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^^^NARRATIVE OF EVENTS 
 
 W/ WHICH ^ 
 
 OCCURRED IN BALTIMORE TOWN 
 
 DURING 
 
 THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 
 
 TO WHICH ARE APPENDED, 
 
 VARIOUS DOCUMENTS AND LETTERS, 
 
 THE GREATER PART OF WHICH HAVE NEVER BEEN 
 HERETOFORE PUBLISHED. 
 
 BY ROBERT PURVIANCE. 
 
 BALTIMORE: 
 PRINTD BY JOS. ROBINSON 
 
 1849. 
 
[Entered according to the act of Congress, in the year eighteen hundred 
 and forty-nine, by Robert Pdrviance, in the Clerk's office of the District 
 Court of the United States, for the District of Maryland.] 
 
 r-\ 
 
 ^xy\ 
 
PREFACE 
 
 The following narrative was read before the His- 
 torical Society of Maryland, at their sitting in 
 January, 1847. It has been compiled principally 
 from documents which had been in the posses- 
 sion of my father, the late Robert Purviance, from 
 the date of the events to w^hich they refer. His 
 family knew nothing of their existence until two 
 years ago, when in a general search for papers in 
 the custom house, they were found amid a vast 
 collection of old documents, which had been the 
 accumulation of more than half of a century. As 
 they treated of events which -had occurred in Bal- 
 timore during the Revolutionary war, of which 
 few memorials had been preserved, I thought I 
 would collect from them such as might be con- 
 sidered worthy of preserving, and present them, 
 which I now do, in a publication, to the com- 
 munity, of whose early patriotism they bear so 
 honorable a testimonial. 
 
 ROBERT PURVIANCE. 
 Baltimore, January 15t7i, 1849. 
 
A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Mr. Hume has remarked that ** the curiosity entertain- 
 ed by all civilized nations, of enquiring into the exploits 
 and adventures of their ancestors, commonly excites a 
 regret that the history of remote ages should al- 
 ways be so much involved in obscurity, uncertainty 
 and contradiction." In the indulgence of this natural 
 curiosity, the American people have no regrets to expe- 
 rience, that their history is involved in obscurity, uncer- 
 tainty and contradiction. The records which have been 
 preserved of the planting of the different colonies, 
 which were afterwards united as a great whole, and 
 are now known as the United States, bear testimony 
 to the pure and upright sentiments which directed the 
 colonists in the building up of these great communities. 
 Whether right or wrong in the crown of England un- 
 dertaking to appropriate to itself the great wastes of a 
 large portion of the North American continent, and 
 allotting to such persons as might solicit of it, such of 
 the vacant lands as they might require, is not now a 
 question ; for the principle seems to have been estab- 
 lished from the earliest ages of civilization, that terri- 
 2 
 
2 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 torles, either inhabited by savages, or destitute of any 
 kind of population, belonged of right to the first dis- 
 coverer ; and that if he followed up his discovery by 
 an actual occupation, his claim was good to it against 
 all the world. That this principle, which has contri- 
 buted to the civilization of the world, cannot be vindi- 
 cated on the ground of natural right, will be admitted, 
 when we reflect on the manner in which the great Crea- 
 tor has permitted the human race to be scattered over 
 the earth. When man came from the hand of his 
 Maker, he was endowed with all the powers requisite 
 to fit him for the purpose for which he was created. 
 To him was given dominion over the fowls of the air, 
 and the fish of the sea : — " to subdue the earth," to 
 "increase and multiply." As the race of man in- 
 creased, it became necessary for them to extend the 
 dominion they had at first occupied, in order to satisfy 
 their increasing wants. A larger portion of the earth 
 became necessarily occupied, and with the steadiness 
 of the advancing wave, this increase of dominion con- 
 tinued. In the course of time, the tide of emi^ation 
 reached the shores of Western America, and this vast 
 continent became the dwelling-place of the descend- 
 ants of those who began this emigration. Man seems 
 early to have lost the knowledge of his Creator, but 
 the impression that he is the creature of a superior 
 power, has never been completely eradicated from 
 his mind. If he had forgotten that the power to sub- 
 due the earth was an attribute which emanated from 
 God, he has always felt that he had such a power, 
 and he has not failed to exercise it. When this conti- 
 nent was first discovered, such a race of men as we have 
 
Ca. I.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 3 
 
 spoken of, were found to be in possession of it. As 
 society advanced in civilization, to preserve such an 
 intercourse between its parts, as would promote the 
 great purposes for which it was created, it became 
 necessary to establish such principles as would best 
 secure this end. These principles, as established by 
 the consent of the civilized portion of mankind, are 
 what are now known by the familiar name of the laws 
 of nations. They suppose a general civilization among 
 nations, and provide for the intercourse of each with 
 the other, upon principles adapted to such a state. 
 Where, however, a people exist who are not yet formed 
 into nations, but are still of so wandering a character, 
 that the principles which bind those who are civilized, 
 do not govern them in their intercourse with each other, 
 they treat these wandering people in their intercourse 
 with them, as mere tenants at will of the soil they occu- 
 py, and assume a right of dispossessing them, whenever 
 they think the cause of civilization demands that its ad- 
 vocates should possess the nomadic land. After the 
 discovery of America by Columbus, many of the na- 
 tions of Europe became awakened by the success of 
 his daring enterprise, and they, in their turn, fitted out 
 ships to traverse the unfrequented seas, under the hope, 
 that new discoveries would give to them, also, a rich 
 harvest of glory. These new expeditions resulted in a 
 discovery of the whole continent of North and South 
 America, ; of a passage to India, and all Eastern Asia, 
 by the Cape of Good Hope. These discoveries open- 
 ed to Europe the fairest field of enterprise which had 
 ever invited the industry and the skill of man. Here- 
 tofore, Europe, in the pursuit of maritime commerce, 
 
4 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 had been confined to the seas which wash her shores 
 on the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Her commerce 
 with India was by land and the Mediterranean sea; and 
 the expense with which such a trade would be neces- 
 sarily burthened, would greatly diminish the benefits 
 which otherwise must have attended its prosecution. 
 After the discovery of the Eastern parts of America, 
 England commenced her settlements in various parts 
 of that portion of the continent. The charters granted 
 to different persons for the purpose of making these 
 settlements, were as various in the rights bestowed, as 
 the views of the different applicants who succeeded in 
 obtaining them. The colony which was planted in 
 Massachusetts sprung from the persecutions experienc- 
 ed in England by the puritans, a class of people who 
 had been distinguished by their opposition to the reli- 
 gious principles of the government. They sought an 
 asylum where they thought they would be enabled to 
 worship their Creator according to the dictates of 
 their conscience, and not in conformity to the prescrib- 
 ed rules of the monarch. That asylum they found on 
 Plymouth rock, and from this small spot of the earth, 
 arose the colony of Massachusetts, the great leader in 
 the war of our revolution. In the course of time, other 
 colonies were planted, so that in the great war of 1754, 
 which England waged against France, they numbered 
 thirteen; and having obtained a population so numerous 
 as to give them a mighty weight in the scale of power, 
 they were called upon by the mother country to aid 
 in destroying the power of France on this continent. 
 That aid was furnished, and the history of their exer- 
 tions reveals the illustrious fact> that to these, Great 
 
Ch. L] a narrative of events, &c. 5 
 
 Britain was mainly indebted for her exclusive dominion 
 of all the territory which France had hitherto occupied. 
 One would have thought, that the recollection of such 
 services could never be obHterated from the mind of 
 any recipient of the favor, be that recipient either an 
 Empire, or an individual sovereign. The colony o 
 Maryland, which had been planted by Lord Baltimore, 
 in virtue of a grant made to him by Charles the Firsts 
 had, at the time when this French war broke out, so 
 far advanced in prosperity, that her population had 
 reached to one hundred and fifty thousand persons, and 
 her trade, with such parts of the world as her depend- 
 ent character allowed her to have, was very extensive. 
 And it is remarkable, that, so completely had the crown 
 deprived itself of the power of taxation over the colony, 
 that *• it was covenanted on the part of the kmg, that 
 neither he nor his successors should ever impose cus- 
 toms, taxes, quotas, or contributions whatsoever upon 
 the people, their property, or their merchantable com- 
 modities laden within the province." In the war which 
 began in 1754, Maryland does not appear to have heartily 
 entered. She seems to have paid but little attention to 
 the requirements of the crown, so far as they embraced 
 supplies of men and money. Shielding herself, pro- 
 bably, under the broad prohibition which denied to the 
 crown the right of imposing taxes, customs, quotas, 
 &c., she thought she would consult her own conveni- 
 ence, as to the interest she ought to feel in carrying on 
 a war for the aggrandizement of the crown itself. 
 After the capture of Col. Washington, at the little 
 meadows, the frontier settlements of Virginia and Mary- 
 land became endangered by the progress of the French 
 2* 
 
6 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 arms. Maryland saw, in the disasters which had be- 
 fallen those who had preceded her in their efforts to stay 
 the French power, that her own situation was becom- 
 ing critical, and with an energy, which in times of trial, 
 she has been accustomed to exert, now entered into the 
 contest. Her exertions were unabated until the cap- 
 ture of Fort du Quesne by Gen. Forbes, which put an 
 end to the French power on the Ohio. From this 
 period until the conclusion of the war, she does not ap- 
 pear to have taken any particular part in it. On the 
 subject of taxation, to which it would be necessary to 
 resort to give effectual aid, differences arose between 
 the two houses of the legislature, and not being able to 
 compose them by the ordinary methods of concession, 
 they existed until the peace of 1763, when they natu- 
 rally ceased. 
 
 This peace had scarcely dawned before the parlia- 
 ment of Gl^reat Britain had conceived the idea, that the 
 burthens of the war ought not to be confined to those who 
 reaped all its benefits, but that those who had given 
 their blood and treasure, as aids, and who had no voice 
 in saying, either that war was necessary at the time it oc- 
 curred, or that a time for peace had now come, must 
 divide them with her. The first intimation given by 
 her that this participation of burthens would be requir- 
 ed at the hands of her colonies, was in her celebrated 
 stamp tax act. In Maryland, this act met with a re- 
 sistance as bold and determined, as in any other colony 
 ,of America. Among those of her sons who distin- 
 iguished themselves in resisting this great encroachment, 
 as well on the natural, as the colonial rights of the pro- 
 vince, was Daniel Dulaney, Esq., a gentleman well 
 
Ch. I.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c, 7 
 
 known In the early history of Baltimore. In a pamphlet 
 entitled, " Considerations on the propriety of imposing 
 taxes in the British colonies, for the purpose of raising 
 a revenue, by act of Parliament," with a force of rea- 
 soning that defied ingenuity to discover the slightest 
 fallacy, he sustained the cause of America. This pam- 
 phlet of Mr. Dulaney was as much admired in Eng- 
 land, by those who had resisted the enactment of the 
 law in its passage through the British Parliament, as it 
 was by those in this country who felt its irresistible 
 power. It was indeed a subject of sincere regret to 
 those who w^ere accustomed to admire Mr. Dulaney 
 in the zenith of his glory, that any circumstance should 
 have subsequently occurred, to have prevented him 
 from uniting with his friends, in all the questions which 
 were connected with the differences with England. 
 On the great one, the declaration of Independence, the 
 aid of Mr. Dulaney was not given. The stamp act, 
 in consequence of this determined opposition by the 
 colonies, was repealed in the year 1766, but was follow- 
 ed by other obnoxious enactments, which appear to 
 have been adopted, as much to try the experiment of 
 taxation among an unwilling people, as from any desire 
 to raise a revenue. The people determined that they 
 would not permit themselves to be made the subjects of 
 such galvanic experiments, and with a voice, that even 
 the roaring of the mighty waters which separate Eng- 
 land from America, could not drown, they proclaimed 
 to England, that no British taxation should find a rest- 
 ing place in the colonies. 
 
 To such a height did these vexatious enactments reach, 
 that in the year 1768, an association was formed in 
 
8 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS &.c. 
 
 Boston, by the merchants and traders of that town, 
 for the purpose of opposing- them by such restrictive 
 measures as could not but be felt by the manufacturing 
 interest of England, and through it, by the Government. 
 In the month of August of that year, a letter was ad- 
 dressed by the merchants and traders of Boston to 
 Messrs. Samuel and Robert Purviance of Baltimore, 
 stating that they had been ** sensibly affected with the 
 late acts of Parliament, imposing duties on sundry 
 articles of commerce, with the express view of raising 
 a revenue out of America, and with the embarrassments 
 and restrictions the trade at present labors under, are 
 fully convinced of the necessity of exerting themselves 
 without any further delay, in a firm but peaceable manner 
 of obtaining relief." In conformity to the determination 
 thus expressed, they adopted several resolutions, all 
 looking to the suspension of the greater part of trade, 
 for one year, say from Jan. 1, 1769, to 1 Jan. 1770, 
 which they had been accustomed to have with Great 
 Britain. Certain articles, however, were excluded from 
 the operation of these resolutions, in consequence of the 
 necessity of their use, and their inability at that time to 
 supply them from their own resources. They invite a 
 co-operation with them on the part of the merchants 
 of Baltimore, " especially when they consider, that 
 upon their concurrence, their speedy concurrence, 
 greatly depends the success of the measures entered 
 into by the merchants of Boston." This letter was 
 signed by Thomas Gushing, John Hancock, John Rowe, 
 John Erving, Jr., Edward Payne, \Vm. Phillips, and 
 John Barrett ; many of the names of which have sub- 
 sequently brightened the pages of their country's his- 
 
Ch. L] a narrative of events, &c. 9 
 
 tory. I regret that I have failed in my researches of 
 the many valuable documents of which I am in posses- 
 sion, to find among them the notice to which it was so 
 eminently entitled, and which doubtless it received, as 
 well from those to whom it was immediately addressed, 
 as from those to whose confiding patriotism it appealed. 
 I regret it the more, for the letter itself was the first 
 communication ever made by the people of Boston, to 
 the people of Baltimore, on the subject of the griev- 
 ances to which they were primarily subject by the 
 tyranny of British legislation. At this time, there was 
 no paper published in Baltimore, and for any important 
 communication, coming from any of the colonies, which 
 was to be made public, the vehicle of Green's Maryland 
 Gazette at Annapolis, or the Pennsylvania Gazette at 
 Philadelphia, was made use of. In looking over the 
 latter of these for the year 1770, I find, there was an 
 account published of a town meeting held in Baltimore, 
 in the month of June of that year, complaining of the 
 inhabitants of Newport in Rhode Island, having vio- 
 lated " the non-importation agreement," which agree- 
 ment, as appears from the proceedings of another meet- 
 ing, held in October, 1770, had been entered into by 
 the people of Baltimore in May 1769, according to the 
 resolutions of Boston, as noticed above. As far as I can 
 learn from these published town meetings, the people 
 of Baltimore entered into the agreement, and for more 
 than one year, with good faith, complied with all the 
 requirements of the resolutions. But they found that 
 other towns which had given the same pledge as they 
 had, had so far departed from it, that a further observ- 
 ance of it on their part, while it but little benefitted the 
 
10 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 common cause, wad working most injuriously upon 
 them. Philadelphia, it appears, as well as Newport, 
 had given cause of dissatisfaction to Baltimore, and of 
 course, from her proximity to Baltimore, any trade she 
 carried on, and which was denied to Baltimore, could 
 not but be injurious to the latter. She therefore signi- 
 fied, in a town meeting held on the 24th Oct. 1770, 
 " that they were determined to depart from the non- 
 importation agreement, and import every kind of goods 
 from Great Britain, such only excepted on which duties 
 are, or hereafter may be imposed by the Parliament of 
 Great Britain." A meeting was held at Annapolis on 
 this subject, the 25th Oct. 1770, by some of the counties 
 of other parts of the State, to which were deputed, by 
 the Baltimore people, a committee to explain to them 
 what were their new views and intentions, in conse- 
 quence of the failure of other towns to adhere to their 
 engagements. The delegates at this meeting, not feel- 
 ing the inconveniencies to which Baltimore was subject 
 by these defalcations, entered into resolutions to adhere 
 to the original agreement, and denounced, not in the 
 most courteous terms, "the merchants and traders of 
 Baltimore," for endeavoring " to destroy that union 
 and good faith so necessary at this, and at all times, for 
 the safety and constitutional rights of these colonies." 
 These denunciations were replied to in a well written 
 article, published in the Pennsylvania Gazette. The 
 writer shews, that those who opposed them, had but 
 very little interest in the trade which they seemed de- 
 sirous should wither under the blighting influence 
 of defalcation ; and at the same time he shews, what 
 would be the steady adherence on the part of the " mer- 
 
Ch. L] a narrative of EVEiNTS, &c. n 
 
 chants and traders of Baltimore," if they could be as- 
 sured of a faithful observance of the commorn compact. 
 In consequence of the passage by the British Parlia* 
 ment of the Boston port bill,— a bill intended to shut 
 out the people of Boston from a commercial intercourse 
 with every part of the world,— the people of Boston 
 assembled in town meeting at Fanueil Hall, on the 13th 
 day of May, 1774, and voted, - that if the other colo- 
 mes would come into a joint resolution to stop all im- 
 portations from Great Britain, and every part of the 
 West Indies, till the act blocking up the harbor be re- 
 pealed, the same will prove the salvation of North 
 America and her liberties." This resolve was trans- 
 mitted to the people of Baltimore, in a letter written by 
 Mr. Samuel Adams, to Mr. Wm. Lux of Baltimore. 
 Mr. Adams, in his peculiarly energetic manner, said, 
 " The people receive this edict with indignation. It is 
 expected by their enemies, and feared by some of their 
 friends, that this town singly will not be able to sup- 
 port the cause under so severe a trial. As the very 
 being of every colony, considered as a free people, 
 depends upon the event, a thought so dishonorable to 
 our brethren cannot be entertained, as that this town 
 will now be left to struggle alone." This resolve was 
 not received direct from Boston until the 4th of June. A 
 copy of it, however, had been sent by express to Bal- 
 timore, by the people of Philadelphia, and received 
 here on the 23d of May. It was accompanied by an 
 account of the action taken on it in Philadelphia. A 
 meeting was called of - the freeholders and gentlemen 
 of Baltimore county," on the 27th of May, by several 
 gentlemen, who had met together on the reception of 
 
12 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 these papers from Philadelphia, for the purpose of 
 calHng the aforesaid meeting. These gentlemen were 
 Robert Alexander, Robert Christie, Sen., Isaac Van 
 Bibber, Thomas Harrison, John Boyd, Samuel Pur- 
 viance, Jr., Andrew Buchanan, Wm. Buchanan, John 
 Moale, Wm. Smith, Wm. Lux, John Smith. That 
 meeting was held at the court house of Baltimore 
 county, on Tuesday, May 31st, 1774. Capt. Charles 
 Ridgely acted as chairman. There were eight resolu- 
 tions adopted. The three first were dissented from by 
 very inferior minorities ; the remaining five were unani- 
 mously adopted. The first resolution expresses it as 
 the duty of every colony in America, to unite in the 
 most effectual means to obtain a repeal of the late act 
 of Parliament for blocking up the harbor of Boston. 
 Three dissentients. 
 
 The second concurred in the sentiment expressed by 
 the Boston resolve, that if the colonies came into a joint 
 resolution to stop importations from, and exportsto Great 
 Britain and the West Indies, the same would be the 
 means of preserving North America and her liberties." 
 Three dissentients. 
 
 The 3rd, the inhabitants of the county will join in an 
 association to stop the intercourse at given days. Nine 
 dissentients. 
 
 The 4th provides for the appointment of delegates 
 to attend a general congress of deputies, from each 
 county in the State, to be held at Annapolis, and dele- 
 gates to attend a general congress from the other colo- 
 nies. Unanimously assented to. 
 
 The 5th provides for breaking off all trade and dealing 
 with that colony, province or town, which refuses to 
 
Ch. L] a narrative of EVEiNTS, &c. 13 
 
 come into similar resolutions. Unanimously assented 
 to. 
 
 The 6tli appoints Capt. Charles Rldgely, Charles 
 Ridgely, son of John, Walter ToUey, Jr., Thos. 
 Cockey Dye, Wm. Lux, Robert Alexander, Samuel 
 Purviance, Jr., John Moale, Andrew Buchanan, and 
 George Risteau, as a committee to attend a general 
 meeting at Annapolis, and that the same gentlemen, 
 together with John Smith, Thos. Harrison, Wm. Bu- 
 chanan, Benj. Nicholson, Thomas Sollers, Wm. Smith, 
 James GIttings, Richard Moale, Jonathan Plowman and 
 Wm. Spear, be a committee of correspondence, to re- 
 ceive and answer all letters, and on any emergency to 
 call a general meeting, and that any six of the number 
 have power to act. Unanimously assented to. 
 
 The 7th requires a publication of their proceedings 
 to be made, " to evince to all the world the sense they 
 entertain of the invasion of their constitutional rights 
 and liberties." Unanimously assented to. 
 
 The 8th — a vote of thanks. 
 
 That all these resolves did not meet with the una- 
 nimity which was expected at the time, may be ac- 
 counted for from this fact, that as some of them looked 
 to a complete prohibition of all intercourse with Great 
 Britain and her West India possessions, It was a 
 ruinous interference with the most profitable branch of 
 trade at that time carried on from Baltimore ; and as 
 the cause which had given rise to the suggestion of the 
 prohibition, viz., the Boston port bill, being considered 
 local in Its character, it did not require such a sacrifice 
 to be made to have it repealed. But the great majority 
 took a more enlarged view of the subject. They view- 
 3 
 
14 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 ed the bill as an encroachment upon American rights, 
 and although in its immediate effects not reaching them, 
 yet the day might come when the example of acqui- 
 escence in it, would be an encouragement to the British 
 Parliament to enforce all the restrictions it then meditat- 
 ed imposing on the colonies. The majority reasoned 
 correctly, and their constituents ratified their deed. 
 
 The gentlemen who had called the meeting of the 
 27th May, in consequence of the communication which 
 had been received from Philadelphia on the 23d, con- 
 sidering the great importance of the subject of which 
 it treated, felt that no time ought to be lost in making 
 communications to other parts respecting it ; for, from 
 the many obstacles which prevented the rapid circula- 
 tion of intelligence in those days, it would be a consider- 
 able time before they could hear any thing of these 
 stirring events, unless a communication was hastened 
 on from Baltimore. Accordingly, they addressed a 
 letter to the people of Annapolis, and other parts of 
 Maryland ; Alexandria, Norfolk and Portsmouth, and 
 Charleston. The general purport of these communi- 
 cations may be seen in the following letter to the people 
 of Alexandria. 
 
 Baltimore, 2ijlh May, 1774. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 On Tuesday last, we received by express from Phila- 
 delphia, a letter from the committee of correspondence 
 at that place, enclosing a copy of the vote of the town 
 of Boston ; a letter from said town to the gentlemen 
 
Ch. I.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 15 
 
 of Philadelphia, advising their present unhappy situa- 
 tion, and requesting their brotherly advice on so inter- 
 esting an occasion ; copies of which vote and letter, 
 the reply thereto, and the resolves entered into at Phila- 
 delphia, we now take the liberty of communicating to 
 you, not doubting your readiness to take a friendly 
 part in a matter so interesting to every American. 
 
 On receipt of these papers, we immediately convened 
 the principal inhabitants of this place, in order to collect 
 in some measure, their sense of the matter. The result 
 was, that we appointed a committee, (of which you 
 have the names annexed) to correspond with tlie com- 
 mittees of any neighboring colonies who may consult 
 us on this or any other public occasion, and particularly, 
 to promote a general correspondence of sentiments 
 with our brethren through this province, in such 
 measures as may, on mature consideration, be the most 
 advisable to take on this alarming occasion. It has 
 been proposed to convene the principal gentlemen of 
 our country at large, in order to promote an application 
 for calling the assembly of the province ; but that we 
 have postponed for the present, until we have the 
 advice of our friends in Annapolis on the matter. 
 
 We hope and expect that the gentlemen of your 
 province who distinguished themselves as the foremost 
 in asserting the cause of American liberty, and oppos- 
 ing the scheme of parliamentary taxation, will now 
 exert themselves with spirit and boldness in the cause 
 of Boston, now violently attacked for defending the 
 common cause of America ; and we doubt not, that the 
 gentlemen of your town in particular, will heartily 
 
16 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 concur in whatever measures may best serve tlie 
 general good. 
 
 We are, with much respect, 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 Your most humble servants. 
 In behalf of the committee, 
 
 SAMUEL PURVIANCE, Jr., 
 
 Chairmaji. 
 
 The committee of correspondence for Baltimore town: 
 Andrew Buchanan, Wm. Lux, 
 
 Robert Alexander, Thomas Harrison, 
 
 Wm. Smith, Robert Christie, Sr. 
 
 John Smith, Dr. John Boyd, 
 
 John Moale, Isaac Van Bibber, 
 
 Wm. Buchanan, Samuel Purviance, Jr., 
 
 To tlie Gentlemen of Alexandria. 
 
