of his brother and
himself had been fully paid? He replied, that they had been paid the last cent of their claim. Mr. Tuck then
slated, that a point of some consequence, had not, in the first instance, been taken into consideration, name-
ly, that certain cabinet-makers in Baltimore had associated for the purpose of purchasing quantities of maho-
gany as they arrived; that they, of course, secured for themselves the prime of the wood, and disposed of the
inferior to other cabinet-makers in Baltimore, or distant workmen, at such advanced prices as often left their own
stock at less than nothing in point of cash.

To the second I reply, that I never had any conversation with any member of the executive on the subject of
Messrs. Tucks claim, except with Mr. Duvall; that gentleman called on me sometime in the month of July, and
informed me, that he intended to go to the city of Washington on the next day, with the view to obtain from the
general government arms for the state of Maryland, in pursuance of the resolution of the last assembly. Mr.
Duvall then stated, that there was a subject on which he wished I would act during his absence. I inquired what
it was. Mr. D. supposed that I had heard of the difference which had happened between the council and
Mr. Tuck, or the Messrs. Tucks; I replied, that I had heard of it, but had not informed myself of the particu-
lars. Mr. D. then stated to me, from a memorandum in his hand, that the charge of Messrs. T. amounted to
3288 dollars; that the council, after various calculations, and after taking, (as I understood him,) all circum-
stances into consideration, had paid, or determined to pay, 2753 dollars, as a full compensation for the work
done, and that they had determined not to pay the difference of 530 dollars. Mr. D. requested me to take a
minute of these sums, which I did. Mr. D. then urged me to see the Messrs. T's. during his absence, and with-
out mentioning his name to them, to endeavour to prevail on them to receive 2758 dollars as full satisfaction
for their Work. At this point of our conversation, I asked Mr. D. if it was true, that Mr. T. or the Messrs.
T's. had proved their account at the request of the council? He replied, that such proof had been required and
complied with. On a moment's reflection, I informed Mr. D. that under my then impressions, I could not in-
terfere in the case. He requested me to reconsider, and gratify his wish, if possible, adding, that this subject
might make some noise at the nest session of assembly. I did not interfere.

To the third I reply, that in my second answer I have stated, that I had no conversation with any other mem-
ber of the council but Mr. Duvall; I have given the entire substance of such conversation, to which it appears
to me necessary only to add, that I have had no information whatever respecting the reasons which induced the
council to abandon the ground which I understood they had taken in July last.
To the fourth I reply, that I have no further information to give on the subject.

With great respect, I have the honour to be. Sir, Your most obdt. servt.

JOHN MUIR.