 Immediately after the letter which was sent to An- 
 napolis reached there, a meeting of the inhabitants was 
 called in conformity to the desire expressed by the 
 Baltimore committee ; and the resolutions which they 
 adopted, were in harmony with those which had ema- 
 nated from Baltimore. An impression had got abroad 
 that Baltimore was lukewarm in the cause, and it 
 seemed to have thrown a gloom over the countenances 
 of all; but when the resolutions which were adopted 
 here were known, this gloom was dispelled, and confi- 
 dence took the place of distrust. Mr. Alexander, one 
 of the committee of correspondence, was the bearer 
 of the resolutions to the people of Annapolis. In com- 
 municating to the committee the account of his recep- 
 tion at Annapolis, and the effect produced there by his 
 
Ch. L] a narrative of events, &c. 17 
 
 mission, he says, *' Baltimore town, considered in a com- 
 mercial view, is with great justness, esteemed the place 
 of most consequence in the province, and coinciding in 
 sentiments with the metropolis, may have a happy effect 
 on the whole." The gentlemen appointed as a com- 
 mitte for Annapolis were, Messrs. John Hall, Charles 
 Carroll, Thomas Johnson, Jr., Wm. Paca, Matthias 
 Hammond and Samuel Chase. They were " required 
 to join with those who shall be appointed for Baltimore 
 town and other parts of this province, to constitute one 
 general committee ; and that the gentlemen appointed 
 for this city immediately correspond with Baltimore 
 town, and other parts of this province, to effect such 
 associations as will best secure American liberty." On 
 the 26th May, this committee, in furtherance of the 
 honorable commission with which they were entrusted, 
 made the following communication. 
 
 Annapolis, May 26t7i., 1774. 
 To Messrs. S-amuel Purviance, Jr., Wm. Buchanan, 
 Andrew Buchanan, and the other gentlemen who com- 
 fosc the committee of correspojidence in Baltimore town. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 We feel the most sensible pleasure in the receipt qf 
 your letter, by the hands of Mr. Alexander. Nothing 
 can be plainer than that the suffering of Boston is in the 
 general cause of America, and that union and mutual 
 confidence is the basis on which our common liberties 
 can only be supported. We enclose you a copy of a letter 
 wrote to Virginia, and of the resolutions past yesterday 
 in our town meeting. It appears to us that much de- 
 pends on the determinations of Virginia, which we shall 
 3* 
 
IS A xNARRATlVE OF EVENTS &c. 
 
 anxiously expect. Unanimity in the Massachusetts, 
 New York, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina, 
 which may reasonably be expected, bids fair for success. 
 We cheerfully accept your invitation to a free inter- 
 course, and shall most gladly harmonize with you in all 
 possibl»*measures, for the general good. 
 We are, gentlemen, 
 
 With the utmost sincerity and respect. 
 Your most obedient servants, 
 J. HALL, 
 
 CHARLES CARROLL, 
 THOMAS JOHNSON, Jr.. 
 Wm. PACA, 
 SAMUEL CHASE. 
 Mr. Hammond, absent. 
 
 In any struggle which Maryland might think proper 
 to embark in opposition to the legislation of the British 
 Parliament, it was all important for her that Virginia 
 should be closely united with her in the opposition. 
 Their geographical position in the colonies ; their iden- 
 tity of interests from the common use of the Chesa- 
 peake Bay ; and their kindred agriculture; all seemed 
 to require that there should be an united action between 
 them on the great question at that time pending. Vir- 
 ginia herself thought in this manner at that time, for on 
 the very next day after this letter was dated, " the late 
 members of the house of burgesses assembled at the 
 Raleigh tavern in Williamsburg." The reason why 
 this place and that manner was selected by the bur- 
 gesses, for bringing their opinions before the people of 
 Virginia, respecting the town of Boston, and the acts 
 of the British Parliament, was, they had been deprived 
 
Ch. I.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 19 
 
 by tlie sudden interposition of the executive part of 
 the government, from their giving their countrymen 
 " the advice they wished to convey to them in ^ 
 legislative capacity." They, however, were not to be 
 intimidated by the arbitrary exercise of sovereign 
 power. Their opinions had as much weight attached 
 to them when uttered in a tavern, as if they had pro- 
 ceeded from the carpeted halls of legislation. The 
 object of the meeting at the Raleigh tavern, was to 
 form an association ** in support of the constitutional 
 liberties of America against the late oppressive act of 
 the British Parliament, respecting the town of Boston, 
 which, in the end, must affect all the colonies." A 
 copy of this association, with a letter, dated the 31st 
 May, 1774, from the committee of correspondence for 
 Virginia, was sent to the committee of correspondence 
 for Maryland at Annapolis, and by them transmitted to 
 the committee of correspondence of Baltimore. The 
 gentlemen who signed this communication were, Pey- 
 ton Randolph, moderator ; Robert C. Nicholas, Edmond 
 Pendleton, Wm. Harwood, Richard Adams, Thomas 
 Whitling, Henry Lee, Lemuel Riddick, Thomas Jeffer- 
 son, Mann Page, Jr., Charles Carter (Lanc'r.) James 
 Mercer, R. Wormley Carter, George Washington, 
 
 Francis Lishtfoot Lee, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Robert 
 
 / . . . 
 Rutherford, John Walker, James Wood, William 
 
 Langhorne, Thomas Blackburn, Edward Berkely, 
 
 Wm. Donelson, Paul Carrington, Lewis Burnwell, 
 
 (Gloucester.) 
 
 The Baltimore committee received from the town of 
 
 Alexandria, a letter, under date of the 29th May, 1774, 
 
 in reply to theirs of the 25th. They remark "that fol- 
 
20 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &cc. 
 
 lowing the good example you liaJ shewn us, we called 
 a meeting of the prhicipal inhabitants of this town, who 
 determined upon the choice of a committee for car- 
 rying on such correspondence as we judged necessary, 
 for conveying our sentiments to the neighboring towns." 
 
 A letter was also received by the Baltimore com- 
 mittee, of the date of 2d June, 1774, in reply to theirs 
 of the 25th May, enclosing resolutions which had been 
 entered into by the people of Norfolk and Portsmouth. 
 A committee of correspondence was formed by them, 
 whose duty it was " to correspond with the several 
 committees of the different commercial towns on the 
 continent, upon the important subject of these papers, 
 (those transmitted by the Baltimore committee) and 
 acquaint them with the sentiments of the inhabitants of 
 these towns, and to take such other steps for the relief 
 of our suffering brethren of Boston, and the establish- 
 ment of the rights of the colonies." The committee of 
 Norfolk deemed the communication made to them by the 
 Baltimore committee of so much importance, that they 
 transmitted copies of it to the people of Charleston im- 
 mediately, in a letter of the 31st May, which begins in 
 the following noble strain : *' The occasion is too serious 
 to admit of apologies for this unsolicited communication 
 of our sentiments to you, at this alarming crisis to Ameri- 
 can freedom ; for the time is come, the unhappy era is 
 arrived, when the closest union amono: ourselves, and 
 the firmest confidence in each other, are our only secu. 
 rities for those rights, which as men, and free men, we 
 derive from nature and the constitution." 
 
 On the 4th of June, 1771, the Baltimore committee 
 transmitted to the Boston committee the resolutions 
 
Ch. l] a narrative of events, &c. 21 
 
 which had been adopted, when the people of Balti- 
 more were first made acquainted with the distresses of 
 Boston. In the letter which conveyed these resolu- 
 tions, they remark, " Could we remain a moment in- 
 different to your sufferings, the result of your noble 
 and virtuous struggles in defence of American liber- 
 ties, we should be unworthy to share in those blessings, 
 which (under God) we owe, in great measure, to 
 your perseverance and zeal, in support of our common 
 rights, that they have not, ere now, been wrested from 
 us by the rapacious hand of power." The committee 
 of Boston, in reply to this communication, under date 
 of the 18th of June, say, " We last evening received 
 your affectionate letter of the 4th inst. enclosing your 
 noble and spirited resolves. Nothing gives us a more 
 animating confidence of the happy event of our present 
 struggles, for the liberties of America, or affords us 
 greater support under the distresses we now feel, than 
 the assurances we receive from our brethren, of their 
 readiness to join with us in any salutary measure, 
 for preserving the rights of the colonies, and of 
 their tender sympathy for us under our sufferings. We 
 rejoice to find the respectable county of Baltimore 
 so fully alarmed at the public danger, and so prudent 
 and resolute in their measures, to secure the blessings 
 of freedom to their country." 
 
 I have already observed, that the celebrated vote of 
 the town of Boston, which took place on the 13th of 
 May, 1774, together with a letter from the town of 
 Boston of said date, was forwarded by express from 
 Philadelphia to Baltimore, and received here on the 
 23d of May; and that immediate action was taken upan 
 
22 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 it by the people of Baltimore county. They addressed 
 a letter on the 4th of June, to the committee of Phila- 
 delphia, responding in the most enthusiastic manner to 
 the vote which had been transmitted to them, and from 
 the language it makes use of respecting the propriety 
 of holding a general congress of deputies from all the 
 colonies, I infer, that the honor of first suo:2:estino: such 
 an assembly to meet the great crisis which was then 
 approaching, belongs as much to the people of Balti- 
 more, as it has heretofore been considered, as in the 
 exclusive possession of Virginia. Although the reso- 
 lutions of Virginia which recommended it, was dated 
 the 27th of May, yet the communication which announc- 
 ed it to the other colonies, was not dated until the 31st 
 of May, — and on that day, the people of Baltimore, at 
 their deferred meeting, made an equal recommendation 
 of such a measure, and in conveying to the other colo- 
 nies their sense of its propriety, they certainly speak 
 as if they were the first to present this great measure 
 for their approbation. They remark, in this celebrated 
 letter, to the committee of Philadelphia, — " The idea 
 we have formed of a general congress, as expressed in 
 our fourth resolve, is by no means formed upon the 
 opinion, or the necessity of such a congress, for the 
 purpose of petitioning or remonstrating to the crown, 
 or any branch of the legislature of Great Britain. 
 The indignity offered by the ministry to every petition 
 from America ; the affected contempt with which they 
 treated those transmitted in 17G5, and every other since 
 that time, leave us not the least ray of hope, that any 
 application in that mode, would be productive of relief 
 to the sufferings of Boston, whom we consider as a vie- 
 
Ch. L] a narrative of events, &c. 23 
 
 tim to ministerial vengeance, for wisely and justly op- 
 posing them in their arbitrary attacks upon American 
 liberty. We have proposed the congress to settle and 
 establish a general plan of conduct for such colonies 
 that may think fit to send deputies. Their local circum- 
 stances and particular situation may render some little 
 diversity necessary, especially should the same influ- 
 ence that has unhappily guided the councils of Great 
 Britain continue to prevail." 
 
 A copy of these resolutions was transmitted also to 
 the committee of Annapolis. The committee on re- 
 ceiving them, assented to the proposition they contained 
 of calling a general congress, and immediately thereaf- 
 ter, addressed a communication to the committee of 
 correspondence for Virginia on the subject of these 
 resolutions. They say in their letter, ** It is our most 
 fervent wish and sanguine hope, that your colony has 
 the same disposition and spirit, and that by a general 
 congress, such a plan may be struck out, as may effect- 
 ually accomplish the grand object in view." The com- 
 mittee of correspondence of Virginia reply to this sug- 
 gestion of the Baltimore committee, on the 4th of August, 
 in the following language. *' The expediency and 
 necessity, however, of a general congress of deputies 
 from the different colonies was so obvious, that the 
 meeting have already come to the resolutions respecting 
 it." If there be merit in being among the first to sug- 
 gest a great and leading measure, which from its pecu- 
 liar fitness to produce the end contemplated by its 
 creation, the recommendation of the general congress 
 as suggested by the Baltimore committee, pre-eminently 
 entitles them to its claim. That congress, according 
 
24 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 to these suggestions, did assemble, and from their de- 
 liberations resulted the declaration, that the thirteen 
 colonies were free and independent states, and as such, 
 were entitled to do all those acts, which of right, may 
 be adopted by independent nations : — A congress, as 
 described by Lord Chatham, " for solidity of reason- 
 ing, force of sagacity, and wisdom of conclusion, under 
 such a complication of difficult circumstances, no nation 
 or body of men can stand in preference to the general 
 congress at Philahelphia." 
 
 The Baltimore committee appear to have lost no 
 occasion to keep alive the spirit of patriotism, which 
 had burned with intensity in their bosoms, from the 
 moment they were made acquainted with the arbitrary 
 legislation of Great Britain towards the town of Bos- 
 ton. Wherever their voice could reach, they were not 
 backward in sending it forth ; nor did they conceal 
 their regrets, whenever any response was made by any 
 of the colonies to their communications, which they 
 thought fell short of their ardor. In a communication 
 of the 17th of June, 1774, made to the committee of 
 Norfolk and Portsmouth, they say, " Your letter of 
 the 2d inst., which we received a few days ago, by 
 General Lee, affords the highest satisfaction, in finding 
 your sentiments on the Boston port bill, and other de- 
 signs of administration, to correspond with our own, 
 and the general sense of these important subjects. 
 Having learned that there was a general meeting of the 
 city and county of Philadelphia, to be held last Wed- 
 nesday, we immediately despatched an express, with 
 copies of your letters and resolves for that place and 
 Boston, which would prove of singular service in ob- 
 
Ch. l] a narrative of events, &c. 25 
 
 vlating some unfavorable impressions made by the asso- 
 ciation of your late representatives, after the dissolution 
 of your assembly, which were considered by many here 
 (and we presume would by the people of Philadelphia) 
 far short of that spirit and zeal by which the gentlemen 
 of your colony have ever been distinguished. 
 
 The people of Chester, (Kent county,} had addressed 
 the Boston committee on the subject of their grievances, 
 on the 3d of June, in the kindest manner, and had pro- 
 posed to open a subscription for the poor inhabitants 
 of the town. The Baltimore committee, in a letter of 
 the 13th of June, to the Boston committee, take notice 
 of this generous offer in saying, ** A proposal has been 
 made by some gentlemen of Chestertown, in this colony, 
 to open a subscription for the support of the poor in- 
 habitants of your town, who may be most immediately 
 distressed by the stagnation of business. Some of us 
 have had the same object in contemplation, and deter- 
 mine to propose it to the general congress of deputies 
 for the province, which, we doubt not, will be gener- 
 ally adopted." The committee of Boston, of which 
 Samuel Adaras was the chairman, in acknowledging 
 this benevolence of Cheiter, say, "We cannot but 
 applaud the spirit and determined virtue of the town 
 of Chester in their public transactions. A happy con- 
 currence of sentiment and exertion throughout the con- 
 tinent, at this interesting period, bodes well to the 
 liberties of America. May this darling object forever 
 attract our attention, and success crown the general 
 struggle." 
 
 The Baltimore committee sent copies of their reso- 
 lutions of the 31st May, to the counties of Anne Arun- 
 4 
 
26 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 del and Frederick, immediately after their adoption. 
 They were responded to by these counties within a few 
 days after their receipt of them. The Anne Arundel 
 committee, in transmitting their resolves, express a 
 " fear that the Bostonians, whilst their brethren are 
 deliberating, will lose all hope of an effectual union." 
 Their resolutions breathe a spirit of American liberty, 
 which it is delightful to contemplate. It was such a 
 response to the Baltimore resolutions, that throughout 
 the whole contest, no act upon their part ever falsi- 
 fied the pledges given on that day. The committee 
 who were entrusted with the execution of these reso- 
 lutions were, Thomas Beale Worthington, Charles Car- 
 roll (barrister,) John Hale, Wm. Paca, Samuel Chase, 
 Thomas Johnson, Jr., Matthias Hammond, Thomas 
 Sprigg, Samuel Chew, John Weems, Thomas Dorsey, 
 Rezin Hammond, and John Hood, Jr. The committee 
 for the town of Frederick, who were, John Hanson, Jr., 
 Benjamin Dulaney, Thomas Schley, Conrad Grosh, 
 Peter Hoffman, George Scott, Archibald Boyd, John 
 Cary, and Christopher Edelen, acknowledging the 
 receipt of the Baltimore resolves, say, " You will find, 
 by ours, (which will be published in the next Maryland 
 Gazette,) how far we agree with you in the mode pro- 
 posed for obtaining a repeal of the late acts of parlia- 
 ment, as subversive of the liberties of America. It 
 will always give us pleasure to receive any intelligence 
 from you, relative to the redress of our grievances." 
 
 Having obtained the assent of Virgima, to the pro- 
 priety of the meeting of a general congress, as sug- 
 gested by the Baltimore committee, some difficulty 
 arose as to the proper place of its meeting. The 
 
Ch. I.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 27 
 
 Maryland committees appear to have been unanimous 
 in the opinion, that Pennsylvania was the most proper 
 place for this assemblage, and so represented it to Vir- 
 ginia. In a letter of the 26th of June, addressed " by 
 the deputies for Maryland," to the committee of corres- 
 pondence for Virginia, they say, " We are also directed 
 to propose, that the general congress be held at the 
 city ofPhiladelphia, the 20th of September next." "The 
 limits of our province, and the number of its inhabitants, 
 compared with yours, afford an opportunity of collect- 
 ing our general sense, before the sentiments of your 
 colony could be regularly ascertained, and therefore, as 
 this province had the first opportunity, it has taken the 
 liberty of making the first proposition." General, then 
 Col. Washington, who was a member of the committee 
 of correspondence, wrote on the 5th of August, to Mr. 
 Thomas Johnson, Jr., of Annapolis, referring to this 
 proposition, and said, " as the 1st of September or 
 thereabouts, hath been fixed upon by all of them, 
 (except your province) as a fit time, and as the time is 
 now so near at hand as to render it difficult, if practi- 
 cable, to change it without putting too much to the 
 hazard; it was resolved here to abide by the general 
 choice of Philadelphia, though judged an improper 
 place, and to fix upon the 5th of September (as the 
 South Carolinians have done,) for the time." This 
 letter of Col. Washington, was transmitted by the com- 
 mittee of Annapolis to the Baltimore committee, ac- 
 companied with the proceedings of Virginia. They 
 say, " The letter of Col. Washington to Mr. Johnson, 
 you'll perceive, was not designed for public view. We 
 are sorry that the meeting is so early as the 5th of Sep- 
 
28 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 tember, but perhaps it will be better then, and at Phila- 
 delphia, than to run the risk of a new appointment." 
 A communication was received at this time from the 
 Norfolk committee, enclosing the Virginia resolves also. 
 They remark, " that delegates appointed and instruct- 
 ed by almost every county in this extensive colony, 
 met in convention with a great variety of different 
 opinions, with respect to llie mode of redress, altho' 
 all agreed as to the oppressive and dangerous right 
 claimed by parliament, of taxing and punishing us at 
 their arbitrary pleasure." 
 
 I have thus detailed, with some minuteness, the 
 events of 1774, so far as the documents which I 
 possess, furnish the information. It will be perceived 
 by these, that the only immediate agency which was 
 required to be exerted by those to whom the appeal 
 was made, on the enactment of the Boston port bill, 
 was, to assemble the people together, and to know 
 from them, in what light they viewed this most se- 
 rious invasion of American rights ; and to devise such 
 a plan of united action, as would secure the colonies 
 against future encroachments. This enactment, at 
 this moment of time, was considered the most out- 
 rageous of the wrongs which had been inflicted. 
 The stamp act had met with so decided a reproba- 
 tion, that parliament was forced into a repeal of it 
 within two years after its adoption. The enforce- 
 ment of the tea tax was resisted by a resolution and 
 courage that seemed almost to baffle the ingenuity of 
 parliament, in devising schemes by which they could 
 enforce an obedience to their laws. As the most ef- 
 fectual means to check the growing obstinacy of the 
 
Ch. l] a narrative of events, &c. 29 
 
 colonies, it was thouglit, that the occlusion of the port 
 of Boston would be an admonition that would be 
 heeded by all. This state of things did call for, and 
 was received by the whole people, with a determina- 
 tion not to submit to it. It will be seen by the resolu- 
 tions adopted by the people of Baltimore, that the 
 light in which they viewed this enactment, was, that 
 ** the colonies should come into a joint resolution to stop 
 importations from, and exportations to, Great Britain 
 and the West Indies, until the act for blocking up the 
 harbor of Boston be repealed." This was a bold and 
 decided recommendation, and when we take into the 
 estimate of its character, the peculiar sacrifice it involv- 
 ed by an adherence to the resolution, it will be con- 
 sidered as among the most disinterested that patriotism 
 ever adopted in behalf of a suffering country. Balti- 
 more, at this time, although not having a population of 
 more than five thousand people, carried on a most ex- 
 tensive commerce with such parts of the world as her 
 colonial dependence permitted. Perhaps there was no 
 part of America, which had such a proportionate trade 
 as herself. The greater part of this must be sacrificed 
 by the adoption of such a resolution; — yet this did not 
 prevent its enactment, and among the leading men who 
 were foremost in urging it to the favorable consideration 
 of their countrymen, were her mercantile citizens. 
 
 As the preparatory proceedings for the great contest 
 which was about to take place in the early part of the 
 year 1775, and which had been directed by the commit- 
 tee of correspondence, were the result of the most ex- 
 alted patriotism, it is a just tribute to the memories of 
 the eminent gentlemen who composed that body, that 
 4* 
 
30 A NARRATIVE OF L\LMS, &c. 
 
 they should not slumber in their graves unknown to 
 those who are enjoying the rich inheritance of freedom 
 they 80 largely contributed to transmit to them. Mr. 
 Andrew Buchanan was a native of Baltimore county, 
 and well known at the commencement of the disturb- 
 ances, as General Buchanan, the Lieutenant of the 
 county. He acted a conspicuous part as a member of 
 the committee ; and when any military services were 
 required, General Buchanan was always present, with 
 that portion of the militia he commanded, to render 
 them. He died in the year 17S6. 
 
 Mr. William Smith was born in Pennsylvania, and 
 came to reside in Baltimore, about the year 1761. Mr. 
 Smith was very early distinguished by an energetic, 
 decided character. His intelligence soon attracted the 
 notice of his fellow citizens, and as the active part he 
 took in the committee confirmed all the previous im- 
 pressions respecting him, he was transferred, soon after 
 the organization of congress, to a seat in that illustrious 
 body, where he served for three or four years. When 
 the federal government went into operation, he was 
 elected to congress, where he remained two years, and 
 then voluntarily retired. He died in the year 1806. 
 
 Mr. John Smith, was a native of Ireland, but came 
 to this country in childhood. His father settled in Cum- 
 berland county, Pennsylvania, where his son remained 
 until 1759, when he came to Baltimore, where he re- 
 resided until his death, in 1794. Mr. Smith was a gen- 
 tleman possessed of strong, natural sense, and pre-emi- 
 nently distinguished for the uprightness of his character. 
 He was a member of the convention that formed the 
 constitution of Maryland, and was afterwards a sena- 
 
Ch. l] a narrative of events, &c. 31 
 
 tor of the State. He was the father of General Samuel 
 Smith, so long known and admired, as well for his 
 military as his civil services ; and of Mr. Robert Smith, 
 who had been subsequently Secretary of the Navy, and 
 Secretary of State. 
 
 Mr. John Moale was a native of Baltimore, and pos- 
 sessed a considerable landed estate when the revolu- 
 tion broke out. Urged by a love of country, which 
 disdained to bargain for its value, he accepted the ap- 
 pointment of one of the committee, and remained hon- 
 orably associated with them during its existence. He 
 died in the year 1798. 
 
 Mr. William Buchanan, was by birth a Pennsylva- 
 nian, and emigrated to Baltimore about the year 1759. 
 Mr. Buchanan manifested s^reat zeal throughout the 
 contest. He was appointed by congress commissary 
 general of purchases, and continued in that capacity 
 during the war. He died in 1805. 
 
 Mr. WilHam Lux, was a native of Baltimore county, 
 and when he accepted the honorable office which has 
 given so much respect to those who were entrusted 
 with it, he was a merchant. He was appointed vice 
 chairman of this illustrious body, and in that capacity 
 served for three years. He died in Baltimore, in May, 
 1778. Mr. Thomas Harrison, was by birth an English- 
 man. He had settled in Baltimore many years before 
 the revolution, and had become possessed of a con- 
 siderable landed estate in Baltimore town. Mr. Harri- 
 son continued as one of the committee during its ex- 
 existence. He died in Baltimore, in the year 1782. 
 
 Mr. Robert Alexander and Mr. Robert Christie, Sr., 
 were natives of Maryland. They took an active part 
 
22 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, Sec. 
 
 in the operations of the committee, until the declara- 
 tion of independence. This step caused their separation 
 from their associates, and shortly after, both sent in 
 their adhesion to the crown. They went to England, 
 and there united with the loyalists in all the fortunes 
 which awaited that class of Americans. 
 
 Dr. John Boyd, was by profession a physician. He 
 was a gentleman of respectable talents, and of an 
 amiableness of character that attracted general esteem. 
 He often acted as secretary to the committee of which 
 he was a member. He continued in the practice of 
 medicine until his death, in the year 1790. 
 
 Mr. Isaac Van Bibber, was a gentleman of good 
 sense and good education. He took an active part in 
 defence of his country. Besides serving in the com- 
 mittee during its existence, there were other stations 
 in which he served his country usefully. He lived a 
 long time in Baltimore, but in the latter years of his 
 life, he lived near Reisterstown, where he died in the 
 year 1818. 
 
 Mr. Samuel Purviance, Jr., was a native of the 
 county of Donegal in Ireland, and had emigrated to 
 this country about the year 1754. He resided in Phil- 
 adelphia until the year 17G8, when he removed to 
 Baltimore. He had, however, been united with his 
 brother, Mr. Robert Purviance, in a commercial house, 
 which liad been established in Baltimore in the year 
 1763. Mr. Purviance was early distinguished by a 
 bold and decided character. During his residence in 
 Philadelphia, he had been among the foremost in oppo- 
 sition to the stamp tax, and from his familiarity with all 
 the movements of Great Britain to fasten an odious 
 
Ch. I.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 33 
 
 system of taxation upon the colonies, he was selected 
 by his colleagues, as the chairman of their body. In 
 this capacity he remained during the existence of the 
 committee ; and it will be seen in the present narrative, 
 that this conspicuous station was sustained by him with 
 a dignity, a talent and patriotism, that elicited the warm- 
 est approbation of some of the most distinguished of 
 congress. Mr. Purviance was the writer of the greater 
 part of the correspondence which emanated from the 
 committee, of which he was chairman. His fate was 
 an untimely one. In the year 1788, he was descending 
 the Ohio, in company with several others, when the 
 boat, on board of which he was, was captured by a 
 band of Indians : some of the party made their escape. 
 It was his misfortnne to have been secured by his cap- 
 tors, and led by them into the interior of their vast 
 wilderness. From this moment, to him, his country, 
 his family and friends, were lost forever. General 
 Harmar, who at that time commanded one of the out- 
 posts of the frontier, had the country searched for him 
 for more than five hundred miles, but in vain. 
 
 The committee of correspondence, elected on the 
 12th of November, 1774, were, Samuel Purviance, Jr., 
 Robert Alexander, Andrew Buchanan, Dr. John Boyd, 
 John Moale, Jeremiah Townley Chase, Wm. Buchan- 
 an, and William Lux. 
 
 The revolution may be said to have been begun, from 
 the moment it was announced that the port of Boston 
 was to be shut against all intercourse with the world. 
 The colonies became inflamed at this renewed aggres- 
 sion on American rights, and determined, as we have 
 seen by the proceedings of such of them as were in 
 
34 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 correspondence with the Baltimore committee, to 
 meet it with all the vigor and energy which a 
 just regard to their rights would naturally inspire. In 
 the adoption of such measures as were best adapted 
 to promote this end, the committees of correspondence 
 throughout the country, appear to have been the cho- 
 sen instruments of their fellow citizens, for seeing to 
 their faithful execution. In Baltimore, it very early 
 became a part of their duty, to have a surveillance over 
 the conduct of all persons coming among them as 
 strangers, and for this purpose, it was ordered by the 
 committee, in December, 1774, " that Messrs. Richard 
 Moale, Wm. Spear, Isaac Van Bibber, and Isaac 
 Griest, do carefully observe the arrival of all vessels 
 into the port of Baltimore, and immediately give 
 notice of the same to the chairman." Ordered, 
 " that public notice, by advertisement, be given to all 
 masters and pilots, arriving at the port of Baltimore, 
 that it is expected they will give information of such 
 arrival, at their first landing, to some one of the said 
 gentlemen." That many inconveniencies might result 
 to strangers coming to a country, or town, which they 
 had been accustomed to consider as a place to which 
 resort might be had, whenever inclination should sug- 
 gest the necessity or propriety of it, without being 
 subject to a personal examination, we can readily con- 
 ceive ; but the indiscriminate admission of strangers 
 into a community, struggling for the maintenance of 
 rights, to secure which, an unanimity of opinion was a 
 necessary element, would be an unwise act. In this 
 point of view, therefore, the instituting of inquiries into 
 the character of those who came to intermingle with 
 them, will not appear to have been a harsh measure. 
 
Ch. I.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. g^ 
 
 To this day, it is a practice in many of the countries 
 of Europe, to require that all strangers, on arrivino- 
 in any of their towns or villages, should make a re^ 
 port of themselves, and receive from the municipal 
 authorities permission to stay, or an order to depart. 
 In our towns, these inspections were confined to our re- 
 volutionary state; when that had passed away, all these 
 restrictions ceased, and ingress and egress became as 
 free as the air in which all breathed. These inspections 
 appear to have been rigidly observed by the commit- 
 tee, and many persons, during their continuance, were 
 either ordered away, or required to give security for 
 the integrity of their conduct, whilst remaining. 
 Shortly after the adoption of this resolution, informa- 
 tion was given to the committee of observation, that 
 the Rev. Mr. Edmondson had publicly asserted, " that 
 all persons who mustered were guilty of treason; and 
 that such of them as had taken the oath of allegiance 
 and took up ^,,, ^^-^^^ of perjury"--'* and that 
 
 the said William Edmondson had approved publicly 
 of the Quebec bill." The committee were of opinion 
 " that such declarations have a tendency to defeat the' 
 measures recommended for the preservation of Ameri- 
 ca and her liberties, and that it is their duty to take 
 notice of persons guilty of such offences." Mr Ed 
 mondson appeared before them as required, and made 
 such an explanation of what he did say, with an apology 
 for any part of it which might be considered offensive 
 that the committee accepted it and dismissed him. 
 
 To the committee of the first of May, 1775, informa- 
 tion was given that a Capt. Richard Button "had used 
 
36 A NARRATIVE OF EVEiNTS, Szc 
 
 his Influence to prevent people from mustering." Capt. 
 Button was required to appear before the committee, 
 to answer for this offence. The committee confined 
 their sentence to the expression of the opinion, *' that 
 such conduct had a tendency to sow discord and 
 division among us, as far as his contracted influence 
 could extend, and highly injurious to the common cause 
 of American liberty." Capt. Button acknowledged 
 that he had done what he had been charged with, but 
 said, *' I promise and solemnly engage to this commit- 
 tee, that I will not, in future, make any attempts of 
 this sort." 
 
 INIr. Griffith, in his annals of Baltimore, says, ** that 
 the people accused Mr. James Dalgleish, a foreign mer- 
 chant, who had declared his aversion to the cause, and, 
 therefore, as soon as he had been published as an enemy, 
 he fled for safety." Mr. Dalgleish's case was this — 
 he had been charged with saying, '* that as soon as the 
 English troops shall land here, he will join them against 
 the Americans, it being a folly for him longer to deny 
 his principles." "It was the opinion of the committee, 
 that the said James Dalgleish, by his repeated offences, 
 has discovered an incurable enmity to this country; and 
 that it is dangerous to the cause in which we are all 
 embarked, to encourage or countenance such a person 
 among us. The committee think it therefore their duty, in 
 conformity to the directions of the continental congress, 
 to publish said Dalgleish, as an enemy to the liberty of 
 Americans." Mr. Dalgleish tells his own story in the 
 following: note. 
 
Ch. I.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 37 
 
 " Gentlemen, 
 
 I am just now corae to town, and am told that my 
 presence has been required before the respectable com- 
 mittee. I am sorry that my rash expressions (which 
 till now, I knew nothing of) should have merited your 
 inspection, or incurred your displeasure, t do not in 
 the least deny, but that I made use of these unbecom- 
 ing sentiments, being much intoxicated with liquor. 
 I have, since the disagreeable difference between 
 Great Britain and her colonies, been quite neuter with 
 respect to either. Tho' to disapprove of the resolves 
 of the continental congress, or the proceedings of the 
 publick was quite foreign to my sentiments when sober. 
 I am willing to waite on the gentlemen of the commit- 
 tee at their pleasure. 
 
 I am, respectable gentlemen. 
 Your humble servant, 
 
 JAMES DALGLEISH." 
 
 Mr. Dalgleish, apprehending that this denunciation 
 of the committee might lead to some popular violence, 
 withdrew from the town, and was never afterwards 
 heard of. 
 
 A letter from Mr. James Christie, Jr., a merchant 
 of Baltimore, directed to Lieut. Col. Gabriel Christie, 
 of his Britannic Majesty's 60th regiment at Antigua, 
 dated 22d of February, 1775, had been intercepted and 
 laid before the committee. The letter says, " We are 
 in such terrible confusion here with our politics, there 
 is no depending on any thing, and that, added to other 
 things, makes me wish myself out of the province. 
 We are little behind the New Englanders, mustering, 
 purchasing arms, ammunition, &c. We have somo 
 5 
 
38 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 violent fanatical spirits among us, who do every thing 
 in their power to run things to the utniost extremity, 
 and they are gone so far, that we moderate people are 
 under a necessity of uniting for our own defence, 
 after being threatened with expulsion, loss of life, &c., 
 for not acceding to what we deem treason and rebel- 
 lion. The provost and family are very well, our pub- 
 lic affairs vex him, and he wishes himself away, but I 
 know not when, or if ever, that will happen. A part 
 of yours, or any other regiment, I believe would keep 
 us very quiet." Mr. Christie was arrested by order 
 of the committee, and required to appear before them. 
 He expressed his sorrow for the letter he had written ; 
 that he did not mean any harm by it, and that he was 
 very willing to acquiesce in the determination of the 
 committee. The committee unanimously decided, 
 "that by representing in said letter, the people of this 
 town to be concerned in treasonable and rebellious 
 practices, and that a number of soldiers would keep 
 them quiet, he, (Mr. Cliristie) has manifested a spirit 
 and principle altogether inimical to the rights, privi- 
 leges, and liberties of America : they do, therefore, 
 think it their duty to advertise the said James Christie, 
 Jr., as an enemy to this country, and all persons are 
 desired to break off all connexion and intercourse with 
 him." The committee further resolved, "that as the 
 crime of which the said James Christie is guilty, is of 
 so dangerous and atrocious a nature, they will lay the 
 same before their delegates, at the continental congress, 
 for their advice, and in the meantime it is ordered, that 
 as Mr. Christie is confined to his bed, and cannot be 
 removed with safety to a place of security, the same 
 
Ch. l] a narrative of events, &g. 39 
 
 guard be continued at his house to prevent any escape, 
 attempted either by himself, or the assistance of his 
 friends." Mr. Christie had been engaged in mercan- 
 tile business at Rock run, in Harford county, with Mr. 
 John Wilson and Robert Christie, Jr. The day on 
 which the committee gave in their decision on his con- 
 duct, these two gentlemen dissolved their partnership 
 with him, determining not to be implicated with him 
 in his adherence to the tory cause. Mr. Christie was 
 kept under the surveillance of his guard, until the 
 24th of July, when he was discharged, upon giving an 
 obligation, with five securities, not to depart the pro- 
 vince without leave of the said committee, or the con- 
 vention of Maryland. As a part of the resolution in 
 his case was, to refer the question involved in it to the 
 delegates to the general congress, Mr. Christie himself 
 also referred his case to congress. That body referred 
 him to the provincial convention of Maryland, to whom, 
 in consequence of this reference, he presented a memo- 
 rial on the 9th of August, 1775. Taking his own 
 testimony, as furnished by the memorial, as conclusive 
 against him as to the offence with which he had been 
 charged by the Baltimore committee, the convention 
 resolved, " that the said James Christie is, and ought 
 to be considered as an enemy to America, and that no 
 person trade, deal, or barter with him thereafter, unless 
 for necessaries and provisions, or for the sale or pur- 
 chase of any part of his real or personal estate, of 
 which he may be at the time seized or possessed. 
 Resolved, that the said James Christie be expelled and 
 banished the province forever, and that he depart 
 the province before the first day of September next." 
 
40 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 To carry into execution the resolutions of the conti- 
 liental congress, respecting the public defence, it be- 
 came necessary to raise in the province, the sum often 
 thousand pounds, to be laid out in the purchase of arms 
 and ammunition. The convention of Maryland, in 
 assigning to each county the quota that would be re- 
 quisite from it to make this amount, assigned to Balti- 
 more county, as her proportion, dGQSO. The Baltimore 
 committee, to whom was entrusted the power of levy- 
 ing this amount on the inhabitants, affixed to the differ- 
 ent districts of the county, the sums as follow : 
 
 Gunpowder Upper, c£79 17 6 
 
 North Hundred, 51 17 6 
 
 Middlesex, 33 7 6 
 
 Wyne Run, 53 00 
 
 Back River Upper, 112 00 
 
 Back River Lower, 39 5 
 
 Patapsco Upper, 50 10 
 
 Delaware Lower, 63 00 
 
 Middle River Upper, 43 10 
 
 Soldier's Delight 87 12 6 
 
 Middle River Lower, 51 10 
 
 Patapsco Lower, 50 2 6 
 
 Pipe Creek, 34 5 
 
 Westminster, 51 00 
 
 Baltimore Town West, 72 7 6 
 
 Deptford, 30 2 6 
 
 Baltimore East, 26 12 6 
 
 c€930 00 
 
 I cannot forbear noticing the honorable solicitude 
 felt by the committee, that their brethren of limited 
 
H.L] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 41 
 
 means should not be required to contribute any portion 
 of the above taxation, for, in the resolution which levied 
 it, they say, " care ought to be taken, to avoid laying 
 any part of the burthen upon the people of narrow 
 circumstances, hoping that those whom providence has 
 blessed with better fortunes, will, by their generosity, 
 supply the necessity of calling on those, whose fortunes 
 are confined to the mere necessaries of life." 
 
 After the restrictive measures had been adopted, 
 which confined the importations from Great Britain 
 and the A¥est Indies to particular commodities, it was 
 apprehended that the article of salt was likely to be- 
 come a subject of monopoly, and consequently, pro- 
 ductive of great evil to the inhabitants. The commit- 
 tee took early steps to provide against such a state of 
 things, but all their care did not effectually protect the 
 people against the cupidity of the less patriotic. They 
 were induced to repeat the admonition against monopo- 
 ly, and to accompany it with a penalty more likely to 
 secure a respect for it, than any heretofore suggested. 
 *' It was resolved in committee, November 13th, 1775 : 
 It appearing that the price of salt has been extended 
 beyond the limits formerly fixed by this committee, and 
 that much uneasiness has been thereby occasioned 
 among the people; the committee are induced, there- 
 fore, to take the same into consideration, and after 
 allowing a storage and loss of measure equal to so 
 bulky and wasting a commodity, do recommend it to 
 the venders not to sell the same above the rate of four 
 shillings per bushel ; and if any higher price has been 
 hitherto given, the purchasers are desired to call on 
 those from whom they bought for the overplus. If 
 5* 
 
42 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 any sellers refuse to refund them, to complain to the 
 committee ; who do resolve that, if any sellers refuse 
 to comply with the requisition, that they shall be im- 
 mediately published as enemies to their country." It 
 will be seen hereafter, that the supply of this article 
 engaged very much the- attention of congress; and the 
 steps that were taken by the people of Baltimore, to aid 
 them in their views. Various other resolutions were 
 adopted by the committee this year, all looking as well 
 to the well being of the community of whose interests 
 they were the immediate agents, as to that of the country 
 at large. Some of these, however, seemed to partake 
 of sentiments adverse to republican liberty ; but when 
 we consider the state in which society was then placed 
 by the dissolution of government, we may readily be- 
 lieve, that they were required by the then condition of 
 the people, and were best calculated to promote to a 
 successful issue, the cause which had given them birth. 
 Society, in a state of revolution, is a different thing from 
 society in a settled, organized slate. In a state of revo- 
 lution, a thousand things occur, to require to be met, 
 not by the slow, deliberate caution which ought to mark 
 the action of settled minds, but by the promptitude 
 which applies the immediate remedy. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 On the 3d of July, 1776, tlie convention of Maryland 
 resolved, "that a new convention be elected for the 
 express purpose of forming a new government, by the 
 authority of the people only, and enacting and order- 
 ing all things for the preservation, safety, and general 
 weal of this colony." There was a provision made in 
 the resolutions, for the new convention, for ** two repre- 
 sentatives for the town of Baltimore, in Baltimore 
 county" — ** but that the inhabitants of Baltimore town 
 be not allowed to vote for representatives for Baltimore 
 county;" ** nor shall the resolution be understood to 
 engage or secure such representation to Baltimore town, 
 but temporarily, the same being, in the opinion of this 
 convention, properly to be modified, or taken away, on 
 a material alteration of the circumstances of that place, 
 from efther a depopulation, or a considerable decrease 
 of the inhabitants thereof."* Here we see the germ of 
 that jealousy against Baltimore which took such a deep 
 root in the state, and which has not yet been complete- 
 ly eradicated. Their anxiety respecting her represen- 
 tation was confined to the care of seefng, that this 
 representation should be scrupulously confined to the 
 number that she then reckoned as her population ; and 
 if a diminution of that took place, her representation 
 was to be annulled. If an increase of numbers took 
 place, no notice was to be taken of it ; and for the 
 
44 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 space of nearly sixty years, she was confined to this 
 original number, notwithstanding her population had 
 readied one hundred thousand. 
 
 On the 6th of July, the convention declared, ** that 
 the king of Great Britain has violated his compact with 
 this people, and that they owe no allegiance to him : 
 we have, therefore, thought it just and necessary to 
 empower our deputies in congress, to join with a ma- 
 jority of the united colonies, in declaring them free and 
 independent states." The election for the town of 
 Baltimore, in conformity to the resolve of the conven- 
 tion, was held on the 5th of August, and resulted in 
 the choice of John Smith and Jeremiah T. Chase. 
 
 It appears to have been an important part of the 
 duty of the committee of observation, to see that the 
 military part of the defence of Baltimore was properly 
 officered : that the companies were regularly filled up, 
 and that they were to be in readiness to take the field 
 when the occasion called for their services. They 
 united in their appointments with others, and nomina- 
 tions when made by them, were generally confirmed by 
 their associates in the appointing power. In the dis- 
 charge of the duty of which I speak, the following in- 
 struction was given by the committee, in September, 
 1776. " The colonels of the militia having this day 
 received an order from the convention, to nominate and 
 appoint officers in this county for two additional com- 
 panies of militia, to be immediately raised for the re- 
 inforcement of the continental army, which companies 
 are to be enlisted until the first day of December next; 
 each man is to be allowed a month's advance, and a 
 bounty of Xo, and their pay is to commence from the 
 
Ch. II.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 45 
 
 time of enrolment. And whereas, in many parts of 
 this county, the battalions are not yet completed, nor 
 the field officers appointed. Resolved, that the field 
 officers of the battalions already formed, be desired to 
 meet the committee on Friday next, at 10 o'clock, 
 jointly to fix on the nomination of officers for the said 
 two companies of militia, when such gentlemen as are 
 desirous of commissions, are requested to apply, and 
 that the respective battalions, and the companies of 
 militia already formed, be desired to meet on Saturday 
 next, when such as are inclined to enter as volunteers, 
 will have an opportunity." 
 
 There was a part of the population, who, when they 
 were required to subscribe to an association, which had 
 been formed in the province, at the recommendation of 
 the general congress, refused to do so. The object of 
 this association was, for the general defence of the pro- 
 vince, and those who refused to unite in such a design, 
 were generally considered as inimical to American 
 liberty. They were known by the name of non-asso- 
 ciators, and as such, were subject to a fine of a given 
 amount. Whether this was payable at stated periods, 
 for a continued obstinacy, or that the sum first levied 
 was considered a sufficient compensation for their neu- 
 trality, I have not been enabled to discover; but certainly 
 the fines first levied were exacted with rigor. A person 
 by the name of Robert Dow seemed to be so much under 
 the influence of conscientious motives, that he could not 
 reconcile it to himself to become a patriot, and for his 
 refusal to enlist under the sacred banner of his country's 
 cause, he was fined five pounds. This appeared to 
 him to be a large sum to which his conscience had 
 
46 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 subjected him, and therefore plead earnestly, that " he 
 had a wife and six children to maintain ; that he is 
 unable to pay the fine, and therefore requests the com- 
 mittee to mitigate it." The committee take this laconic 
 notice of it. " In committee, 29th of July, 1776. Read 
 and rejected." 
 
 Per order, 
 
 W. LUX, Vice-Chainnan. 
 
 Another person, by the name of Abram Evening, 
 was brought under the notice of the committee, for his 
 singular opposition to American rights ; and from the 
 complexion of a communication from him on the sub- 
 ject of his grievances, we are naturally led to the con- 
 clusion, that the committee had an arduous task, in 
 forcing men to defend their country's rights. ** I 
 intend," says Mr. Evening, in a letter to a friend, 
 " since there is nothing to be done in your business 
 worth speaking of, to send the books and papers into 
 the country about thirty miles from Baltimore, that in 
 case I cannot stay in such a violent place, they may be 
 safe. You may be surprised at my writing in this 
 style, but when you reflect of the disposition of the 
 fanatics, you will approve of it. You must know it is 
 against me to take up arms, or do any thing that at- 
 tends to it against my native country. I am confident, 
 from particular circumstances, that I shall mention, at 
 a more convenient opportunity, that I cannot long re- 
 main in Baltimore, because I have got too many ene- 
 mies; for instance, a few weeks ago, as I had nothing 
 to do, I intended to go in the schooner to Cambridge, 
 and two 6r three more places, to get the papers to send 
 
Ch. II.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 4^ 
 
 home; accordingly, the skipper waited on the chairman 
 of the committee, to get a pass, but they would not 
 give me one, except I would give security, under the 
 penalty of c£350 stg. for my return, and that I would 
 not correspond with the king's officers ; this was done; 
 but after all, they would not give me the pass, except 
 I would pay my c£10 fine, for not associating, this I 
 will not do till the last extremity." The continental 
 congress having recommended that adventures be 
 made for procuring arms and ammunition, and it being 
 necessary that a particular committee be appointed to 
 superintend the loading of vessels: Resolved, that 
 Messrs. Samuel Purviance, John Smith, Wm. Buchan- 
 an, Benj. Griffith, Isaac Griest, Thomas Gist, Sr., and 
 Darby Lux, be a committee for that purpose ; and that 
 they be on oath to keep their proceedings secret. The 
 following resolve was adopted by the committee, in 
 harmony with the above recommendation. Jan. 8th 
 1776, Resolved, that no person shall, after the publica 
 tion hereof, under any pretence or direction vvhatso 
 ever, presume to load any vessel, or after being loaded 
 shall attempt to depart this port without proper per 
 mits from this committee, as they shall answer to the 
 country. 
 
 DAVID McMECHEN, Secretary. 
 Another resolution respecting arms was adopted, 
 Feb. 27th, 1776. "All persons in this county, possess- 
 ed of any arms, belonging to the public, are hereby 
 directed to deliver the same to the committee of obser- 
 vation, at Baltiraore town, as speedily as possible; the 
 council of safety having given them orders to collect 
 and repair the same. It is to be hoped that the urgent 
 
4s A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS &c. 
 
 necessity of an immediate compliance with this requi- 
 sition, will indace every one who has any of said arms, 
 to attend thereto without delay." 
 
 By order of the committee, 
 
 GEORGE LUX, Secretary. 
 
 In March, 1776, Capt. Squires, the commander of 
 the British sloop of war Otter, who had been cruizing 
 about in various parts of the bay, made a demonstra- 
 tion in the Patapsco river, with various boats, which 
 produced a very great alarm in the town. Capt. 
 Nicholson, the commander of the Defence, a ship be- 
 longing to the state of Maryland, was at that time in 
 Baltimore. He soon got under weigh to drive these 
 marauders from the river, which he did in a short time, 
 and captured four or five of the boats. It was the 
 occasion of this alarm that gave rise to the necessity of 
 throwing up batteries on Fell's point; the fortifying of 
 Whetstone point with eighteen guns ; and the sinking 
 of vessels at the fort. These defences were consider- 
 ed at the time as invaluable, and the aid which the 
 militia of the surrounding country afforded, called for 
 the grateful thanks of the people. From Harford 
 county, a battalion marched to Baltimore, whose ser- 
 vices it afterwards became unnecessary to accept. Col. 
 Rumsey, to whose regiment the battalion belonged, in 
 acknowledging the receipt of the communication, made 
 to them by the Baltimore committee, expressive of their 
 sense of the patriotism of the battalion, says, " That 
 battalion, sir, esteem it but their duty to march to the 
 assistance of any part of the province when attacked, 
 or in danger of it. But they march with greater alac- 
 
Ch. IL] a narrative of events, &c. 49 
 
 rity to your assistance, from the pleasing memory of 
 former connexions, and a sense of the value and im- 
 portance of Baltimore town, to the province in gene- 
 ral." Nor was this devotion to Baltimore confined in 
 the hour of her need, to the citizens of her own state. 
 The borough of York wrote on the 10th of March to 
 the committee : " Our committee resolved instantly to 
 raise a good rifle company, to be ready to march on an 
 hour's warning to your province, in case you should judge 
 it necessary, and signify the same to our committee." 
 This is not a solitary instance of this patriotic borough's 
 offerino; her valuable aid to Baltimore. In the war of 
 1812, a company sent by her, united with the Balti- 
 more troops, on the day of her celebrated battle with 
 the British army near North point, and no troops on 
 that day, were more entitled to the honors vv^hich their 
 valor won, than those from York. The committee 
 presented an address to Capt. Nicholson, acknowledg- 
 ing the valuable services he rendered to the town, by 
 driving Capt. Squires away from the river. His an- 
 swer to them is worthy of being transcribed here. 
 
 To the committee for Baltimore county. 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 I return you my most sincere thanks for your polite 
 address. In support of the rights and liberties of my 
 country, I cheerfully undertook the arduous task of 
 my present office, and am exceedingly happy, in find- 
 ing my conduct stand approved, by so respectable 
 a body as the committee of Baltimore county. I am 
 likewise to assure you that the officers, volunteers, 
 
50 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 and others on board the Defence, consider your ad- 
 dress as doing them the highest honors. 
 I am gentlemen, 
 
 Your obedient, humble servant, 
 
 JAMES NICHOLSON^ 
 In the beginning of April, 1776, Capt. James Bar- 
 ron, commanding one of the public vessels employed 
 in the Chesapeake bay, for its defence, fell in with 
 and captured a small vessel, which had been sent 
 by Lord Dunmore, who was at that time on board 
 of one of the British squadrons stationed in the bay, 
 to Annapolis, for the purpose of transmitting certain 
 letters from Lord George Germain, the British Secre- 
 tary of State, to Governor Eden of Maryland. These 
 letters were placed in the hands of Alexander Ross 
 from Pittsburg, a person who had been well known 
 as a violent British partizan. The letters were sent by 
 Capt. Barron to General Lee, who at that time was in 
 Williamsburg, and who, on a consultation with the 
 committee of safety of that place, sent them to Mr. 
 Samuel Purviance, the chairman of the committee of 
 safety at Baltimore, accompanied with the following 
 letter. 
 
 Williamsburg, Ajyril G, 1776. 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 As I know not to whom I can address this most im- 
 portant note, with so much propriety and assurance of 
 success as yourself, tliis crisis will not admit of cere- 
 mony and procrastination ; I shall, therefore, irregu- 
 larly address you in the language, and with the spirit 
 of one bold, determined free citizen to another; and 
 conjure you, as you value the liberties and rights of the 
 community of which you are a member, not to lose a 
 
Ch. II.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 51 
 
 moment, and in my name, if my name is of conse- 
 quence enough, to direct the commanding officer of 
 your troops at Annapolis, immediately to seize the per- 
 son of Governor Eden : the sin and blame be on my 
 head. I will answer for all to the congress. The jus- 
 tice and necessity of the measure will be best explain- 
 ed by the packet, transmitted to you by the committee 
 of safety from this place. God Almighty give us wisdom 
 and vigor in this hour of trial. 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Yours, most affectionately, 
 
 CHARLES LEE. 
 To Samuel Purviance, Esq., 
 
 Chairman of the Committee. 
 That the public should be made early acquainted 
 with the contents of these letters, and that the person 
 to whom they were addressed, should be dispossessed 
 of all power to aid the British government in their 
 views as set forth in these letters, Mr. Purviance, be- 
 lieving, from the peculiar circumstances attending this 
 case of Governor Eden, that the powers he had been 
 invested with, as the chairman of a committee, whose 
 duty it had been from the commencement of the dis- 
 turbances, to hold such a supervision, as well over the 
 conduct of those who were the residents of the colony, 
 as of those who might come among them, either as 
 transient persons or traders, — would extend to such a 
 case as the letter to General Lee directed his attention 
 to, he instructed Capt. Samuel Smith of Col. Small- 
 wood's battalion, on the 14th of April, to go to Annapo- 
 lis, and seize the person and papers of Governor Eden, 
 and detain him until the will of congress were known. 
 The same day on which this order was given to Capt. 
 
52 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, Sec. 
 
 Smith, the Baltimore committee addressed the following 
 letter to congress. 
 
 In Committee, Balt., lith of April, 1776, ^ 
 10 o'clock, P. M. j 
 
 Hon'ble Sir, 
 
 The enclosed copies of letters were just now re- 
 ceived by our committee, by express, from the council 
 of safety of V^irginia, with desire that they might be 
 forwarded to you instantly. Indeed, they contain mat- 
 ter, we think, of too much importance to have been 
 delayed a moment. In consequence whereof, we have 
 prevailed on our commanding officer here to appoint 
 Mr. David Plunkett, a Lieutenant, in whose prudence 
 and industry we can rely, to wait on you with this ; 
 and if your honorable body should think it necessary to 
 take any steps, or give any instruction to the council of 
 safety on the occasion, he will wait your command. 
 We have the honor to be, 
 
 With the greatest respect, 
 Honorable Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient servants, 
 SAMUEL PURVIANCE, Jr., Ckainnan. 
 WILLIAM LUX, Vice-C/iainnan. 
 JAMES CALHOUN, 
 THOMAS HARRISON, 
 BENJAMIN NICHOLSON, 
 WILLIAM BUCHANAN, 
 JOHN SMITH, 
 JOHN BOYD, 
 JOHN STERETT. 
 The Hon. John Hancock, Esq., 
 Prest. of the Congress, Philadelphia. 
 
Ch. II.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 53 
 
 To which Mr. Hancock immediately replied. 
 
 Philadelphia, April 16tk, 1776. 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 I received, and immediately communicated to con- 
 gress, your letter of the 14th, with the important papers 
 enclosed. In consequence of which, the congress have 
 resolved that the person and papers of Governor Eden 
 be immediately seized by the committee of safety, to 
 whom I write by this opportunity. The person men- 
 tioned in the enclosed resolution, (Mr. Alexander Ross) 
 is represented as a dangerous partizan of administra- 
 tion, who has lately been with Lord Dunmore, and it 
 is suggested on his way to the Indian country, to exe- 
 cute the execrable designs of our enemies. 1 have no 
 doubt, but you will exert your utmost endeavors in 
 seizing and securing him. 
 
 I am, with respect, 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 JOHN HANCOCK, President. 
 Honorable Coinmittee of Baltimore. 
 
 P. S. You will please not to make public mention of 
 the resolution respecting Governor Eden, until the com- 
 mittee of safety have executed it. 
 
 The council of safety at Annapolis, took offence at 
 this order of Mr. Purviance, and interfered to prevent 
 its execution. Their disapprobation of it, proceeded 
 less from an objection to the measure itself, than from 
 an implied disrespect of their own authority. The con- 
 vention of Maryland, which sat in a short time after- 
 6* 
 
54 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 wards, in consequence of a complaint laid before their 
 .body by the council of safety, relative to this conduct 
 of Mr. Purviance, appointed a commitee to inquire into 
 the steps necessary to be taken to make him amenable 
 at their bar. This committee reported, first, " That 
 the said Samuel Purviance, since the rising of the last 
 convention, hath usurped a power to direct the ope- 
 rations of tine military force of this province (at a time 
 when the council of safety, to whom the same solely 
 and properly belongs in the recess of convention, 
 was sitting, and might, without inconvenience, have 
 been applied to) as appears by his letter of instruc- 
 tions to Capt. Samuel Smith, of Col. Smallvvood's bat- 
 talion, bearing date the 14th day of April last, a copy 
 of which, attested by the clerk of the council of safety, 
 your committee refer to. 
 
 *' Secondly, That the said Samuel Purviance, being 
 at the time of writing the said letter, and giving the 
 said instructions, chairman of the committee of Balti- 
 more county, did write the said letter, and give the 
 said instructions under color of his said office of chair- 
 man, and as if at the request of the said committee ; 
 whereas, the said committee were not consulted there- 
 on, nor made acquainted therewith, as appears by the 
 said letter and instructions, and by the proceedings of 
 the said committee, attested copies whereof, among the 
 said papers, are referred to. 
 
 *' Thirdly, That the said Samuel Purviance, by writ- 
 ing and speaking, and particularly by a letter by him, 
 written to the president of the congress, some time 
 about the middle of April last, hath unjustly repre- 
 sented the convention and council of safety, as irreso- 
 
Ch. II.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 55 
 
 lute, and afraid to execute the trusts reposed in them, 
 and endeavored to draw a suspicion upon them of a 
 want of spirit and zeal in the execution of their duty." 
 
 In about two weeks after this report was made by 
 the committee to the convention, that body came to the 
 resolution of censuring Mr. Purviance for this conduct 
 towards Governor Eden, concluding it in these terms: 
 " In consideration of his active zeal in the common 
 cause, and in expectation that he will hereafter con- 
 duct himself with more respect to the public bodies 
 necessarily entrusted with power, mediately or imme- 
 diately by the people of this province, and will be more 
 attentive to propriety, this convention hath resolved, 
 that the said Samuel Purviance, for his said conduct 
 be censured and reprimanded, and that Mr. President 
 do from the chair, censure and reprimand him accord- 
 ingly, and that he thereupon be discharged. 
 
 " And thereupon, the said Samuel Purviance Jr., 
 being called in, and being at the bar of this house, Mr. 
 President communicated to him the resolve of conven- 
 tion, and did censure and reprimand him accordingly.'* 
 
 It will be observed by the third section of the report 
 of the committee to the convention, that Mr. Purviance 
 was charged with having ** written a letter to the 
 president of congress, some time about the middle of 
 April last, hath unjustly represented the convention 
 and council of safety, as irresolute and afraid to execute 
 the trusts reposed in them." Mr. Purviance, on know- 
 ing that the committee of the convention had founded 
 a charge of misconduct against him, upon their being 
 made acquainted with the existence of this letter, wrote, 
 on the 2d of May, to his friend Mr. Richard Henry 
 
56 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, (fee. 
 
 Lee, in congress, to know how the knowledge of this 
 letter, escaped from their body, since it was intended 
 to be confidential. Mr. Lee, in reply to him under 
 date of the 6th of May, says : ** Dear Sir, I received 
 yesterday, your favor of the 2d inst, and in answer to 
 that part of it desiring to know if Mr. Hancock gave 
 a copy of your letter to any person, I must say, that 
 I do not know whether or not, but I am inclined to 
 think he has not. This business appears to me thus : 
 When Mr. Hancock received the despatches from Bal- 
 timore, he proceeded to read the whole in congress, 
 and among others, a letter containing observations on 
 the council of safety of Maryland, relative to the timidi- 
 ty of* their councils, which it appears he had not pre- 
 viously read in ])rivate, because when he came to that 
 part of it which mentioned its being written in confi- 
 dence he stopt, and observed it was private, and pro- 
 posed it should be so considered, but as he had read 
 80 much of it, he went on, but read no name at the 
 bottom, and in the debate consequent upon it, 'twas 
 supposed to be anonymous, and it was conjecture alone 
 that fixed you as the author. I should have certainly 
 informed you of this if I had then found myself at 
 liberty to do it, and when I heard from you of your 
 summons before the council, it was too late for a letter 
 to reach you before your appearance at that board. 
 But the idea of drawing from the mouth of a person 
 accused, his own condemnation, is reprobated by Eng- 
 lish jurisprudence, and is the practice only of inquisi- 
 torial or star chamber tyranny. I should incline to 
 think that this prosecution will be carried no further; 
 at least, 1 am sure the time is quickly coming, when 
 
Ch. II.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 57 
 
 violence from without, will render absolutely neces- 
 sary a perfect union within." Mr. Purviance had 
 written on the 23d of April, to Mr. Lee, on this same 
 subject, to which Mr. Lee in reply, remarks : *' The 
 public of America is a generous public, and when ap- 
 pealed to, M'ill readily distinguish things dictated by 
 the general good, though irregularly executed, from 
 such as are evil in their nature, and merely the sug- 
 gestions of folly and wickedness. 1 am sure, a gener- 
 ous community will not suffer any person to be perse- 
 cuted for the former, nor WT^uld I scruple in such a 
 case, to say as of old, Provoco ad populum, and then 
 look the proudest connexions in the face, trusting to 
 the wisdom of the object, and the integrity of design, 
 notwithstanding the manner might be something un- 
 usual." 
 
 On the second day after the convention of Maryland 
 had reprimanded Mr. Purviance, they came to the fol- 
 lowing resolutions respecting Governor Eden. 
 
 " Resolved, that it is the opinion of this convention, 
 that the council of safety of this province, upon the 
 subject of the late intercepted letters to Governor 
 Eden, duly and properly exercised the powers dele- 
 gated to them. 
 
 '• Resolved, that it is the opinion of this convention, 
 that upon the evidence before them of the correspon- 
 dence which his excellency, Governor Eden has, from 
 time to time, held with administration, it does not ap- 
 pear that such correspondence has been with an un- 
 friendly intent, or calculated to countenance any hostile 
 measures against America." After recapitulating in the 
 preamble of the last resolution, the contents of these in- 
 
58 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 tercepted letters; and expressing how far the gover- 
 nor was bound, so long as he executed the powers of 
 governor, to obey the instructions of the administration 
 contained therein, they resolved, "that it be signified to 
 the governor, that the public quiet and safety, in the 
 judgment of this convention require, that he leave this 
 province, and that he is at full liberty to depart peace- 
 ably with his effects." As the committee of safety of 
 Virginia was that body which originated the design of 
 arresting Governor Eden, Mr. Purviance deemed it 
 proper that he should communicate to them the result 
 of the agency respecting it which he had, in conse- 
 quence of the intercepted correspondence having been 
 transmitted to him. He says, in his letter to the com- 
 mittee, ** We herewith transmit you copies of the re- 
 solves of the congress, respecting the seizing and se- 
 curing Alexander Ross, and the letter of the President 
 of the congress, informing us of their resolution, that 
 the person and papers of Governor Eden be imme- 
 diately seized, by our council of safety, to whom that 
 resolution is transmitted. Instantly upon receiving 
 your letter by express, we appointed three of our body 
 to wait on the council of safety, to communicate the in- 
 telligence received, and to use their utmost endeavors 
 to have Governor Eden put under arrest. Our coun- 
 cil have thought it sufficient to take Governor Eden's 
 parole of honor, not to depart the province till the 
 meeting of the convention of Maryland." The conven- 
 tion of Virginia were very much dissatisfied with the 
 convention of Maryland respecting the manner in which 
 they had treated their recommendation of the imme- 
 diate arrest of Governor Eden. On. the 31st of May, 
 
Ch. ir.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 5§ 
 
 they " Resolved unanimously, that the committee of 
 safety be directed to write a letter to the president of 
 the convention of Maryland, in answer to his letter of 
 the 26th inst., expressing the deepest concern at the 
 proceedings of that convention, respectino- Governor 
 Eden, and our reasons for not becoming accessory 
 thereto, by giving him a passage through this colony, 
 or the bay adjoining : that we would with reluctance, 
 m any case, intermeddle in the affairs of a sister colony, 
 but in this matter we are much interested," " That 
 considering the intercepted letter from Lord George 
 Germain to Governor Eden, in which his whole con- 
 duct, and confidential letters are approved, and he is 
 directed to give facility and assistance to the operations 
 of Lord Dunmore against Virginia, we are at a loss 
 to account for (the council of safety of Maryland,) 
 their having neglected to seize him, according to the 
 recommendation of the general congress." From this 
 view of this celebrated transaction it will appear, that 
 Mr. Purviance, in anticipation, did that which con- 
 gress required to be done, when the facts of the case 
 came to their knowledge, and which it was natural to 
 suppose they would do. He did that, which Virginia, 
 more deeply interested in the question than any of the 
 other colonies, said was proper to be done, and the pre- 
 venting of its execution by the convention of Maryland, 
 called forth her severest disapprobation. He was cen- 
 sured by his own province, but he bore her frown with 
 the submission of a patriotic citizen, and with the dig- 
 nity which a conscious sense of honor will always 
 inspire. 
 
60 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 An election was to have taken place on the 3d of 
 July, for delegates to represent Baltimore county in 
 the general assembly of the province, by virtue of a 
 writ, directed from his excellency, Robert Eden, Esq., 
 to the sheriff of the county. So completely had the 
 minds of the people, at this time, been made up to 
 shake off all dependence upon Great Britain, that they 
 determined this writ should be the last testimonial of 
 her past power, and that a disobedience of it should 
 be the first signal of the existence of the power which 
 was hereafter to govern the new born republic. The 
 convention of Maryland ordered, on the 25th of June, 
 that the said writ be not obeyed, and that no election 
 be made in consequence thereof: — This order was obey- 
 ed, and the authority of England in Maryland, became 
 extinct forever. Governor Eden was now permitted to 
 leave the colony. The circumstances under which he 
 embarked, were not as favorable to his character, as they 
 would have been, had the convention have permitted 
 the order of the Baltimore committee for his arrest, three 
 months before, to have been executed. He embarked 
 on board ** his majesty's ship Fowey," the 24th of June, 
 but his baggage was detained in consequence of the 
 supposed attempt of Capt. Montague, the commander 
 of the ship, to take off runaway slaves. In reply to 
 a communication made to him by Mr. Carroll, the vice- 
 president of the council of safety, he says, *' I can only 
 say that Capt. Montague's order to receive on board, and 
 give protection to all British well affected subjects, are 
 positive, and that he does not consider it in his power, 
 consistently with these orders, to comply with your 
 request." 
 
Ch.II.] ^ NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 61 
 
 On the 29th of July, the declaration of independence 
 was read at the Court house. It was received with 
 great acclamation ; at night the town was illuminated, 
 and at the same time the effigy of George the third was 
 carted through the town, and committed to the flames. 
 
 In coming to this determination of independence at 
 last, it appears to me, it was approached by the great 
 body of the people of Maryland, with a cautious, 
 trembling step. When the people met together in 
 nearly all the counties of the province, to consult as to 
 the measures that ought to be adopted after the passage 
 of the Boston port bill, they looked to scarcely any 
 other defensive weapon than restrictions upon their 
 trade with Great Britain and her dependencies, believ- 
 ing they would be more efficacious in driving her 
 from the mad policy she was pursuing towards the 
 colonies, than any other measure they could adopt. 
 They considered that her maritime trade was that 
 which gave her the exalted rank she maintained among 
 the nations of the earth, and in proportion as her colo- 
 nies were instrumental in the reduction of that trade, 
 in that proportion would be the diminution of her rank. 
 Whatever weight may be ascribed to these opinions 
 by those who indulged in them in many parts of the 
 province, I think they had less weight in Baltimore 
 county than elsewhere. Their resolutions looked to 
 something more than mere restrictive measures on 
 trade, and the suggestion which certainly first came 
 from them in Maryland, of a general congress of all 
 the colonies, appears to me to be an evidence of it. 
 In the letter, of which we have already spoken, which 
 was transmitted to Philadelphia, communicating the 
 7 
 
62 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 early resolves of the Baltimore people, the language 
 was, " We have proposed the congress to settle and 
 establish a general plan of conduct, for such colonies 
 that may think fit to send deputies." It was very 
 natural, however, for a people who owed their very 
 existence to the nation they were now called upon to 
 separate from, that before they should do that which 
 would involve them in difficulties and distresses, from 
 which long years might not relieve them, they would 
 weigh well all the consequences : and in deciding at 
 last, that these were not to be compared with the rich 
 inheritance which had been transmitted to them by their 
 fathers, who had planted the colonies, they offer to 
 the world one of the sublimest spectacles which have 
 ever been presented to mortal eye. 
 
 Mr. Robert Christie, Jr., who, as sheriff of the county, 
 it had been supposed was the proper person to read 
 the declaration of independence to the people at the 
 Court house, refused to appear there for such a pur- 
 pose. In consequence of this refusal on his part, 
 threats had been made against him, which he deemed it 
 prudent not to brave, and therefore he withdrew from 
 the town. As these throats indicated a state of feeling 
 in the public mind which the committee thought boded 
 no good to the common cause, they promptly met them 
 by such a conciliatory resolution as dispelled the 
 threatened evil. 
 
 "Extract from the minutes of the committee of 
 observation for Baltimore county, July 30, 1776. 
 The chairman being informed by Mr. Robert Chris- 
 tie, Jr., the sheriff of this county, that he had reason to 
 be apprehensive of violence being offered to him, the 
 
Ch. II.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS. &c. 63 
 
 said sheriff, on account of his not attending to read 
 the declaration of independence last Monday, agreeable 
 to the desire of the committee, and that from those ap- 
 prehensions, he would be under the disagreeable ne- 
 cessity of retiring to the country, and withdrawing 
 himself from the public service, 
 
 ** Wherefore, resolved, that this committee do declare 
 their utter disapprobation of all threats or violence 
 being offered to any persons whatever, as contrary to 
 the resolves of congress, and the sense of the conven- 
 tion of this province : That they conceive themselves 
 bound to protect (as far as in their power) the civil offi- 
 cers, in the discharge of their duty. That they do ex- 
 pect of, and call upon every good citizen and friend to 
 his country, to assist them in their endeavors to pre- 
 serve the peace and good order of society, and to pre- 
 vent all riots and tumults, and personal abuse and vio- 
 lence to individuals. That the good people of Balti- 
 more, having hitherto been so respectfully attentive to 
 the resolves of this committee, on all occasions, they 
 flatter themselves that due regard will be paid to this 
 recommendation." 
 
 SAMUEL PURVIANCE, Jr., 
 
 Chairman^ 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 The convention of Maryland met on ibe 14th of 
 August, 1776, for the purpose of " establishing a bill 
 of rights, and the formation of a new government, on 
 the authority of the people only." These important 
 measures were adopted by the convention, on the 8th 
 of November following. For the introduction of the 
 new government, an election was required to be held 
 on the 25th of November, of the same year, for the 
 electors of the senate, which body were afterwards to 
 meet on the 9th of December, and then choose sena- 
 tors ; and an election was to be held on the 18th of 
 December, for delegates to serve in the general assem- 
 bly. Committees of observation were required to be elect- 
 ed also, on the 25th of November. These committees 
 were to be invested with the powers given by tiiis and 
 former conventions, and continue until the 10th of March, 
 1777, ** or until the general assembly of the state should 
 make further order therein." 
 
 This constitution of government was about one of the 
 best political creations which resulted from the labors 
 of those who were called upon, by the peculiar circum- 
 stances of the country, to provide new systems of gov- 
 ernment for the people. It gave an ample protection 
 to the people for whose immediate benefit it was estab- 
 lished : It became an able auxiliary in the great cause 
 
Ch. III.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &e. 65 
 
 of American liberty, and so much has it commanded of 
 the affections of the people, that in the seventy-two 
 years of its existence, there have been fewer alterations 
 in its organic character, tlian in any other of the states 
 of the union during the same period. 
 
 In consequence of the approach of General Howe's 
 army towards Philadelphia, General Putnam who com- 
 manded there, and General Washington, who at that 
 time was in Philadelphia, recommended that congress 
 should remove for the present to Baltimore; and^ on 
 the 20th of December, 1776, in conformity to these 
 opinions, they removed hither, and commenced their 
 session. '' 
 
 There was a great scarcity of flour, bread and iron in 
 the eastern states, at the commencement of the year 
 1777. The military operations of the enemy, at this 
 time, being pretty much confined to New Jersey, New 
 York and Pennsylvania, the intercourse was very much 
 interrupted by these. Congress looked towards Balti- 
 more, as being more exempt from these obstructions, 
 than any of the other large ports on the sea board, as 
 the resource from which this supply was to come. 
 They directed their eastern agents to send their orders 
 here, and, in consequence, many, to a large extent, 
 were received ; and I believe, in every instance, the 
 supply was obtained. Some time before this, Messrs. 
 Samuel and Robert Purviance, had become the agents 
 of congress, as well for obtaining all the supplies that 
 might be required here, as in general for such financial 
 operation, as the emergencies of congress might re- 
 quire in the south. This will account for the reason 
 why many of the letters which are now published, 
 7* 
 
66 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 were directed to them, either as partners or individuals. 
 This agency was continued during the whole period 
 of the war ; and the vast expenditures which were 
 made, could the accounts of them all, meet the public 
 eye, would present the difHculties which were encoun- 
 tered ; the patriotism which was manifested by the 
 people, and the noble determination to uphold the coun- 
 try in her struggle, in a light that would give additional 
 value to republican liberty. 
 
 After the adoption of the constitution of Maryland, 
 the powers heretofore exercised by the committees 
 ceased, and all the future exertions which the state was 
 required to make in the common cause, were under 
 the direction of the authority provided for by that in- 
 strument. The stirring appeals which were made by 
 the committees, and which had had the desired effect 
 of arousing the people to a sense of the danger which 
 threatened their liberties, were no longer heard. The 
 people had been summoned to the contest, and were 
 prosecuting it with all the energy, which a, just sense 
 of the value of their rights, could command. The state 
 government found them in this determined position, and 
 its great duty appeared to be, to see that under their 
 authority there should not be less zeal, less patriotism, 
 than when these were directed by the committees. 
 There appears to have been an apprehension entertain- 
 ed by many, that the stale authority would not be as 
 competent to carry on the revolution as their predeces- 
 sors; and in anticipation of its failure to meet the ex- 
 pectations of the people, a society was formed in Balti- 
 more, in the early part of the year 1777, to be called 
 the ** Whig Club." The objects of this society, as de- 
 
Ch. III.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 67 
 
 veloped in the rules they established for their govern- 
 ment, were such as had directed the attention of the 
 committees, during the early part of the revolution, 
 and when there was no controlling power in the state, 
 either to check excesses, or to stir up reluctant spirits. 
 But when a regular government was organized, that 
 was supposed to be as desirous of obtaining all the bene- 
 fits for the people, which were contemplated when the 
 old government was dissolved, as had been obtained by 
 those who had preceded them in the government of the 
 people ; it was thought by the new state authority, that 
 the zeal manifested by the associators of this whig club, 
 was now an unnecessary auxiliary in the cause. Some 
 of the rules of the club, the state considered as usurpa- 
 pations of their authority, and some complaint having 
 been preferred against them by Mr. Goddard, who had 
 been the editor of a journal, the legislature passed a re- 
 solution, " That the governor be requested to issue his 
 proclamation, declaring all bodies of men associating 
 together, or meeting for the purpose, and usurping any 
 of the powers of the government, and presuming to ex- 
 ercise any power over the persons or property of any 
 subject of this state, or ta carry into execution any of 
 the laws thereof, unlawful assemblies, and requiring 
 all such assemblies and meetings instantly to disperse," 
 In conformity to this resolution, the governor issued a 
 proclamation, on the 17th of April. It does not ap- 
 pear that this association had any other object in view, 
 than to promote the great cause in which the state had 
 been embarked, from the breaking out of the war, and 
 in so doing, they thought their exertions would tend 
 " to strengthen the bands of the present government," 
 
68 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 Mr. GoJdard, who was the complainant before the 
 legislature, of the manner in which they had treated 
 him, had been tlie editor of a journal, which had not 
 been as friendly to those who had been exercising the 
 authority of the province, as had been expected from 
 one, who professed to be an advocate of the cause. His 
 remarks on the members of the club were of a charac- 
 ter to give offence, and they were not slow to vindi- 
 cate themselves. The legislature, however, listened 
 to Mr. Goddard, and adopted the resolution, of which 
 we have taken notice. Mr. Goddard rather leaned to 
 that party, which existed at this time, and which look- 
 ed up to General Lee and others, as proper persons to 
 whom the destinies of the country ought to be confided, 
 rather than to the wise, the judicious management of 
 General Washington, and those acting under him. Al- 
 though I have no evidence that he at this time ex- 
 hibited these feelings, yet I am persuaded from circum- 
 stances, that no hostility would have been manifested 
 against him, if something of this kind had not been 
 fastened upon him. A subsequent occasion showed 
 the extent of his feelings towards General Lee, in such 
 a manner, that it called forth from the friends of Gene- 
 ral Washington, such a rebuke, as had well nigh ter- 
 minated in an unhappy manner. 
 
 In the month of February, of this year, (1777) a 
 tory insurrection occurred in Somerset and Worcester 
 counties of this state. Baltimore felt anxious to have 
 it suppressed speedily, and for this purpose, spared 
 neither men nor money to accomplish it. A detach- 
 ment of Virginia troops, on their way to join General 
 Washington's army in Jersey, was diverted for a time, 
 
Ch. III.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 69 
 
 from their original destination, and ordered for the 
 eastern shore : They were joined by a detachment 
 from the militia of this to-wn, and a train of artillery 
 from Annapolis. The whole were pat under the com- 
 mand of Brigadier General Smallwood. The insur- 
 gents were very early dispersed,- and several of the 
 leaders were taken prisoners. This was the only in- 
 stance in which the escutcheon of Maryland was blotted 
 with such a stain, in the revolutionary contest. 
 
 I have already observed, that congress was removed 
 to Baltimore, in December, 1776, in consequence of the 
 near approach of General Howe's army to Philadel- 
 phia. In Baltimore, at a distance from these move- 
 ments, congress could legislate without those appre- 
 hensions, which naturally tended to defeat all the pur- 
 poses for which they were assembled. Here they 
 were enabled to deliberate with the calmness and 
 steadiness which so much befit wise and patriotic legis- 
 lation. Among their first enactments here was the sub- 
 ject of the currency, one of those important questions, 
 which appear to have never ceased to agitate the pub.- 
 lic mind of America, since the dawn of the revolution. 
 The object of this present enactment was, "to require 
 the council of safety of Pennsylvania, to take vigorous 
 measures for punishing all such as shall refuse conti- 
 nental currency." Mr. Hancock, president of congress, 
 in a letter to the council of safety of Pennsylvania, 
 says : " The great importance to the welfare of these 
 United States, of supporting the credjt of the conti- 
 nental currency will suggest the propriety of the above 
 resolve, which I am commanded by congress to trans- 
 mit to you, and to request you will take measures for 
 
70 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 an immediate compliance therewith." Among the 
 weapons which the enemies of American liberty em- 
 ployed to oppose it, was the effort made by them to 
 destroy the credit of the money issued under the au- 
 thority of congress. Certainly nothing contributes more 
 to weaken the power of a nation in all her military ef- 
 forts, than the destruction of her money, or the credit 
 which represents it. The preservation of her armies 
 in the field ; the equipment of her fleets on the ocean ; 
 the peace of her people at home, all depend upon the 
 integrity of her money and her credit. Destroy these, 
 and her subjugation to the enemy she opposes, will soon 
 follow. How important, then, was it to congress, to 
 legislate upon the subject at this time. The money 
 then used, was the only money which congress could 
 war with. It had its value among the people, and so 
 long as it could maintain this support, that long it was 
 an useful agent in behalf of American rights. It was 
 their bounden duty to protect it to the utmost, and if, 
 in doing this, some inconvenience might be felt, it 
 would be recollected, " that every good in this life has 
 its alloy of evil." 
 
 There was a recommendation from congress, in 
 March, "to the legislatures, or in their recess to the 
 executive power of each of the United States, to cause 
 assessments of blankets to be made, in order to furnish 
 their several quotas of soldiers, with an article so ne- 
 cessary to defend themselves from the inclemency of 
 weather and damp air, in their encampments ; that all 
 blankets to be obtained in this manner, be valued to a 
 just and reasonable price, and paid for by the states 
 respectively, to be repaid by the United States.. 
 
Ch. hi.] a narrative of events, &c. 71 
 
 And that the legislatures, or, in their recess, the ex- 
 ecutive power, do cause money to be put into the hands 
 of a proper officer, in every county, district, or town- 
 ship, in order that such blankets may be paid for, 
 without delay or trouble to the housekeepers, on 
 whom the assessment shall be made." As this was 
 the first order issued by congress, having a tendency 
 to interfere with the domestic economy of the people^ 
 it might have been supposed that its execution would 
 have been attended with much murmuring and discon- 
 tent, but I do not find any such occurred here. I find, 
 amons: the documents from which I collect much of the 
 information that I communicate, that there were many 
 orders for blankets of a small number at a time, and 
 even some were distributed to members of congress, 
 for their own use. Perhaps an argument may be 
 drawn from the scarcity of this article in this 
 country, which, the order of congress shows did exist, 
 in favour of the encouragement of domestic manufac- 
 tures by legislative action, to supply such wants as 
 these, which a state of war inevitably creates. -The 
 dependent state on the crown, which it was the part 
 of British policy to exact from the colonies, necessarily 
 required that the workshops of the colonies should be 
 in the mother country ; and so general was this senti- 
 ment in England, at the time of the enactment of the 
 various laws which ultimately produced the revolution, 
 that even Lord Chatham, who had so often eloquently 
 advocated our rights, so far as taxation and represen- 
 tation were concerned, indignantly spurned the thought 
 that America was to manufacture for herself. I would 
 not permit them to make a hob nail, was the inconsis- 
 
72 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 tent language of this celebrated statesman. We owe 
 it to the fostering care of a republican government, 
 which was the creature of the revolution, that we are 
 enabled this day to say, that we are as independent of 
 her in all the essentials which give wealth, and comfort, 
 and happiness to a nation, as we are of that legislation 
 which would deny to us the common bounties of 
 heaven. 
 
 A useful admonition was given to ** printers in 
 each of the United States," by congress, in the sitting 
 of the 30th of December, which it may not be im- 
 proper, perhaps, to preserve a memorial of, since the 
 value of it may be highly estimated, when our country 
 finds it necessary to put herself in the attitude and 
 armor of war. " The printers in each of the United 
 States, are desired to take notice, that at times when 
 the militia have been Called on to reinforce the army, 
 the internal enemies of America have industriously cir- 
 culated reports, magnifying the number of our troops 
 in camp, and thereby prevent seasonable reinforcement. 
 It is therefore hoped that they will, in future, avoid 
 publishing letters or paragraphs that may have this 
 dangerous effect, and insert this hint in each of their 
 papers, that the yeomanry of America being apprised 
 thereof, may at all times exert themselves when pro- 
 perly called on, to expel from this land an army of 
 foreigners, that consider their customs of indiscriminately 
 murdering, plundering, &c., to be consistent with hu- 
 manity and the practices of civilized nations." Con- 
 gress adjourned on the 3d of March, 1777, to meet 
 again in Philadelphia, a few days thereafter. 
 
 It appears to have been the practice of congress, to 
 have permitted the individual members of committees 
 
Ch. III.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 73 
 
 to give instructions to the various agents of congress, 
 and to direct in what manner the various duties requir- 
 ed of these agencies should be performed : — and the 
 exercise of this power appears not to have been con- 
 fined to the period of time in which they were attend- 
 ing on congress, but was equally authorized, when 
 they were at a distance from the seat of government. 
 Hence, many of the letters which are annexed to this 
 narrative, were written by individual members of com- 
 mittees, when they were not at the seat of government. 
 Mr. Joseph Hewes, who was a member from North 
 Carohna, and one of the signers of the declaration of 
 independence, appears to have been a member of the 
 marine committee, and in that capacity communicated 
 with Mr. Samuel Purviance. Various letters were re- 
 ceived from him respecting the building of frigates ; 
 the contracting for iron ; for cannon, and all the neces- 
 sary equipage belonging to vessels of war. The ap- 
 pointments to the command of these vessels, with all 
 the necessary officers, generally took place according to 
 their selection, Baltimore, from its peculiar fitness for 
 the building and equipment of vessels, was selected as 
 one of the sites for naval constructions, and many ves- 
 sels which afterwards became celebrated for the injury 
 they inflicted on the enemy, were built here. The Vir- 
 ginia frigate ; the Defence sloop, Buckskin, Enterprise, 
 Sturdy Beggar, Harlequin, Fox, &c., were among the 
 number, and the success which sometimes attended 
 their cruises, contributed to aid congress with the 
 means of carrying on the war. Commodore James 
 Nicholson was selected to command the Virginia 
 frigate. He was a native of the eastern shore of Mary- 
 8 
 
74 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 land ; and gave early proofs of his peculiar fitness for 
 the responsible station to which he was now called. 
 He served his country faitlifully during the war, and 
 was among the number of those distinguished seamen 
 who contributed to build up a name for his country in 
 maritime war, which will be as imperishable as her 
 glory. He was one of that respectable family which 
 have been so long known in our state, and which have 
 contributed their quota to the defence of our liberties. 
 He was the father-in-law of the distinguished Mr. Gal- 
 latin, and died in the year 1791. Two brotliers were 
 also naval officers in the service, Capt. John Nicholson, 
 and Capt. Samuel Nicholson. The latter became a 
 commodore since the re-organizalion of the navy under 
 the federal government, and commanded in the Medi- 
 terranean, during the cruises which took place in that 
 sea, before and during the time of the Tripolitan war. 
 Many letters were written by Commodore Nicholson, 
 some of which are now published, during his command 
 in the Chesapeake bay, to the committee of correspon- 
 dence and Mr. Purviance. Before he commanded the 
 Virginia, which was a continental ship, he commanded 
 the ship Defence, which was a ship that had been 
 fitted out by the province of Maryland, for the protec- 
 tion of the Chesapeake. His letter, acknowledging 
 his appointment, I have already noticed. 
 
 In August, 1777, the British fleet, composed of three 
 hundred sail of men of war, transports, &c., came to 
 anchor just below the Bodkin point, where they con- 
 tinued until the next day, when they weighed anchor, 
 and sailed for the head of Elk. This was the army 
 under the immediate command of Sir William Howe, 
 
Ch. hi.-] a narrative of events, &c. 75 
 
 which ultimately reached Philadelphia. The Governor 
 of Maryland, on the next day, issued a proclamation, 
 requiring and commanding the county lieutenants, the 
 field and other proper • officers of the militia of the 
 western shore of this state, immediately to march at 
 least two full companies iof each battalion of the militia, 
 to the neighborhood of Susquehanna river, in Cecil and 
 Harford counties, where they were to receive orders. 
 ** To defend our liberties, requires our exertions : Our 
 wives, our children, and our country, implore our 
 assistance. Motives amply sufficient to arm every 
 one who can be called a man." This call was obey- 
 ed. Mr. Griffith, in his annals, says, " that the Inde- 
 pendent company, which was commanded by Capt. 
 John Sterett, trained as infantry, mounted their own 
 horses, proceeded to watch the enemy on the bay 
 side, and arrived before them at the head of it; join- 
 ed the main army, including the Maryland line, near 
 Newport ; but were then ordered back by the com- 
 mander in chief, to assist in protecting their homes." 
 On the 11th of September, was fought the battle of 
 Brandywine, at which were present the quota of 
 troops which had been ordered out by the governor, 
 In his proclamation of the 22d of August. 
 
 Capt. Nicholson, of the Virginia frigate, after watch- 
 ing the operations of the enemy, in nearly all the sum- 
 mer and fall of 1777, attempted to go to sea, notwith- 
 standing the formidable obstacles which a numerous 
 fleet presented against the success of such an attempt. 
 On the 31st of December, he was chased by the enemy, 
 but unfortunately struck on the middle ground, and 
 the ship was taken. He himself escaped in his barge, 
 
76 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 but his first lieutenant, Joshua Barney, was made a 
 prisoner. Joshua Barney was afterwards celebrated 
 for liis many naval exploits in the revolutionary war ; 
 was distinguished as a commodore in the French re- 
 publican service ; and in the war of his own country in 
 1814, gallantly sustained her honor, in his defence of 
 the heights of Bladensburg. During Capt. Nicholson's 
 cruise in the bay, he was constantly watching an op- 
 portunity to reach the sea. In one of his letters, re- 
 lating his movements, he says : *' I have had such va- 
 rious reports of the force of the ship that lays off the 
 spit, both from my own officers, as well as those that 
 have passed her, that I was determined to go down 
 and see her myself, and returned yesterday at noon. 
 I went into the Barrons' boat, and lay within about 
 two miles of her half an hour, and find her to be a 32 
 gun frigate, which we supposed to be the Thames, and at 
 the same time we saw another frigate between the shoe 
 and middle ground, which I supposed to be the Eme- 
 rald, and their brig and schooner tender at the North 
 Cape. The Phenix, we understand, is cruising off 
 the Capes. I am informed, both those frigates sail 
 heavy, and I have sometimes thought of endeavoring 
 to push by them, but then my preservation depends 
 upon my sailing, which my officers, as well as my- 
 self, conclude is too great a risk." 
 
 In consequence of the approach of Sir William 
 Howe to Philadelphia, after his victory on the Brandy- 
 wine, congress removed from Philadelphia, to York in 
 Pennsylvania. The article of salt, at all times so im- 
 portant in the economy of every society, became very 
 much so in the estimation ol congress, from an appre- 
 
Ch. III.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 77. 
 
 hension of its scarcity. Hence, congress never inter- 
 mitted the opportunity of obtaining- a supply when any 
 circumstance presented them with the chance of secur- 
 ing it. A cargo of salt arrived at Baltimore, in January, 
 1778, and an intimation was given to congress of this 
 fact. Immediately thereafter, an act was passed for 
 the purpose of securing the whole for the army. Mr. 
 Henry Laurens, who had now become the president of 
 congress, in a letter addressed to Samuel and Robert 
 Purviance, of 12th January, 1778, from Yorktown, 
 says, " as some days may elapse before the governor 
 and council can act, I am directed to transmit the copy 
 enclosed as above mentioned, and to request you to 
 exert your endeavors to prevent a sale or removal of 
 the salt, until his excellency shall give directions in 
 consequence of the present recommendation and resolve. 
 The term " secure," in the latter part of the resolve* 
 you may be assured, comprehends the idea of purchas- 
 ing, and I have explained it to the governor. It is ex- 
 pected, that every friend to these states in your town, 
 will give all needful assistance to serve the public in 
 this momentous business ; without salt, it will be impos- 
 sible to lay up magazines of provisions for the army, 
 and I need not predict what will be the consequence of 
 deficiency." Some short time after this action of con- 
 gress, salt fell here in price, for imported salt, from 
 <€18 to c£7 IO5— Country salt, from c£16 to J£5. This 
 subject did not fail to excite a good deal of anxiety in 
 the public mind, during the greater part of the war, 
 and we shall see, in the course of our narrative, what 
 decided steps were obliged to be taken by the people 
 
 8* 
 
7S A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 of Baltimore, to prevent the impositions which were 
 practised in consequence of its scarcity. 
 
 The intelligence of the alliance which had taken 
 place, between France and the United States, in virtue 
 of the treaty entered into, between the two powers, 
 was received in Baltimore, on the 5th of May, 1778, 
 and in demonstration of the joy it created, the town 
 was splendidly illuminated on the night of that day. 
 This alliance gave a different aspect to our affairs. 
 Wherever there was despondency, it yielded to confi- 
 dence, and the contest was ever afterwards maintained, 
 under the deep conviction, that the independence of 
 America was established on a basis, that could only be 
 shaken by one of those convulsions, which, in the order 
 of providence, overturns the mightiest empires. 
 
 Congress returned to Philadelphia in July, after the 
 British army, under General Howe, had evacuated it. 
 As this had been the second removal of congress, in 
 consequence of the operations of Sir William Howe, 
 their return to it now, was never afterwards interrupt- 
 ed by the same cause. They remained in Philadel- 
 phia till near the close of the war, when they removed 
 to Annapolis. 
 
 Committees of congress were in the habit of visiting 
 places where tlie emergencies of the public required that 
 large amounts should be expended in its service, as 
 well for that of the marine as of the military. For this 
 purpose the marine committee held a meeting in Balti- 
 more, in the months of May and June, 1778. Their 
 attention was directed to the minutest objects, and the 
 care they exercised over all the interests of the public^ 
 of which tliey liad jurisdiction, would be well worthy 
 
Ch. III.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &e. 79 
 
 of the imitation of their successors. They gave a 
 personal examination of all the means deposited in the 
 hands of the public agents, as is instanced in the follow- 
 ing communication. 
 
 Navy Board, Middle District, 
 
 Baltimore, June 2d, 1778. 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 We are directed by the marine committee, to take 
 charge of the public timber, mahogany, &c., collected 
 at this place ; will therefore be obliged to you, as soon 
 as it can conveniently be done, to furnish us with your 
 accounts relative thereto, which will enable us with 
 greater proficiency, to enter on this business.. 
 We are gentlemen, 
 
 Your obedient servants, 
 WILLIAM SMITH, 
 JOHN WHARTON, 
 FRANCIS HOPKINSON. 
 To Messrs. Samuel & Robert Purviance, 
 Baltimore. 
 
 They saw whether things, which had been required 
 to be done by the authority of congress, was done ; 
 and if a vessel had not sailed at the time she was ex- 
 pected to have sailed, a reason for the delay was re- 
 quired to be given. When public servants thus dis- 
 charge the duties required of them, the public welfare 
 is promoted, public confidence is secured, and the ap- 
 probation which is manifested by a renewal of the 
 trust, is generally considered by such servants, as the 
 best reward they can receive. It has often been a sub- 
 ject of admiration, that congress should have been en- 
 
80 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 abled, wltli the limited means they possessed for such 
 a purpose, to have carried on a war so long as they did, 
 and to so triumphant an issue. It is true, that at this 
 time, the alliance was formed with France, and the 
 union of two such powers could not but be felt by any 
 antagonist who should attempt to draw his sword 
 against them. This union may, to many minds, appear 
 to solve the mystery, and to induce the opinion that 
 we must have succumbed to the power of Britain, but 
 for this opportune alliance. Without depreciating in 
 the least, the vast strength which this alliance gave us, 
 and the weight it necessarily had in the subsequent 
 part of the contest, we forget that we had then been 
 waging a single handed contest with Great Britain for 
 three years ; that we had, in the mean time, captured 
 Burgoyne with a considerable army ; that Howe, after 
 a capture of Philadelphia, had been driven from it, and 
 through the Jerseys ; that although reverses had been 
 experienced by us, the enemy had his full share of them 
 also. But it appears to me, one of the great secrets of 
 our strength was in the virtue of the people. Wherever 
 duty called, there was obedience ; and no matter whe- 
 ther in the member of congress, who made his public 
 duty a private concern, or in the citizen who made his 
 private business a public concern, these exhibitions of 
 patriotism warranted the opinion, that there was to be 
 no peace between England and single handed Ameri- 
 ca, but on the broad ground, that the United States 
 were free, sovereign and independent. This opinion 
 derives additional strength from the fact, that con- 
 gress, in June, 1778, in rejecting the overtures 
 made by Lord Carlisle, Sir William Eden and Gov- 
 
Ch. III.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 81 
 
 ernor Johnstone, the commissioners appointed by 
 Great Britain, to settle the differences with America, 
 say, ** the only solid proof of this disposition, will 
 be an explicit acknowledgment of the independence 
 of these states, or the withdrawing his fleets and 
 armies." 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A committee of merchants was formed, at the 
 beginning of the year 1779, whose duty it appears to 
 have been, to provide a suitable defence for the private 
 navigation of the Chesapeake bay. Gallies were pro- 
 vided, and the direction of them had been confided to 
 Commodore Nicholson, who, a short time before, had 
 lost the Virginia frigate, at the mouth of the Capes, 
 in attempting to elude the vigilance of a British squad- 
 ron stationed there, and who, in consequence, had no 
 immediate command. The command of the galley 
 Conrjueror was bestowed upon him by the committee, 
 with the approbation of the governor. The gentlemen 
 who were united with the commodore, as officers on 
 board this galley, deemed it proper to petition the com- 
 mittee on the subject of the relation which they would 
 hold to the committee, in case of their capture* They 
 thought it but reasonable, in case such an event should 
 occur, that their wages should go on. They present 
 a gloomy prospect of their situation in such a case. 
 The horrors of a prison ship were more intimidating 
 to tliem, than the cannonading of an enemy; and it was 
 against tliese that they wanted some provision made ; 
 ** but," in tl]e language of a patriotism wliich peculiar- 
 ly characterizes the seamen of America, " should vve 
 receive no address, it shall not in the least detain our 
 
Ch. IV.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. g3 
 
 services from the cause in wliich we are tiow engaged." \ 
 Their petition was granted, and the Conqueror began 
 her cruise. For three months she was stationed at and 
 near Cape Henry, and in other parts of the bay. The 
 protection she and the others of the squadron gave to 
 the navigation of Baltimore, is almost incredible. Com- 
 modore Nicholson was one of those men who never 
 flagged in any duty he undertook, and the skill with which 
 all his maritime operatiows were conducted, were an ear- 
 nest of that, which, in later days, has so pre-eminently 
 characterized the American seamen. 
 
 There was published in Goddard's Maryland Jour 
 nal of July 6th, 1779, a number of queries styled "po- 
 litical and military," evidently tending to bring in ques- 
 tion the military qualifications of General Washington 
 for the august station he then occupied ; and to create 
 a prejudice against the French nation, which, a short 
 time before, had entered into an alliance with the Uni- 
 ted States. Among the queries which were intended 
 to affect the character of General Washington, we 
 select three, as samples of the general feeling of the 
 writer towards this illustrious man. 
 
 "Whether it is salutary or dangerous, consistent 
 with, or abhorrent from, the principles and spirit of 
 liberty and republicanism, to inculcate and encourage 
 in the people an idea, that their welfare, safety and 
 glory, depend on one man 1 Whether they really do 
 depend on one man ]" 
 
 "Whether, am.ongst the late warm, or rather legal 
 addresses, in this city, (Philadelphia) to his excellency 
 General Washington, there was a single mortal, one 
 gentleman excepted, who could possibly be acquainted 
 with his merits ]" 
 
84 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 "Whether this gentleman excepted, does really 
 think his excellency a great man, or whether evidences 
 could not be produced of his sentiments being quite 
 the reverse V 
 
 The query relative to the French nation was : 
 
 " Whether an enlightened member of a French par- 
 liament is not a thousand times more wretched than a 
 Russian serf or peasant. As to the former, the chains, 
 from his sensibility, must be extremely galling ; and 
 on the latter, they fit as easy as the skin of his back 1" 
 
 On the publication of these queries, a great deal of 
 excitement was produced against the author of them, 
 and a demand was made for him, upon Mr. Goddard, by 
 many citizens. Mr. Goddard at first refused to give 
 up his name, but when he found that the citizens were 
 determined to know who was the calumniator of the 
 venerated chief, Mr. Goddard gave up the name of 
 General Charles Lee as their author, and disavowed 
 for himself, any intention to reflect on General Wash- 
 ington. He signed a paper of this purport : *' I, Wil- 
 liam Goddard, do hereby acknowledge, that by pub- 
 lishing certain '* queries, political and military," in the 
 Maryland Journal, of the 6th inst., I have transgressed 
 against truth, justice, and my duty as a good citizen ; 
 and, in reparation, I do most humbly beg his excellency 
 General Washington's pardon, and hope the good 
 people of this town, will excuse my having published 
 a piece so replete with the nonsense and malevolence 
 of a disappointed man. 
 
 W. GODDARD.'* 
 Baltimore Town, JuIt/ 0th, 1779." 
 
Ch. IV.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 85 
 
 Mr. Goddard, in a subsequent notice of this affair, 
 ascribed the above note, which was certainly humiliat- 
 ing enough, to the fear he labored under from the 
 violence of the many who required the disavowal 
 from him ; and that the moment he was relieved from 
 the apprehension of all violence, he took the oppor- 
 tunity of communicating the circumstances which pro- 
 duced it. We are not the advocates of violence to 
 avenge the wrong which a community may have ex- 
 perienced by the actions of an individual; but some 
 apology may be found for those who, on this occasion, 
 were desirous of shielding from insidious attacks, the 
 fame and character of a man, who, at that time, was 
 looked up to as the saviour of their country ; knowing 
 that if his character were then to be destroyed, the 
 hope would depart for ever, that their country was to 
 be free, sovereign, and independent. There was no 
 part of America, in which the name of General Wash- 
 ington was held in higher veneration than in Baltimore, 
 and there was no place where an attempt to sully it, 
 would excite greater sensibility. In these queries, 
 there was one of this character : '* Whether, when 
 General Howe manifestly gave over all thoughts of 
 attacking General Washington, in the last strong po- 
 sition in the rear of White Plains, and fell back towards 
 York Island, orders should not have been imme- 
 diately despatched for the evacuation of Fort Wash- 
 ington, and for the removal of all the stores of value 
 from Fort Lee to some secure spot, more remote from 
 the river ? Whether this was not proposed, and the 
 proposal slighted V General Reed, who at this time 
 was the president of the supreme executive council of 
 9 
 
S6 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 Pennsylvania, considering himself, as so particularly 
 alluded to in this query, felt it to be his duty not to per- 
 mit the character of General Washington to be attacked 
 through him, and " to guard the public from error in 
 opinion," he says : " that in the fall of 1776, he was 
 extremely anxious that Fort Washington should be 
 evacuated. There was a difference of opinion among 
 those whom the general consulted, and he hesitated 
 more than he ever knew him on any other occasion, 
 and more than he thought the public service admitted. 
 Knowing that General Lee's opinion would be a great 
 support to mine, I wrote to him from Hackensack, 
 stating the case and my reasons, and I think urging 
 him to join me in sentiment. At the close of my let- 
 ter, and alluding to this, I added this sentence : * With 
 a thousand good and great qualities, there is a want of 
 decision, to complete the perfect military character.* 
 Upon this sentence, or one to this effect, wrote in 
 haste, in full confidence, and in great anxiety for the 
 event, is this ungenerous sentiment introduced into the 
 world." General Lee, if not hostile before, became, 
 after the battle of Monmouth, the undisguised enemy 
 of General Washington, and seemed to have embraced 
 every occasion to manifest this hostility towards him. 
 These queries were about the first of his vindictive 
 ebullitions, and the attempt to make them subserve his 
 purpose in Baltimore, was met in the manner in which 
 we have now taken notice. That Mr. Goddard had, 
 at all times, been friendly to General Lee, had been 
 long knov/n, for he never concealed his feelings to- 
 wards him ; but that he should have taken the method 
 he did to testify them, so as to involve the character of 
 
Ch.iv.] a narrative of events, &c. 87 
 
 Washington, was what the friends of this illustrious 
 man could not endure; and unhappily, Mr. Goddard 
 was made to feel the consequences of his indiscretion. 
 The feelings which these events produced, gradually 
 subsided, and the future intercourse of Mr. Goddard, 
 with the people of Baltimore, was of so friendly a 
 character, that he resumed the editorship of his paper 
 some years after, and continued it until the year 1791, 
 when he removed to Rhode Island, his birth place. 
 
 We have already remarked on the anxiety which 
 congress had manifested on the subject of salt, and 
 whilst their great desire was to secure such a supply 
 as would be necessary for all their military purposes, 
 they felt an anxiety to avoid its becoming an object 
 of monopoly in the hands of speculators. This anx- 
 iety was equally felt by the people of Baltimore, and 
 to prevent its falling into the hands of those who would 
 thus make use of it, a society was formed for purchas- 
 ing all that should be brought to market, and sell it 
 out to the inhabitants*for such a sum as would just 
 cover the cost. The language of this association was : 
 " We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the town and 
 county of Baltimore, viewing with great concern, the 
 exhorbitant price to which the article of salt has lately 
 risen, and apprehending that the avarice of engrossers, 
 if not speedily and vigorously opposed, will soon put 
 that necessary of life out of the reach of the indus- 
 trious poor, both in town and country, do hereby asso- 
 ciate ourselves together, for the purpose of reducing 
 the price of salt, and to prevent, as far as is in our 
 power, the evil consequences which must ensue to the 
 community at large, from the pernicious acts of specu- 
 lators and engrossers. 
 
88 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 " To attain these laudable ends, we do, each for him- 
 self, engage to pay into the hands of a treasurer, to be 
 appointed by the society, the sums of money annexed 
 to our respective names ; this money to be expended 
 in purchasing all the salt which may arrive at the port 
 of Baltimore, in the course of two months; which shall 
 be sold out in small quantities, at a price barely suffi- 
 cient to repay the first cost, and defray such expenses 
 as may necessarily attend the retailing of it. Witness 
 our hands, this 14th of October, 1779." 
 
 S. & R, Purviance, ^£10,000 
 
 William Smith, 5,000 
 
 William Neil, 4,000 
 
 Mark Pringle, 5,000 
 
 Daniel Bowley, 5,000 
 
 John McClure, 5,000 
 
 John Dorsey, 5.000 
 
 William Hammond, 4,000 
 
 Stephen Stewart, 2,000 
 
 H. D. Gough, ^. 3,000 
 
 Thomas Langton, 1,000 
 
 Thomas Burling, 3,000 
 
 J. & T. Hollingsworth, 3,000 
 
 Hugh Young, 5,000 
 
 James Calhoun, 2,000 
 
 Jonathan Hudson, 3,000 
 
 Richard Curson, 1,000 
 
 Mark Alexander, 2,000 
 
 R. & A. McKim, 2,000 
 
 Matthew Ridley, 5,000 
 
 Amount brought forward, ^75,000 
 
Ch. IV.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 89 
 
 Amount brought forward, 6£75,000 
 
 David Stewart 5,000 
 
 Thomas Russell, 5,000 
 
 Hughes & Williamson, 2,000 
 
 Gardner & Gales, 2,000 
 
 John Sterret, 1,000 
 
 Samuel Smith, 2,000 
 
 Philip Graybell, 1,000 
 
 0693,000 
 This society accomplished the object for which it 
 was formed, and I find no other account of any scar- 
 city of the article during the war. 
 
 The states of Delaware and Pennsylvania having 
 laid an embargo on the trade o£ Delaware bay, so that 
 persons residing on the waters and vicinity thereof, were 
 prohibited the enjoyment of their accustomed trade. This 
 was a measure that was felt very seriously in Maryland. 
 The general assembly of Maryland authorized the gov- 
 ernor and council to issue a proclamation, which they 
 did, prohibiting the exportation from this state of various 
 articles, the productions of Maryland, until the day on 
 which the embargo in the aforementioned states would 
 cease. This proclamation being issued the 9th of 
 September, 1780, the duration of the embargo was 
 until the last day of November following. This ne- 
 cessary retaliation on the part of Maryland, appears to 
 have been sanctioned by the people without any mur- 
 muring or discontent. 
 
 The general assembly of Maryland passed, in the 
 month of December, " an act for calling out of circu- 
 lation the quota of this state, of the bills of credit issued 
 9* 
 
90 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 by congress, and the bills of credit emitted by acts 
 of Assembly, under the old government, and by the 
 resolves of convention." In this law it was enacted, 
 " after the 20th of March next, no bills of credit issued 
 by congress, or acts of assembly during the old govern- 
 ment, or resolves of convention, shall, within this state 
 be deemed paper money or pass current, or be in law 
 or equity a lender or payment for any debt, covenant, 
 promise, contract, or agreement." " The possessors and 
 proprietors of any of the aforesaid bills, subjects of 
 this state, or trustees for subjects thereof, may, at any 
 lime hereafter, on or before the 1st of March next, 
 carry into the continental loan office of this state, any 
 of the said bills of credit, and will be entitled to re- 
 ceive for every forty dollars so brought in, one dollar 
 of the new bills (emitted agreeably to the resolve of 
 congress, of the 18th of March, and the act for sinking 
 the quota required by congress of this state, of the 
 bills of credit emitted by congress,) and in the same pro- 
 portion for any greater quantity, and any portion after 
 the said first day of March, and before the first day of 
 April next, and no longer, (after which time they will 
 be irredeemable by this state,) may bring into the said 
 loan office, any of the said bills of credit, and be en- 
 titled to exchange them at the rate aforesaid. The 
 commissioner is to receive no more of said continental 
 bills of credit into his office, than, with the quantity 
 exchanged by virtue of the said act, will amount unto 
 twenty millions five hundred and forty dollars." 
 
 This depreciation of the paper money of America, 
 during the strife for her liberties, was one of the ills 
 which the people had to endure, to secure the greater 
 
Ch. IV.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 91 
 
 good of independence. That there was murmuring at 
 this legislative act cannot be concealed, but what was 
 to be done 1 Either provide for another circulation 
 which would have a less nominal value, but one of 
 actual equality, with that of which it took the place, or 
 yield to the power of England. Patriotism knew not 
 how to make a compromise for freedom, and decided 
 that the new emission should have the value sought to 
 be given it by those who created it. " At a meeting of 
 the merchants and others, inhabitants of Baltimore town, 
 held at the Court house, on the 7th of August, 1781, to 
 take into consideration the propriety of receiving the 
 bills of credit emitted by an act of the last session of 
 assembly, at par with gold and silver, James Calhoun, 
 Esq., in the chair. It was resolved unanimously, that this 
 town, deeply impressed with the necessity of support- 
 ing the credit of the last paper emission, as well for 
 carrying on the operations of the present campaign 
 with decision and vigor, as for the purposes of com- 
 merce and other necessary intercourse among the citi- 
 zens of this state, will, in all their future transactions 
 and dealings, receive the said paper money equal to 
 specie. 
 
 ** Resolved, that the following persons, viz., James 
 Calhoun, Daniel Bowley, David McMechen, Mark Al- 
 exander, Richard Ridgely, John Dorsey, Joseph Don- 
 aldson, and John McClellan of this town ; and Isaac 
 Griest, David Stoddert, and James Tibbats of Fell's 
 point, be a committee to call a meeting of the town, 
 whenever they shall think an alteration of these re- 
 solves shall be necessary, or that others will be expe- 
 dient to be pursued. And the said committee, or any 
 
92 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 five of them, (who are to meet on Saturday in each 
 week) be empowered to inquire into, and hold up to 
 public view, the conduct of all those who, regardless 
 of our public exigencies, shall in any manner contra- 
 vene these resolves, either by withholding their com- 
 modities from sale, or exacting a higher price in paper 
 than in specie. And that the said committee be em- 
 powered to inquire into the prices of all kinds of mer- 
 chandize and country produce. 
 
 " Resolved, that the said committee be desired to have 
 printed 150 hand bills, of the proceedings of this meet- 
 ing, and transmit the same to the several counties of 
 this state, that the measures adopted by this town, may 
 become as public as possible. 
 By order, 
 
 JAMES CALHOUN, Chairman. 
 
 In July, 1780, the merchants of Baltimore presented 
 a memorial to the governor and council of Maryland, 
 representing, " that the successes of small armed vessels 
 and boats, have Invited a very formidable enemy into 
 our bay, and that not less than twenty of their most valu- 
 able vessels, outward bound, were then blockaded up in 
 Patuxent river, and have been for some time, and that 
 every day they receive account of their vessels being 
 taken or destroyed. The governor presented, in a 
 very strong memorial to congress, these serious griev- 
 ances, und(;r which the people of Baltimore were then 
 laboring. The governor asked for a frigate, to be sta- 
 tioned in the waters of tlie Chesapeake ; but I believe 
 it was not In the power of congress to comply with the 
 request at that time, for I can find no account of any 
 
Ch. IV.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 93 
 
 frigate being stationed as was required. It appears to 
 me, that no body of men ever watched over the inter- 
 ests of a community of which they were members, with 
 a more sleepless, or intense anxiety, than did the mer- 
 chants of Baltimore during the revolutionary struggle. 
 They were among the first to suggest the measures 
 which were necessary to be adopted to meet the crisis ; 
 they were never backward with their means, in giving 
 efficacy to these measures ; and the march of armies, 
 the equipment of vessels of war, were accelerated by 
 their unceasing exertions. Indeed, such was the repu- 
 tation they had acquired for their patriotism abroad, that 
 when it was determined . that a detachment of troops 
 from General Washington's army should be sent to the 
 south, under the command of the Marquis De la Fayette, 
 congress confided in the merchants of Baltimore, sup- 
 plying them with such flour as they might want, in 
 case of need, passing through Baltimore, which was 
 on their way. Mr. Pickering, at that time quarter 
 master general, and Mr. Charles Stewart, commissary 
 general, in a letter addressed to Mr. Samuel Purviance, 
 advising of this intended movement of the army, under 
 the command of the Marquis, says : ** We shall make 
 no further apology at present, for giving you this trouble, 
 as we are assured of your readiness to do essential ser- 
 vice to your country on every occasion." The army 
 of the Marquis came to Baltimore, on its way to Vir- 
 ginia, and received not only the flour which the above 
 letter looked to have supplied here, but a considerable 
 sum of money was raised by subscription, and paid over 
 to him for the purpose of purchasing materials for the 
 clothing of his army. It is due to the memory of the 
 
94 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 ladies of that day, in our town, to record the fact, that 
 that clothing was principally made up by their fair hands. 
 When the Marquis reached Baltimore, his destitution 
 was not confined to the want of flour, but for nearly 
 all the equipments, without which no army can ever 
 be efficacious. There was but little money at that time 
 in the state treasury, and the supply which was fur- 
 nished by the patriotic gentlemen of Baltimore, is thus 
 acknowledged in a letter from Thomas Sim Lee, Esq., 
 governor of Maryland, addressed to Robert Purviance, 
 Matthew Ridley and William Patterson, Esqrs.: " We 
 very much applaud the zeal and activity of the gentle- 
 men of Baltimore, and think their readiness to assist 
 the executive, at a time when they were destitute of 
 the means of providing those things, which were im- 
 mediately necessary for the detachment, under the 
 command of the Marquis De la Fayette, justly entitle 
 them to the thanks of the public." Capt. Nicholson, 
 whose various services in behalf of Baltimore, we 
 have frequently noticed in this narrative, had been ap- 
 pointed to the command of the Trumbull frigate, and 
 sailed from Philadelphia about the beginning of Au- 
 gust, with a fleet wliich he was convoying. He was 
 met shortly after leaving the capes of Delaware by the 
 Iris frigate, in company with two other vessels of war, 
 and captured. In his letter, giving an account of this 
 capture, he says : " the Trumbull carried away her 
 foretopmast, and his escorts abandoned him after this 
 misfortune. A squally, rainy night came on. The 
 enemy's squadron overhauled him ; he engaged with 
 the Iris, (notwithstanding the refusal of many of his 
 
Ch. IV.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 crew to fight) until the remainder of the enemy's 
 squadron came up, when he struck to the Iris."* _^, 
 
 The movements of Earl Cornwallis, in August,. gave 
 reason to apprehend that he meant to make an invasion 
 of Maryland, and possess himself of Baltimore. In 
 consequence of this apprehension, there assembled in 
 the town a force of about 2800 men. These came 
 from this and adjacent counties, within two days after 
 the alarm. Advice was soon after received, that the 
 destination of Cornwallis was to Virginia ; in conse- 
 quence of which, these troops were dismissed. This 
 was the last serious alarm which excited the people of 
 Baltimore during the war. The events which occurred 
 soon after in Virginia, gave a hope, that the end for 
 which they struggled was near at hand. 
 
 In the month of September, 1781, General "Wash- 
 ington arrived in Baltimore, on his way to Virginia, to 
 assume the command of the combined armies of France 
 and America, which were assembling for the purpose 
 of putting a stop to the farther progress of Cornwallis. 
 The Count De Rochambeau, the commander of the 
 French army and his suite, arrived the day after Gene- 
 ral Washington; and also, the Marquis de Chastelleux, 
 a brigadier general in the French service. These dis- 
 tinguished officers all left Baltimore in a day or two, 
 to join their respective armies. An address was pre- 
 sented to General Washington, in behalf of the citi- 
 zens of Baltimore, signed by William Smith, Samuel 
 Purviance, John Moale, John Dorsey, and James Cal- 
 
 * It was some consolation to Capt. Nicholson to know, that a short 
 time after his capture, the Iris was captured by Count De Grasse's 
 squadron. 
 
96 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 houn, in whicli was this beautiful sentiment: "Our 
 prayers are for your excellency's preservation, that 
 you may continue approved by heaven, and dreaded by 
 tyrants ; and on the restoration of public tranquillity, 
 that you may, in peaceful retirement, enjoy that satisfac- 
 tion of mind, which the sense of great and noble deeds 
 always inspires ; and may posterity, in the full posses- 
 sion and exercise of that freedom wliich your sword 
 has assisted to establish, venerate and do ample justice 
 to your virtues and character, to the latest ages." 
 General Washington's reply was characterized by his 
 usual modesty, and in conclusion, he observed: "I 
 thank you most cordially, for your prayers and good 
 wishes for my prosperity. May the author of all bless- 
 ings aid our united exertions in the cause of liberty 
 and universal peace. And may the particular blessings 
 of heaven rest on you, and the worthy citizens of this 
 flourishing town of Baltimore." 
 
 Intelligence of the surrender of Cornwallis, to the 
 combined armies, was received at Baltimore, on the 
 22d of October, four days after it occurred. The fol- 
 lowing notice of this glorious event was taken in the 
 Maryland Journal, of the 23d. " Yesterday, in conse- 
 quence of intelligence, (communicated to the town by 
 authority,) of the surrender of Earl Cornwallis, with 
 the British army, &c. &c. &c., at York and Gloucester, 
 to the renowned General Washington, commander in 
 chief of the allied army, the inhabitants of this town 
 exerted themselves, with the greatest unanimity, to 
 celebrate this most signal victory. During the day, 
 there were many public demonstrations of joy, (in 
 which the gentlemen, in tlie military line particularly. 
 
Ch. IV.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 97 
 
 distinguished themselves,) and in the evening, every 
 part of the town was illuminated in the highest taste 
 and elegance." 
 
 Soon after the surrender of Cornwallis, the Marquis 
 De la Fayette came to Baltimore, and was received 
 in the warmest manner by the citizens. He was ad- 
 dressed by them. In referring to the part he took in 
 the campaign of Virginia, they say : ** In particular, 
 we cannot sufficiently acknowledge our sense of your 
 late campaign in Virginia, where, with a few regulars 
 and militia, you opposed the British commander, from 
 whose large army and military talents, this state had 
 such serious cause of apprehension." In reply to this 
 part of their address, the Marquis observed : " My 
 campaign began with a personal obligation to the in- 
 habitants of Baltimore ; at the end of it, I find myself 
 bound to them by a new tie of everlasting gratitude." 
 No event of the war was considered so momentous as 
 this surrender of Cornwallis. The capture of Bur- 
 goyne was considered as an earnest of what was to be 
 done by American soldiers, if the war were to con- 
 tinue. The disappointments of Howe were regarded 
 as advantageous, because they threw a doubt over the 
 mind of the British government, as to the successful 
 issue of their exertions. But it was reserved for the 
 capture of Cornwallis, to produce the conviction that 
 Great Britain would now be compelled to declare the 
 " rebel colonies," " free, sovereign, and independent 
 states." 
 
 When the intelligence of this surrender reached 
 England, parliament determined that they would sup- 
 port the war no longer. Mr. Fox, who had at all times 
 
98 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 V 
 
 been friendly to American rights, declared what he 
 now wanted, was a substantial connexion with Ameri- 
 ca. Mr. Rigby said, ** it was as idle to talk of the 
 sovereignty of Britain over America, as it was to add 
 the title of king of France^^to that of his sovereign's 
 other titles. He held other doctrines, he said, at 
 another time, and his principles were still the same, 
 but time and accident had altered the system of things." 
 He called upon Mr. Fox, to know what he meant by 
 his words, 'substantial connexion with America.' 
 Mr. Fox answered, " by these words he meant, no 
 act of sovereignty to be exercised by Great Britain 
 over America, but such a substantial connexion as 
 should be derived from mutual interest, like that sub- 
 sisting between Portugal and Britain." 
 
 On the 13th of June, 1782, a proclamation from Tho- 
 mas Sim Lee, Esq., governor of Maryland, was issued, 
 announcing the birth of aDauphin of France, and appoint- 
 ing the 25th of the same month, as the day for the celebra- 
 tion of the auspicious event. " And I cannot doubt," says 
 the governor, " that the citizens of this state will unite 
 in the joy which an occasion so nearly affecting the hap- 
 piness of our ally, will not fail to inspire, while they ex- 
 perience a new source of satisfaction on the birth of a 
 prince, from whom we have every reason to expect a 
 continuance of the blessings of our alliance. The same 
 lively attention to the injured and o])pressed, and all 
 those great and good qualities, which have excited our 
 admiration and gratitude, and which so eminently dis- 
 tinguished his illustrious father." The day selected by 
 the proclamation, was celebrated in Baltimore. There 
 was an elegant dinner provided at a place called the 
 Independent Spring, at which were present, the 
 
Ch. iv.] a narrative of events, &c. 99 
 
 Chevalier D'Anmour, the French consul, and a number 
 of strangers and French gentlemen. After dinner, 
 many toasts were drank, and the entertainment was 
 closed with that harmony and good humor, which, in 
 a peculiar manner, distinguished the day. 
 
 The first toast drank, was, "the Dauphin of France." 
 "What a distressing thought arises at the recollection of 
 this name and this association ! This young prince, 
 born to the most splendid inheritance which man can 
 covet ; apparently destined to fill a throne, which had 
 resisted the assaults of eight hundred years ; the short 
 space of eleven years saw this mighty fabric overturn- 
 ed by those who ought to have been its supporters; 
 his father perish on a scaffold, and himself placed in 
 one of the humblest occupations for a maintenance : but 
 a short time after this awful change, his very being was 
 covered with a pall of darkness that still rests over it. 
 
 The French forces, under Count Rochambeau, arriv- 
 ed in Baltimore, about the 22d of July, on their return 
 from the capture of Cornwallis. They consisted of 
 upwards of five thousand men. They departed from 
 Baltimore for the north, about the 23d of August. 
 There were two addresses presented by the merchants 
 of Baltimore to Count Rochambeau ; the one, on his 
 return from Virginia ; the other, on his departure with 
 his troops. The address presented on his return, offers 
 ^he ** most sincere thanks, in this public manner, for 
 the distinguished aid and protection, which you have 
 from time to time, so willingly afforded to the commer- 
 cial interests of this state, and to inform your excellency, 
 that we are happy in the opportunity of paying you 
 this tribute, so justly due to distinguished merit." 
 
100 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 The reply of Count Rochambeau, to this part of the 
 address is thus expressed : " The intention of the king 
 my master, towards his faithful allies, being, that his 
 auxiliary troops should not only protect the liberties 
 of the United States, but watch over their commercial 
 interests, as often and as much as it would be in their 
 power. I have felt a peculiar pleasure to have been 
 able to render some service to your state. The noblest 
 reward for me is, without doubt, the approbation of 
 such a respectable body of citizens. I embrace with 
 pleasure, gentlemen, this occasion to render you my 
 sincere thanks for the readiness with which you have 
 taken in your houses our staff officers and others, whose 
 duty and station render the convenience of a house 
 absolutely necessary to them." Count Rochambeau 
 embarked at Annapolis for France, on the 8th of Jan- 
 uary, 1783. The news of peace reached Baltimore, 
 on the 25th of March, 1783. 
 
 I have thus detailed the principal events connected 
 with the revolutionary war, which occurred in Balti- 
 more town, and which I have supposed would excite 
 any particular interest at the present day. They cer- 
 tainly were events, which at the time they occurred, 
 "were considered as having an important bearing on the 
 great question then at issue, and of which, those who 
 were immediately instrumental in their occurrence, 
 cherished their recollection as among the most valuable 
 incidents of the revolution. The contest, as waged by 
 our infant town, presents as striking an instance of 
 patriotism, as the history of our country shews. Our 
 people were among the first to resent the outrages of 
 England as exhibited in the various taxations which 
 
Ch. IV.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 101 
 
 she had levied on the colonies. They were also among 
 the first to stir up the colonies in the south, to a just 
 indignation of these wrongs ; and when the war actual- 
 ly took place, although Maryland was nearly exempt 
 from any visitations of the enemy, yet that did not 
 prevent Baltimore from furnishing her quota of officers 
 and troops, who, under the proud name of the " old 
 Maryland line," did honor to the cause they aided, and 
 to the people from whom they were sent. It , is a 
 grateful duty now to take notice of the names of some 
 of these gentlemen, and to offer to those of the pre- 
 sent day, who are called upon to sustain their country's 
 honor, such an example, which, if imitated, will secure 
 to themselves unfading glory. 
 
 General Otho Holland Williams, was a native of 
 Prince George's county. As early as 1775, he had 
 the command of a company, which marched to Boston. 
 At the attack on Fort Washington, he was wounded, 
 and fell into the hands of the enemy. He was at this 
 time a major. From the treatment he received from 
 the enemy, his health became so seriously affected, that, 
 during his life, he never recovered it. He was pro- 
 moted to the command of the sixth regiment of the 
 Maryland line, during his captivity, and on being re- 
 leased from it, he marched with his regiment to the 
 south, and in all the battles fought by that celebrated 
 line, he distinguished himself He acted as deputy 
 adjutant general of the southern army, under General 
 Gates, and was in the disastrous battle of Camden. 
 A remnant of the defeated army was formed into two 
 battalions, constituting a regiment, and the command 
 of it was given to Col. Williams and Lieut. Col. 
 10* 
 
102 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 Howard. When General Green joined the army, he 
 appointed Col. Williams adjutant general. In the 
 battle at the Eutaw Springs, he gained the highest 
 honors. Near the close of the war, as a reward for 
 his services, he was promoted by congress to the 
 rank of brigadier general. About a year before the close 
 of the war, he retired from the military service, and 
 was appointed by the state, naval officer for the port 
 of Btiltimore, in the room of Mr. Sellers, who had 
 died at this time. He held this office until the ors^ani- 
 zation of the federal government, in 1789, when he 
 was appointed collector of this port by General Wash- 
 ington. He died in July, 1794. 
 
 General Mordecai Gist, was born in Baltimore coun- 
 ty, and when the war first broke out, he was appointed 
 a major in a regiment of regular troops. He remain- 
 ed with his regiment, which was stationed at Baltimore, 
 for some time after its formation. It was afterwards 
 marched to the north, and served in the campaigns of 
 the northern army. Major Gist was considered so 
 meritorious an officer, that he was soon promoted to 
 the rank of a colonel ; and when the IMaryland line 
 was sent to the south, he also went as a brigadier gene- 
 ral. He continued in the service, an active and meri- 
 torious officer, until the peace. After the peace, he 
 married in South Carolina, and died there in 1791. 
 
 Col. John E. Howard, was a native of Balti- 
 more county. He entered the army as a captain, 
 and in tlie battle of the White Plains, he became dis- 
 tinguished. When a number of battalions were re- 
 quired to be raised by a resolve of congress, Capt. 
 Howard was appointed a major in one of the number 
 
Ch. IV.] a narrative of events, Sec. 103 
 
 allotted to Maryland. He was with the army at Rocky 
 Hill, near Princeton, in April, 1777, and reniained 
 with it until June, when he returned home for awhile 
 in consequence of the death of his father. He rejoin- 
 ed the army in September following, and was in the 
 battle of Germantown. In June, 1779, Major Howard 
 received the commission of lieutenant colonel of the 
 5th Maryland regiment. He was in the disastrous 
 battle of Camden, but that portion of duty assigned 
 to Col. Howard in the battle, was sustained with great 
 gallantry. In December, subsequent to the battle. 
 General Green arrived, and took command of the 
 southern army. In January, 1781, was fought the 
 battle of the Covvpens. The glories of that day, be- 
 long principally to Col. Howard. At Eutaw, he had 
 the command of the second regiment. Col. Howard, 
 on this occasion, again distinguished himself, and at 
 this time he received a severe wound in the left shoul- 
 der. General Green observed of him, in one of his 
 letters, " Col. Howard was as good an officer as the 
 world afforded, and deserved a statue of gold, no less 
 than the Roman and Grecian heroes." In Nov. 1788, 
 Col. Howard was chosen governor of Maryland, and 
 continued in the executive chair for three years. In the 
 year 1796, he was elected a senator of the United 
 States, in which situation he continued until the year 
 1803. He died in 1827. 
 
 General Samuel Smith was born in Carlisle, Penn- 
 sylvania, but came to Baltimore in childhood. At 
 the breaking out of the war, he was appointed a 
 captain in one of the regular companies station- 
 ed in Baltimore, but rose soon after to the rank of 
 colonel. In this character he joined the array, 
 
104 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 at that time, watching the movements of Sir Wil- 
 liam Howe, near Philadelphia. He was stationed, 
 with a part of his regiment, at Mud Fort, on the Dela- 
 ware, when the British fleet were ascending that river. 
 His gallant defence of that fort, won him the reputa- 
 • tion of a skilful and gallant officer, and as a testimonial 
 of his bravery, congress presented him with a sword. 
 He retired from the army some time after this battle, 
 but did not withdraw from the service of his country. 
 In Baltimore, he took command of a regiment of militia, 
 and continued doing duty in this command during the 
 whole of the war. General Smith, some years after 
 the war, was elected to the legislature of the state, 
 where he remained until he was elected to congress, 
 in the year 1792. In congress, he continued until the 
 year 1833, having served forty years in the national 
 councils, with an intermission of only six weeks, dur- 
 ing that long period. General Smith, in the year 1793, 
 was made a brigadier general, and in that capacity com- 
 manded a brigade from Maryland, in the exjiedilion of 
 1794, to suppress what was called the whiskey insur- 
 rection, in the western parts of Pennsylvania. As 
 major general of the third division of Maryland militia, 
 he was entrusted with the defence of Baltimore, during 
 the war of 1812. The repulse of the British army, 
 in its attack upon Baltimore, was the result of his ju- 
 dicious management of the campaign. At the age of 
 eighty-three years, he was called upon by his fellow 
 citizens to exercise the arduous duties of mayor of the 
 city of Baltimore. Those duties he performed for 
 three years, and then retired. He died a few months 
 thereafter, and the city of Baltimore did honor to her- 
 self, by giving to his remains a public burial. 
 
Ch. IV.] A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 105 
 
 It may not be out of place to notice tlie services of 
 some gentlemen in civil employments, which were not 
 the less valuable from the absence of military glare. 
 They served their country faithfully, and their memo- 
 ries are worthy of a place in the recollections of a pos- 
 terity, who are in the uninterrupted enjoyment of rights 
 they contributed to transmit to them. Mr. David 
 Stewart was appointed by congress to discharge the 
 duties of marshal!, for the state of Maryland. These 
 duties were performed with a zeal that seems to have 
 been peculiar to the patriots of those days. This oc- 
 cupation was no sinecure, as indeed were none of the 
 offices created by congress. When the war was over, 
 Mr. Stewart resumed his commercial business, and uni- 
 ted himself in it with Mr. David Plunket. He con- 
 tinued in that connexion, until the unfortunate loss of 
 Mr. Plunket, at sea, in the year 1793. Mr. Stewart 
 died in 1817. 
 
 Mr. Plunket was an active partizan officer, and had 
 been in several battles. He was by birth an Irish 
 gentlemen, and the elder brother of the present Lord 
 Plunket, late the chancellor of Ireland. He was the 
 person employed by the committee of 1776, to wait 
 on congress, to receive from them the instruction that 
 might be given respecting the seizure of the person of 
 Governor Eden. 
 
 Mr. Robert Purviance was, with his brother Mr. 
 Samuel Purviance, appointed by congress, as an agent 
 in the management of such concerns as were entrusted 
 to them by their legislation. These were of a most 
 various and multiplied character, and demanded the 
 whole time and labor of those who had charge of them- 
 
106 A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS, &c. 
 
 On the adoption of the constitution of the United States, 
 when the new government went into operation, General 
 Washington appointed Mr. Purviance the naval officer 
 of the port of Baltimore, and on the death of General 
 Williams, who had been at the same time appointed 
 the collector, he made him the collector, which office 
 he held until his death, in October, 1806. I do not 
 violate the sanctity of private correspondence, when I 
 say, that these offices, thus bestowed, were a testimonial 
 of approbation for revolutionary services. 
 
 Mr. David Poe acted as a quarter master throughout 
 the whole of the war. He was a faithful officer, and 
 was held in great estimation by all who had business 
 to transact with him. Such was his devotion to his 
 country, that it was almost proverbial ; and so unabated 
 was it, long after the peace was proclaimed, that by 
 the public sentiment, he became a breveted general, 
 and in his latter days, was better known as General 
 Poe, than by any other name. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 1. 
 Boston^ August lltJi, 1768, 
 Gentlemen, — The merchants and traders in this town, 
 sensibly affected with the late acts of Parliament, 
 imposing duties on sundry articles of commerce, with 
 the express view of raising a revenue out of America ; 
 and with the embarrassments and restrictions the trade 
 thereby at present labors under, are fully convinced of 
 the necessity of exerting themselves, without any further 
 delay, in a firm, but peaceable manner, for obtaining 
 relief. They have, therefore, lately had a meeting, and 
 opened a subscription, which was soon filled up by the 
 merchants in general, wherein they engage to and with 
 each other, as follows : 
 
 1st. That they will not send far, or import from 
 Great Britain, either upon their own accounts, or upon 
 commission this fall, any other goods than what are 
 already ordered for the fall supply. 
 
 2d. That they will not send for, ori mport any kind 
 of goods or merchandize from Great Britain, either on 
 their own accounts, or on commissions, or any other- 
 wise, from the first of January, 1769, to the first of 
 January, 1770, except salt, coals, fish hooks and lines, 
 hemp, duck, bar lead, shot, wool cards, and hard wire. 
 3d. That they will not purchase of any factor, or 
 others, any kind of goods imported from Great 
 Britain, from January, 1769, to January, 1770. 
 
108 APPENDIX. 
 
 4th. That they will not import on their own account, 
 or on commissions or purchase, of any who shall im- 
 port from any other colony in America, from January, 
 1769, to January, 1770, any tea, glass, paper, or other 
 goods commonly imported from Great Britain. 
 
 5th. That they will not, from and after the first day 
 of January, 17G9, import into this province, any tea, 
 paper, glass, or painter's colours, until the act imposing 
 duties on these articles shall be repealed. 
 
 The merchants here have been for some time tho- 
 roughly convinced of the importance and necessity of 
 the measure, and they have lately been confirmed in 
 their sentiments by letters from their friends in Eng- 
 land, who have given it as their opinion, that such a 
 procedure would undoubtedly be attended with suc- 
 cess, and indeed it is natural to expect it. Petitions 
 and remonstrances will be of little force with those 
 whose interest they oppose, but make it their interest, 
 and they will soon attend to them ; feeling will bring 
 conviction, and conviction will increase our friends 
 and advocates. You'll please to observe, that the mer- 
 chants, here have entered into this agreement without 
 any conditions however. At a time when uncommon 
 measures are taking to prevent parliamentary applica- 
 tion, they cannot but persuade themselves, that the mer- 
 chants in all the other colonies are clearly convinced 
 of the necessity of uniting in the cause of liberty. 
 They are confident, therefore, that the merchants with 
 you, will cheerfully and unanimously co-operate with 
 us in the lawful, prudent, and salutary measure, es- 
 pecially when they consider that upon their concur- 
 rence, their speedy concurrence, greatly depends the 
 
APrENDIX. 109 
 
 success of the measures entered into by the merchants 
 of this town. 
 
 We are appointed a committee, by the merchants, 
 to correspond with the merchants in the other colonies, 
 relative to the embarrassments the trade may at any 
 time labor under, and should be glad to hear from you, 
 as soon as the merchants with you have come into any 
 resolutions relative to the subject of this letter. 
 We are, with respect, 
 
 Your most obedient humble servants, 
 
 Thomas Gushing, Edward Payne, 
 
 John Hancock, William Phillips, 
 
 John Rowe, John Barrett. 
 John Erving, Jr. 
 
 To Samuel and Robert Purviance, Esqrs., Baltimore. 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 Boston, May 13th, 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — 1 am desired by the freeholders and 
 other inhabitants of the town, to enclose you an attest- 
 ed copy of their vote, passed in town meeting, legally 
 assembled this day. The occasion of this meeting is 
 most alarming. We have received the copy of an act 
 of the British parliament (which is also enclosed) where- 
 in it appears, that the inhabitants of this town have been 
 tried and condemned, and are to be punished by the 
 shutting up of the harbor and other ways, without their 
 having been even accused of any crime committed by 
 them ; for no such crime is alleged in the act. 
 
 11 
 
no APPENDIX. 
 
 The town of Boston is now suffering the stroke of 
 vengeance, in the common cause of America. I hope 
 they will sustain the blow with a becoming fortitude ; 
 and that the effects of this cruel act, intended to intimi- 
 date and subdue the spirits of all America, will, by 
 the joint efforts of all, be frustrated. 
 
 The people receive this edict with indignation. It is 
 expected by their enemies, and feared by some of 
 their friends, that this town singly, will not be able to 
 support the cause under so severe a trial. As the very 
 being of every colony, considered as a free people, 
 depends upon the event, a thought so dishonorable to 
 our brethren cannot be entertained, as that this town 
 will now be left to struggle alone. 
 
 General Gage is just arrived here, with a commission 
 to supersede Governor Hutchinson. It is said that the 
 town of Salem, about twenty miles east of this me- 
 tropolis, is to be the seat of government : — that the 
 commissioners of the customs and their numerous reti- 
 nue, are to remove to the town of Marblehead, a town 
 contiguous to Salem, and that this, if the general shall 
 think proper, is to be a garrisoned town. Reports are 
 various and contradictory. 
 
 I have the honor to subscribe, in behalf of the town 
 of Boston, Gentlemen, 
 
 Your most humble servant, 
 
 Samuel Adams. 
 
APPENDIX. Ill 
 
 As this town has not the pleasure of a political cor- 
 respondence with any gentleman in Maryland, I beg 
 the favor of Mr. William Lux of Baltimore, to permit 
 me to address this letter to him, lo be communicated as 
 his wisdom shall dictate. And a letter from him will 
 very much oblige his 
 
 Most humble servant, 
 
 Samuel Adams. 
 
 To Mr. William Lux, merchant, Baltimore. 
 
 No. 3. 
 At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants 
 of the town of Boston, legally qualified and named in 
 publick town meeting, assembled at Fanueil hall, on 
 Friday, the 13th day of xMay, 1774. Voted, that it is 
 the opinion of this town, that if the other colonies come 
 into a joint resolution to stop all importations from 
 Great Britain, and exportations to Great Britain, and 
 every part of the West Indies, till the act for block- 
 ing up this harbor be repealed, the same will prove the 
 salvation of North America and her liberties. On the 
 other hand, if they continue their exports and imports, 
 there is high reason to fear, that fraud, power, and the 
 most odious oppression, will rise triumphant over right, 
 justice, social happiness and freedom. And moreover ; 
 that this vote be forthwith transmitted by the moderator 
 to all our sister colonies, in the name and behalf of this 
 town. Attest, 
 
 William Cooper, Town Clerk. 
 
1 12 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 4. 
 Philadelphia, May 2lst, 1774. 
 Gor.tlemen,— You will, no doubt, before the receipt 
 of this, have a copy of the act of parliament, for 
 shutting lip the port of Boston, on account of the de- 
 struction of the tea sent out by the East India com- 
 pany, and we know that yon consider them ns sufferers 
 in the general cause of America. What part you may 
 think it your duty to act on the present alarming 
 occasion, we must leave to your own wisdom, and 
 that you may be the better enabled to come to a de- 
 termination, we take the liberty to enclose you copies 
 of the papers which we received from Boston, and 
 also copies of a resolve passed by a number of the in- 
 habitants of this city last evening, and of the letter we 
 sent to the town of Boston, enclosing the same. We 
 shall be glad, by the first opportunity, to know the 
 result of your deliberations on this interesting business, 
 and are with great regard, 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 Your most humble servants, 
 John Dickinson, 
 William Smith, 
 In behalf, and by order 
 of the committee of correspondence. 
 To Dr. Stevenson, Messrs. Samuel Purviance, Al- 
 exander Lawson, and others, principal gentlemen in 
 Baltimore. 
 
 No. 5. 
 Philadelphia, May 2lst, 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — We have received your very interest- 
 ing letter, together with a letter from the town of Bos- 
 
APPENDIX. ] 1 3 
 
 ton, and the vote they have passed on the present 
 alarming occasion, and such measures have been pur- 
 sued thereon, as the shortness of the time would allow; 
 to collect the sense of this large city, is difficult, and 
 when their sense is obtained, they must not consider 
 themselves as authorised to judge or act for this popu- 
 lous province, in a business so deeply interesting as the 
 present is to all British America. 
 
 A very respectable number of the inhabitants of this 
 city was, however, assembled last evening, in order to 
 consult what was proper to be done, and after reading 
 the sundry papers you transmitted to us, and also a 
 letter from the committee of correspondence of New 
 York, the enclosed resolves were passed, in which you 
 may be assured we are sincere, and that you are con- 
 sidered as now suffering in the general cause. 
 
 But what further advice to offer on this sad occasion 
 is a matter of great difficulty, which not only requires 
 more mature deliberations, but also that we should take 
 the necessary means to obtain the general sentiments 
 of our fellow inhabitants of this province, as well as 
 of our sister colonies. If satisfying the East India 
 company for the damages they have sustained, would 
 put an end to this unhappy controversy, and leave us 
 on the footing of constitutional liberty for the future, it 
 is presumed, that neither you nor we could continue a 
 moment in doubt what part to act, for it is not the 
 value of the tax, but the indefeasible right of giving 
 and granting our own money from which we can never 
 recede, that is the matter now in consideration. 
 
 By what means the truly desirable circumstance of 
 a reconciliation and future harmony with our mother 
 11* 
 
114 APPENDIX. 
 
 country, on constitutional grounds, may be obtained, is 
 indeed a weighty question. Whether by the method 
 you have suggested of a non-importation and non-ex- 
 portation agreement, or by a general congress of de- 
 puties, from the different colonies, clearly to state what 
 we conceive our rights, and make a claim or petition of 
 them to his majesty, in firm, but decent and dutiful 
 terms, so as that we may know by what line to con- 
 duct ourselves in future, are now the great points to be 
 determined. The latter method, we have reason to 
 think, would be most agreeable to the people of this 
 province, and the first step that ought to be taken; the 
 former may be reserved as our last resource, should 
 the other fail, which we trust will not be the case, as 
 many wise and good men, in the mother country, begin 
 to see the necessity of a good understanding with the 
 colonies upon the general plan of liberty, as well as 
 commerce. We shall endeavor, as soon as possible, to 
 collect the sentiments of the people of this province, 
 and the neighboring colonies, on these grand questions, 
 and should also be glad to know your sentiments there- 
 on. In the meantime, with sincere fellow feeling for 
 your sufferings, and great regard to your persons, we 
 
 are 
 
 Your very humble servants, 
 
 John Dickinson, 
 William Smith, 
 
 And others, in behalf, and by order of 
 the committee of correspondence. 
 To the committee of correspondence, in the town of 
 Boston. 
 
APPENDIX. 115 
 
 No. 6. 
 At a meeting of a number of respectable inhabitants 
 of the city of Philadelphia, on Friday, the 20th of 
 May, 1774, 
 
 It was resolved, that John Dickinson, Dr. William 
 Smith, Edward Pennington, John Nesbitt, Samuel 
 Howell, Thomas Mifflin, Joseph Read, Thomas Whar- 
 ton, Jr., Benjamin Marshall, Joseph Moulder, Thomas 
 Barclay, George Clymer, Charles Thomsen, Jeremiah 
 Warder, Jr., John Cox, John Gibson, be a committee 
 to correspond with our sister colonies, until some al- 
 teration is made in this appointment, by a more gene- 
 ral meeting of the inhabitants of the said city. 
 
 That the said committee be instructed to apply to 
 the governor, to call the assembly of the province. 
 
 That the said committee be instructed to write our 
 friends the people of Boston, informing them that we 
 truly feel for their unhappy situation ; that we recom- 
 mend to them firmness, prudence and moderation, and 
 that we shall continue to evince our firm adherence to 
 the cause of American liberty. 
 
 And that the committee do also inform our brethren 
 in New York, and the other colonies, of the above reso- 
 lutions. 
 
 No. 7. 
 
 Baltimore, 25tli May, 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — Yesterday we received by express, a 
 letter from the committee of correspondence, at Phila- 
 delphia, enclosing the vote of the town of Boston, copy 
 of a letter from Boston to the gentlemen of Philadel- 
 phia, and the reply thereto, &c. A meeting of the 
 principal inhabitants of this town was unanimously call- 
 
116 APPENDX. 
 
 ed, and the papers read, in order to collect, in some 
 measure, as well as so sudden an occasion would ad- 
 mit, the general sense of the people, on a subject so 
 very alarming and interesting to every American. 
 The result was, that we appointed a committee to 
 correspond with the gentlemen of the other colonies, 
 who may write us on this, or any other public matter : 
 and more particularly to correspond with you and 
 any other towns in our own province, with a view, if 
 possible, to collect the public sense of a measure, in 
 which none of us can be indifferent. 
 
 It has been proposed to call a general meeting of the 
 gentlemen of the county at large, to collect their opin- 
 ion, whether it might not be expedient to apply to the 
 governor, to convene the assembly on this occasion. 
 But that, as well as a reply to the committee of Phila- 
 delphia, we judged proper to postpone until we should 
 consult with you. It would give us great pleasure to 
 harmonize with you and all our brethren, through the 
 province, in the present crisis, and we shall be glad to 
 know your sentiments as soon as possible. We are, 
 with the greatest respect. 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 Your most humble servants. 
 
 Signed by order, and in behalf of the committee, 
 
 Samuel Purviance, Jr. 
 William Buchanan. 
 
 The committee appointed for this town, are, An- 
 drew Buchanan, Robert Alexander, William Smith, 
 John Smith, John Moale, William Buchanan, William 
 Lux, Thomas Harrison, Dr. John Boyd, Robert Chris- 
 tie, Sr., Isaac Van Bibber, Samuel Purviance, Jr. 
 
 To the gentlemen of Annapolis. 
 
APPExNDIX. 117 
 
 No. 8. 
 
 Anna'polis, May 2Q)th, 1774. 
 
 Gentlemen, — We feel the most sensible pleasure, in 
 the receipt of your letter, by the hands of Mr. Alex- 
 ander. Nothing can be plainer, than that the suffering 
 of Boston, is in the general cause of America, and that 
 union and mutual confidence is the basis on which our 
 common liberties can only be supported. We enclose 
 you a copy of a letter wrote to Virginia, and of the 
 resolutions past yesterday in our town meeting. It 
 appears to us that much depends on the determinations 
 of Virginia, which we shall anxiously expect. Una- 
 nimity in the Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, 
 Virginia and South Carolina, which may reasonably 
 be expected, bids fair for success. We cheerfully ac- 
 .<;ept your invitation, to a free intercourse, and shall 
 most gladly harmonize with you in all possible mea- 
 sures, for the general good. 
 We are, gentlemen, 
 
 With the utmost sincerity and respect, 
 Your most obedient servants, 
 J. Hall, William Paca, 
 
 Charles Carroll, Samuel Chase, 
 
 Thomas Johnson, Jr. Mr. Hammond, absent. 
 To Messrs. Samuel Purviance, Jr., William Bu- 
 chanan, Andrew Buchanan, and the other gentlemen 
 who compose the committee of correspondence in Bal- 
 timore town. 
 
 No. 9. 
 
 At a meeting of the inhabitants of the city of An- 
 napolis, on Wednesday, the 25th day of May, 1774, 
 
118 APPENDIX. 
 
 after notice given of the time, place, and occasion of 
 this meeting : 
 
 Resolved, that it is the unanimous opinion of this 
 meeting, that the town of Boston is now suffering in 
 the common cause of America, and that it is incumbent 
 on every colony in America, to unite in effectual means 
 to obtain a repeal of the late act of parliament, for 
 blocking up the harbor of Boston. 
 
 That it is the opinion of this meeting, that if the 
 colonies come into a joint resolution to slop all impor- 
 tations from, and all exportations to Great Britain, till 
 the said act be repealed, the same will preserve North 
 America and her liberties. 
 
 Resolved, therefore, that the inhabitants of this city 
 will join in an association with the several counties of 
 this province, and the principal colonies in America, to 
 put an immediate stop to all exports to Great Britain, 
 and that, after a short day hereafter, to be agreed on, 
 that there be no imports from Great Britain, till the 
 said act be repealed, and that such association be on 
 oath. 
 
 That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the gentle- 
 men of the law of this province, bring no suits for the 
 recovery of any debt, due from any inhabitant of this 
 province, to any inhabitant of Great Britain, until the 
 said act be repealed. 
 
 That the inhabitants of this city will, and it Is the 
 opinion of this meeting, that this province ought, imme- 
 diately to break off all trade and dealings with that 
 colony or province, who shall refuse or decline to come 
 into similar resolutions with a majority of the colonies. 
 
 That Messrs. John Hall, Charles Carroll, Thomas 
 
APPENDIX. 119 
 
 Johnson, Jr., William Paca, Matthias Hammond, and 
 Samuel Chase, be a committee for this city, to join with 
 those who shall be appointed for Baltimore town, and 
 other parts of this province, to constitute one general 
 committee, and that the gentlemen appointed for this 
 city, immediately correspond with Baltimore town, 
 and other parts of this province, to effect such associa- 
 tion as will best secure American liberty. 
 
 No. 10. 
 Annapolis, 25th May, 1774. 
 
 Gentlemen, — We this morning received a letter 
 from the committee of correspondence of Philadelphia, 
 enclosing their resolutions, with a copy of a letter, 
 and a vote of the town of Boston. We esteem it a very 
 lucky circumstance, that your general assembly is now 
 sitting, as it affords so good an opportunity of instantly 
 collecting the sense of your colony on a point, on 
 which the liberties of America must turn ; and was it 
 not absolutely necessary, that measures should be in- 
 stantly taken, we should have waited with pleasure 
 your resolutions, which we cannot doubt will be found 
 on the same generous principle, which have hitherto 
 actuated your colony on every late attempt against 
 American liberty. That no time may be lost, we shall 
 communicate the papers transmitted to us to every part 
 of our province, and endeavor to give the strongest 
 impressions of the sufferings of Boston, in the common 
 cause. We shall anxiously expect your resolutions, 
 in the mean time, we propose the sense of the people 
 to be taken at their meetings, on the following heads. 
 
120 APPENDIX. 
 
 1st. That an immediate stop be put to all exports to 
 Great Britain, and that after a short day to be agreed 
 on, there be no importation from Great Britain, till the 
 act for blocking up the harbor of Boston be repealed. 
 
 2d. That the association be on oath. 
 
 3d. That the gentlemen of the law, in this province, 
 bring no suit for the recovery of any debt, due from 
 any inhabitant of this province, to any inhabitant of 
 Great Britain, until the said act be repealed. 
 
 4th. That this province vi^ill immediately break off 
 all trade and dealings with that colony or province, 
 which shall refuse or decline to come into similar reso- 
 lutions with a majority of the colonies. 
 
 We have the most sanguine hope that Maryland 
 will cheerfully co-operate with your colony, to any ex- 
 tent of non-importation or non-exportation. We expect 
 committees will be appointed as soon as possible; 
 through which we hope a cordial and free intercourse 
 will be established, between your colony and our pro- 
 vmce, and that the value and consequence of those colo- 
 nies to Great Britain, will be demonstrated by with- 
 holding our tobacco. 
 
 We are gentlemen. 
 
 Your most obedient servants, 
 C. Carroll, Samuel Chase, 
 
 J. Hall, Matthias Hammond, 
 
 Thomas Johnson, Jr. Stephen West. 
 William Paca, 
 
 To the Honorable Peyton Randolph, Esq., and other 
 gentlemen of Williamsburg. 
 
APPENDIX. 121 
 
 No. 11. 
 
 To the freeholders and gentlemen of Baltimore 
 county : 
 
 Gentlemen, — On Tuesday last, we received (by ex- 
 press) a letter from the committee of correspondence at 
 Philadelphia, enclosing a letter from the town of Bos- 
 ton, on the very alarming situation of their affairs, by 
 the late act of parliament, for blocking up the harbor 
 of said place : also, a copy of certain resolves entered 
 into by the gentlemen of Philadelphia, in consequence 
 thereof. A meeting of the principal inhabitants of this 
 place was immediately held, in order to consult what 
 measures we ought to take, in a matter so very inter- 
 esting to every American. A committee, (whereof we 
 are the members) was appointed, with directions to 
 correspond with any committees instituted in our own, 
 or the neighboring colonies, in order to collect the pub- 
 lic sense, and promote, in a peaceable and orderly man- 
 ner, the most effectual measures for obtaining relief 
 to our fellow subjects, suffering in the common cause of 
 America. 
 
 In consequence of this appointment, we yesterday 
 wrote a letter to the gentlemen of Annapolis, acquaint- 
 ing them, we judge it expedient, to collect the sense 
 of the gentlemen of our county at large, on a subject 
 so interesting to every individual. To this, we receiv- 
 ed a friendly reply, (by express) this morning, with 
 assurances from the gentlemen of Annapolis, that the 
 members of their committee will be here against Tues- 
 day next, in order to confer with the gentlemen of this 
 county, on this important subject. 
 
 Permit us, therefore, to request, that as many of the 
 12 
 
122 APPENDIX. 
 
 principal gentlemen and freeholders, (as conveniently 
 can) will be so kind as to favor us with their company 
 and advice, at the Court house in this town, at 2 o'clock 
 on Tuesday next, which will be highly acceptable to 
 their and the public's 
 
 Very humble servants, 
 Andrew Buchanan, William Smith, 
 
 Robert Alexander, Thomas Harrison, 
 
 William Buchanan, William Lux, 
 
 Robert Christie, Sr. John Boyd, 
 John Moale, John Smith, 
 
 Isaac Van Bibber, Samuel Purviance, Jr. 
 
 Baltimore Town, May 21th, 1774. 
 
 No. 12. 
 
 Baltimore, May 21th, 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — We are highly pleased with the gene- 
 rous zeal you are pleased to express for the liberties 
 of our country, so violently invaded by the late act of 
 parliament. It will animate us, (and, we trust, every 
 other part of the province) in adopting the most ef- 
 fectual means of providing relief for our suffering 
 brethren of Boston, when we see the metropolis of the 
 province, and so many gentlemen of distinguished abili- 
 ties, so warmly disposed to co-operate with us. At a 
 meeting of our committee, we have just now agreed to 
 circulate a printed address to the principal gentlemen 
 and freeholders of this county, inviting them to meet 
 us at the Court house, at 2 o'clock on Tuesday next: 
 and in confidence of what Mr. Alexander has mention- 
 ed, shall venture to promise them the pleasure of seeing 
 some gentlemen of your committee here, to confer 
 with them on this interesting occasion. 
 
APPENDIX. 123 
 
 We yesterday forwarded copies of the papers re- 
 ceived from Philadelphia, to the gentlemen of Norfolk 
 and Portsmouth, in Virginia, and to the gentlemen of 
 Alexandria, hoping, by a discovery of our zeal in the 
 common cause, to beget the same disposition in our 
 neighboring friends. By a gentleman just come from 
 Wiliiamsburgh, which he left last Saturday, we learn, 
 the gentlemen of that place were impatiently expecting 
 an express from Philadelphia, and express great desire 
 of taking some public measures on this occasion. We 
 are, with much respect, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most humble servants, 
 Samuel Purviance, Jr. William Smith, 
 John Smith, John Moale. 
 
 William Buchanan, 
 To the committee of correspondence at Annapolis. 
 
 No. 13. 
 
 Baltimore, 25t7i May, 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — On Tuesday last, we received, by ex- 
 press, from Philadelphia, a letter from the committee 
 of correspondence, at that place, enclosing a copy of 
 the vote of the town of Boston, a letter from said 
 town to the gentlemen of Philadelphia, advising of 
 their present unhappy situation, and requesting their 
 brotherly advice on so interesting an occasion ; copies 
 of which vote and letter, the reply thereto, and the re- 
 solves entered into at Philadelphia, we now take the 
 liberty of communicating to you, not doubting your 
 readiness to take a friendly part in a matter so interest- 
 ing to every American. 
 
124 APPENDIX. 
 
 On receipt of those papers, we immediately convened 
 the principal inhabitants of this place, in order to col- 
 lect, in some measure, their sense of the matter. The 
 result was, that we appointed a committee, (of which 
 you have the names annexed) to correspond with the 
 committees of any neighboring colonies, who may con- 
 sult us on tliis, or any other public occasion, and par- 
 ticularly to promote a general correspondence of senti- 
 ments with our brethren through this province, in such 
 measures as may, on mature consideration, be thought 
 most advisable to take, on this alarming occasion. It 
 has been proposed to convene the principal gentlemen 
 of our county at large, in order to promote an applica- 
 tion for calling the assembly of the province, but that 
 we have postponed for the present, until we have the 
 advice of our friends in Annapolis on the matter. 
 
 We hope and expect, that the gentlemen of your 
 province, who distinguished themselves as the foremost 
 in asserting the cause of American liberty, and opposing 
 the scheme of parliamentary taxation, will now exert 
 themselves with spirit and boldness in the cause of 
 Boston, now so violently attacked for defending the 
 common cause of America: and we doubt not that the 
 gentlemen of your town in particular, will heartily 
 concur in whatever measures may best serve the gene- 
 ral good. We are, with much respect, gentlemen, 
 Your most humble servants, 
 
 In behalf of the committee, 
 
 Samuel Purviance, Jr. 
 William Buchanan. 
 
 The committee of correspondence of Baltimore town: 
 Andrew Buchanan, AVilliam Smith, John Smith, John 
 
APPENDIX. 125 
 
 Moale, William Buchanan, William Lux, Thomas Har- 
 rison, Robert Christie, Sr., Robert Alexander, Dr. John 
 Boyd, Isaac Van Bibber, Samuel Purviance, Jr. 
 To the gentlemen of Alexandria. 
 
 No. 14. 
 Gentlemen, — At 4 o'clock this afternoon, I arrived 
 here, and immediately delivered your letter to Mr. 
 Johnson, one of the committee of correspondence, ap- 
 pointed for this city. A meeting was immediately 
 held, of all the gentlemen who compose that commit- 
 tee, before whom your letter was laid. As it is with 
 great pleasure, I can assure you, that the letter and con- 
 duct of our town, gave great satisfaction, and dissipated 
 a gloom from the countenances of the gentlemen, occa- 
 sioned by a report, that Baltimore town was lukewarm 
 in the cause, and would not adopt any measures beyond 
 that of a congress. What has been done here, you 
 can best collect from the papers, which the gentlemen 
 now enclose you by express, with an answer to your 
 letter. I have only, for my part, to request, that hand 
 bills may be immediately^ circulated, as proposed, to 
 call a meeting of the county, on Tuesday next, at which 
 time the gentlemen of the committee from Annapolis 
 propose to be in our town, that some joint effort 
 may be made to rouse the Philadelphians to a sense of 
 that danger, which now threatens American liberty. 
 The committee here, are transmitting copies of all their 
 letters and proceedings to each city of this province, 
 and I could wish, if you think it expedient, that letters 
 from our town, signifying your appointment, might also 
 12* 
 
126 APPENDIX. 
 
 be forwarded as early as possible. Baltimore town, 
 considered in a commercial view, is, with great just- 
 ness, esteemed the place of most consequence in the 
 province, and coinciding in sentiment with the metropo- 
 lis, may have a happy effect on the whole. The spirit 
 of liberty is certainly contagious ; I feel the force of 
 the observation most sensibly at this present moment ; 
 
 and however warm I might appear to some of the 
 
 of our town, I don't find that I went an inch be- 
 yond the sentiments of the gentlemen of this place, nor 
 further than what every honest American ought to go. 
 The messenger being ready, I conclude in haste, 
 Your humble servant, 
 
 R. Alexander. 
 Annapolis, Thursday, 6 o'clock, P. 31., 
 May 26th, 1774. 
 
 The committee here propose writing to New York 
 and Boston, by the post, on Saturday. They will defer 
 writing to Philadelphia until after Saturday, when 
 they expect to be in Baltimore town. 
 
 To the committee of correspondence, Baltimore town. 
 
 No. 15. 
 Alexandria, May 29th, 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — After acknowledging the receipt of 
 your letter, with the several papers enclosed, we have 
 to inform you, that following the good example you 
 had shewn us, we called a meeting of the principal in- 
 habitants of this town, who determined upon the choice 
 of a committee, for carrying on such a correspondence, 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 127 
 
 as we judged necessary for conveying our sentiments 
 to the neighboring towns. 
 
 Notwithstanding the anxiety we felt for the unhappy 
 situation of Boston, groaning under the lash of arbi- 
 trary power, in the cause of all America, we determin- 
 ed to wait for the exertion of the well known spirit of 
 our assembly, at that time sitting, as we apprehended 
 before we entered into any determination, with regard 
 to our conduct, at this alarming crisis. 
 
 We are still obliged, in some measure, to wait the 
 determination of our late representatives, though not 
 in their legislative capacity. The governor, after their 
 passing an order, (a copy of which we enclose you,) 
 for setting apart the first day of June, as a day of fast- 
 ing, humiliation and prayer, having dissolved them. 
 
 They are determined to keep the day in the manner 
 they proposed, and after that, it is expected will enter 
 into some spirited associations, for procuring, as far as 
 lies in their power, some relief for their distressed bre- 
 thren in New England. We shall be much obliged, 
 by your friendly information, from time to time, of any 
 emergencies which may occur of general concernment, 
 and are, gentlemen, with much respect and regard, in 
 behalf of the committee. 
 
 Your most obedient servants, 
 
 John Carlyle, William Rumney, 
 
 William Ramsay, Robert H. Harrison, 
 John Dalton, John Harper. 
 
 List of the committee from the town of Alexandria : 
 John Carlyle, William Ramsay, John Dalton, Dr. Wil- 
 liam Rumney, Robert Adam, James Kirk, James Hen- 
 
128 APPENDIX. 
 
 dricks, Robert H. Harrison, George Gilpen, John Har- 
 per. 
 
 To Messrs. William Buchanan, and Samuel Pur- 
 viance, Jr., and other principal inhabitants in Baltimore. 
 
 No. 16. 
 
 Friday, the 21tli May, 1774. 
 
 And this day, at 10 o'clock, the honorable members 
 of the late house of Burgesses, met by agreement, at 
 the long room in the Raleigh tavern in this city, called 
 the Apollo, when the following agreement was unani- 
 mously entered into by that patriotic assembly, in sup- 
 port of the constitutional liberties of America, against 
 the late oppressive act of the British parliament, re- 
 specting the town of Boston, which, in the end, must 
 aifect all the colonies. 
 
 We, his majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, 
 the late representatives of the good people of this coun- 
 try, having been deprived, by the sudden interposition 
 of the executive part of this government, from giving our 
 countrymen the advice we wished to convey to them, 
 in a legislative capacity, find ourselves under the hard 
 necessity of adopting this the only method we have 
 left, of pointing out to our countrymen, such measures 
 as in our opinion, are best fitted to secure our dearest 
 rights and liberty from destruction, by the heavy hand 
 of power, now lifted against North America. With 
 much grief, we find that our dutiful applications to 
 Great Britain, for security of our just, ancient, and 
 constitutional rights, have not been only disregarded, 
 but that a determined system is formed and pressed. 
 
APPENDIX. 129 
 
 for reducing the inhabitants of British America to sla- 
 very, by subjecting them to the payment of taxes, im- 
 posed without the consent of the people or their re- 
 presentatives, and that in pursuit of this system, we 
 find an act of the British parliament, lately passed for 
 stopping the harbor and commerce of the town of 
 Boston, in our sister colony of Massachusetts bay, 
 until the people there submit to the payment of such 
 unconstitutional taxes, and which act most violently 
 and arbitrarily deprives them of their property in 
 wharfs erected by private persons, at their own great 
 and proper expense, and which act is, in our opinion, 
 a most dangerous attempt to destroy the constitutional 
 liberty and rights of all North America. 
 
 It is farther our opinion, that as tea, on its impor- 
 tation into America, is charged with a duty imposed by 
 parliament, for the purpose of raising a revenue, with- 
 out the consent of the people, it ought not to be used 
 by any person who wishes well to the constitutional 
 rights and liberty of British America. And whereas, 
 the India company have ungenerously attempted the 
 ruin of America, by sending many ships loaded with 
 tea, into the colonies, thereby intending to fix a pre- 
 cedent in favor of arbitrary taxation, we deem it highly 
 proper, and do accordingly recommend it strongly to 
 our countrymen, not to purchase or use any kind of 
 East India commodity whatsoever, except saltpetre and 
 spices, until the grievances of America are redressed. 
 We are farther clearly of opinion, that an attack made 
 on one of our sister colonies, to compel submission to 
 arbitrary taxes, is an attack made upon all British 
 America, and threatens ruin to the rights of all, unless 
 
130 APPENDIX. 
 
 the united wisdom of the whole be applied : and for this 
 purpose, it is recommended to the committee of corres- 
 pondence, that they communicate with their several 
 corresponding committees, on the expediency of ap- 
 pointing deputies from the several colonies of British 
 America, to meet in general congress, at such place 
 annually as shall be thought most convenient, there 
 to deliberate on those general measures, which the uni- 
 ted interests of America may, from time to time require. 
 A tender regard for the interests of our fellow sub- 
 jects, the merchants and manufacturers of Great Britain, 
 prevents us from going further at this time, most ear- 
 nestly hoping that the constitutional principle of tax- 
 ing the colonies without their consent, will not be 
 persisted in, thereby to compel us, against our will, to 
 avoid all commercial intercourse with Britain. Wish- 
 ing them and our people free and happy, we are their 
 affectionate friends, the late representatives of Virginia- 
 The above, was immediately signed by the speaker, 
 and all the members of the late house of Burgesses, as 
 well as by a number of clergymen, and other inhabi- 
 tants of the colony, who, after having maturely con- 
 sidered the contents of the association, did most cor- 
 dially approve and accede thereto. 
 
 No. 17. 
 At a general meeting of the freeholders, gentlemen, 
 merchants, tradesmen, and other inliabitants of Balti- 
 more county, held at the Court house of the said county, 
 on Tuesday, May 31st, 1774. 
 
 Capt. Charles Ridgely, Chairman. 
 Resolved, 1st. That it is the opinion of this meeting, 
 that the town of Boston is now suffering in the common 
 
APPENDIX. 131 
 
 cause of America, and that it is the duty of e very- 
 colony in America to unite in the most effectual means 
 to obtain a repeal of the late act of parliament, for block- 
 ing up the harbor of Boston. Dissentient three. 
 
 2d. That it is the opinion of this meeting, that if 
 the colonies come into a joint resolution, to stop impor- 
 tations from, and exportations to Great Britain and the 
 West Indies, until the act for blocking up the harbor 
 of Boston be repealed, the same may be the means of 
 preserving North America and her liberties. Dissen- 
 tient three. 
 
 3d. That therefore the inhabitants of this county, 
 will join in an association with the several counties of this 
 province, and the principal colonies of America, to put 
 a stop to the exports to Great Britain and the West 
 Indies, after the first day of October next, or such 
 other day as may be agreed on : and to put a stop to 
 the imports from Great Britain, after the first day of 
 December next, or such other day as may be agreed 
 on, until the said act be repealed : and that such asso- 
 ciation shall be on oath. Dissentient nine. 
 
 4th. Unanimously, That it is the opinion of this 
 meeting, that as the most effectual means of uniting all 
 parts of this province, in such association as proposed, 
 a general congress of deputies from each county be 
 held at Annapolis, at such time as may be agreed on ; 
 and that if agreeable to the sense of our sister colonies, 
 delegates shall be appointed from this province, 
 to attend a general congress of delegates, from the 
 other colonies, at such time and place as shall be agreed 
 on, in order to settle and establish a general plan of con- 
 duct, for the important purposes aforementioned. 
 
132 APPENDIX. 
 
 Resolved, 5th. Unanimously, that the inhabitants of 
 this county will, and it is the opinion of this meeting, 
 that the province ought to break off all trade and deal- 
 ings with that colony, province, or town, which shall 
 refuse or decline to come into similar resolutions, with 
 a majority of the colonies. 
 
 6th. That Capt. Charles Ridgely, Charles Ridgely, 
 son of John, Walter Tolley, Jr., Thomas Cockey Dye, 
 William Lux, Robert Alexander, Samuel Purviance, 
 Jr., John Moale, Andrew Buchanan, and George Ris- 
 teau, be appointed a committee to attend a general 
 meeting at Annapolis. And that the same gentlemen, 
 together with John Smith, Thomas Harrison, William 
 Buchanan, Benjamin Nicholson, Thomas Sellers, Wil- 
 liam Smith, James Gittings, Richard Moale, Jonathan 
 Plowman, and William Spear, be a committee of cor- 
 respondence, to receive and answer all letters, and on any 
 emergency, to call a general meeting : and that any six 
 of the number have power to act. 
 
 7th. That a copy of the proceedings be transmitted 
 to the several counties of this province, directed to 
 their committee of correspondence, and be also pub- 
 lished in the Maryland Gazette, to evince to all the 
 world, the sense they entertain of the invasion of their 
 constitutional rights and liberties. 
 
 8th. That the chairman be desired to return the 
 thanks of this meeting, to the gentlemen of the com- 
 mittee of correspondence from Annapolis, for their 
 polite personal attendance, in consequence of an invi- 
 tation by the committee of correspondence for Balti- 
 more town. 
 
 Per order, William Lux. Cla-h. 
 
APPENDIX. 133 
 
 No. 18. 
 Williamshurg, 3lst May, 1774. 
 
 Gentlemen, — We had the honor of writing, the 28th 
 inst., to the speaker of your assembly, enclosing him 
 the resolutions of our late house of Burgesses, and a 
 copy of the association entered into by the late repre- 
 sentatives of Virginia, upon the dissolution of our as- 
 sembly. We suppose, this letter with the other 
 papers, must have got to hand, and that they have been 
 communicated to you. We have now to acknowledge 
 the receipt of your favor of the 25th, accompanying 
 the several letters, &c., from Boston and Philadelphia. 
 Our moderator, without loss of time, immediately con- 
 vened as many of the late representatives as could be 
 got together upon so short a notice, and we yesterday 
 took this business under our most serious consideration. 
 The result of our deliberations will best appear from 
 the enclosed, to which we take the liberty of referring 
 you, and beg that it may be immediately transmitted, 
 through the hands of our friends in Philadelphia, to 
 our friends in Boston, in the same manner as their sen- 
 timents and resolutions have been conveyed to us. 
 We wish it had been in our power to have done any 
 thing more decisive at present, but our situation would 
 not admit of it, as you will readily judge, from the rea- 
 sons suggested by our resolutions. We could wish 
 to have known the sentiments of New York. We find 
 a letter from the committee of correspondence in that 
 province, mentioned in the Philadelphia letters, but no 
 copy of it was enclosed, nor the purport of it mention- 
 ed. We shall hope to be favored, from time to time, 
 13 
 
134 APPENDIX. 
 
 with the sentiments and resolutions of all our sister 
 colonies, and this, in the most expeditious manner. 
 We have the lionor to be, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient servants, 
 The Committee of Correspondence 
 
 for Virginia, 
 To the committee of correspondence for Maryland. 
 
 At a meeting of tw^enty-five of the late representatives 
 legally assembled by the moderator, it was agreed that 
 letters be wrote to all our sister colonies, acknowledging 
 the receipt of the letters and resolves from Boston, &c., 
 informing them that before the same came to hand, the 
 Virginia assembly had been unexpectedly dissolved, 
 and most of the members returned to their respective 
 counties. That it is the opinion of all the late house 
 of Burgesses, who could be convened on the present 
 occasion, that the colony of Virginia will concur with 
 the other colonies, in such measures as shall be 
 judged most effectual for the preservation of the com- 
 mon rights and liberty of British America ; that they 
 are of opinion particularly, that an association against 
 importations will probably be entered into, as soon as 
 the late representatives can be collected, and perhaps 
 against exportatlons also, after a certain time. But that 
 this must not be considered as an engagement on the 
 part of this colony, which it would be presumption in 
 us to enter into, and that we are sending despatches to 
 .call together the late representatives to meet at Wil- 
 liamsburg, on the first day of August next, to conclude 
 finally, on those important questions. 
 
APPENDIX. 135 
 
 Peyton Randolph, Moderator. 
 
 Ro, C. Nicholas, George Washington, \ 
 
 Edmund Pendleton, Francis Lightfoot Lee, 
 
 William Harvvood, Thomas Watson, Jr. | 
 
 Richard Adams, Robert Rutherford, t 
 
 Thomas Whitling, John Walker, 
 
 Henry Lee, James Wood, . \ 
 
 Samuel Liddick, Thomas Blackburn, 
 
 Thomas Jefferson, Wm. Lano^horne, '. 
 
 Mann Page, Jr. Edmund Berkely, 
 
 Charles Carter, (Lanc'r.) Wm. Donelson, 
 
 James Mercer, Paul Carrington, 
 
 R. Wormley Carter, Lewis Burwell, (Gloster.) 
 
 No. 19. 
 
 At a general meeting of the merchants, traders, and 
 other inhabitants of the borough of Norfolk, and town 
 of Portsmouth, in the colony of Virginia, on Monday, 
 the 30th of May, 1774, 
 
 It was resolved. That Thomas Newton, Jr., Esq., 
 one of our late worthy burgesses, be appointed modera- 
 tor of this meeting, and William Davies, clerk. 
 
 Mr. Newton accordingly took the chair, when the 
 letters and other papers transmitted from Boston, Phila- 
 delphia and Baltimore, together with the resolution of 
 the late house of Burgesses of this colony, and the asso- 
 ciation of the members and others after the dissolution 
 of the general assembly, were severally read and heard, 
 and upon the question put. 
 
 It was resolved. That Thomas Newton, Jr., Joseph 
 Hutchings, John Goodrich, Paul Loyal, James Taylor, 
 
136 APPENDX. 
 
 Matthew Phrippe, Alexander Love, Robert Sheddon, 
 Robert Taylor, Samuel Inglis, Samuel Ker, Henry 
 Brown, John Greenwood, Niel Jamieson, John Mitchel, 
 Alexander Skinner, William Harvey, Thomas Brown, 
 Robert Gilmour, or any five of them, be a committee 
 to corres}:>ond with the several committees of the differ- 
 ent commercial towns on the continent, upon the im- 
 portant subject of those papers, and acquaint them with 
 the sentiments of the inhabitants of these towns, and 
 to take sucli oilier steps for the relief of our suffering 
 brethren of Boston, and the establishment of the rights 
 of the colonies, as to the committee shall appear most 
 expedient and effectual. 
 
 William Davies, Clerk. 
 
 No. 20. 
 
 Norfolk, May 31st, 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — The occasion is too serious to admit of 
 apologies, for this unsolicited communication of our sen- 
 timents to you, at this alarming crisis to American free- 
 dom, for the time is come, the unhappy era is arrived, 
 when the closest union among ourselves, and the firm- 
 est confidence in each other, are our only securities for 
 those rights, which as men, and hee men, we derive from 
 nature and the constitution. The late hostile parliamen- 
 tary invasion of the town of Boston, we deem an attack 
 upon the liberties of us all. Of the particulars of that 
 unhappy transaction, we presume you are already fully 
 informed, and we doubt not, shudder with us at this 
 systematic mode of depriving the unrepresented 
 American of his rights and possessions, and vesting the 
 
APPENDIX. 137 
 
 crown with despotic power over the free born inhabi- 
 tants of the capital of the Massachusetts bay. What 
 measures are most proper to be adopted on this sad 
 occasion, we are at a loss to point out ; but we look 
 to the wisdom of your city, in conjunction with the 
 other large commercial towns on this continent, to take 
 more immediately the lead in these important matters, 
 and to fix upon such expedients in the regulation of 
 trade, as may be most productive of relief to our suffer- 
 ing brethren of Boston, and the general establishment of 
 the rights of these colonies ; and you may rest assured, 
 that in every measure conducive to this grand continen- 
 tal object, you will always meet with our most hearty 
 concurrence. We are under great apprehensions for 
 the people of Boston, lest they may sink under the 
 weight of their misfortune ; and at the same time, that 
 we highly approve of the expediency of a congress, as 
 proposed by several of the colonies, we think that the 
 trading part of the community ought particularly to in- 
 terfere, for nothing but the most speedy and efficacious 
 measures can relieve them : and if after all, there should 
 be found an unhappy necessity to reimburse the India 
 company, for that just punishment they received, for 
 their ungenerous attempts on our liberties, we trust 
 there is no inhabitant of these colonies, who feels and 
 thinks himself a freeman, but will cheerfully put his 
 hand to his purse, and join in the general expense. 
 Inclosed, we transmit to you the proceedings of the 
 inhabitants of the borough of Norfolk and town of 
 Portsmouth, together with letters and other papers 
 from Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore, as also copies 
 of the resolutions, and other proceedings of the mem- 
 13* 
 
138 APPENDIX. 
 
 bers of our late house of Burgesses, both before and 
 after their dissolution. We hope to be able to inform 
 you more particularly of the collected sense of the 
 trade of this colony, at the general meeting of the mer- 
 chants next week, at Williamsburg, when we expect 
 farther despatches from the northward. We hope the 
 favor of a free and full communication of your senti- 
 ments on this important occasion, and trust that your 
 flourishing and respectable province, will still continue 
 their generous endeavors for the establishment of the 
 rights of the colonies, that the opposition of all America 
 may be as extensive as the oppression. With the 
 warmest attachment to the interests of the colonies, we 
 are, gentlemen, most respectfully, 
 
 Your most obedient servants, 
 Thomas Newton, Jr. John Greenwood, 
 Joseph L. Hutchings, Alex. Skinner, 
 Paul Loyall, Wm. Harvey, 
 
 Alex. Love, Niel Jamieson. 
 
 Samuel Inglis, 
 To the committee of correspondence of Charleston, 
 South Carolina. 
 
 No. 21. 
 
 Norfolk, June 2d, 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — We acknowledge the receipt of your 
 interesting favor, and hope you will still continue to 
 communicate your sentiments to us, on the important 
 subject of your letter, in the freest and fullest manner. 
 We are happy in so general a concurrence in opinion 
 with you, and are ready to unite in any measures that 
 
APPENDIX. 139 
 
 may be generally thought for the advantage of the colo- 
 nies, and the relief of our unhappy brethren of Boston. 
 We sympathize most sincerely with them in their suf- 
 ferings; our hearts are warmed with affection for them, 
 and we trust they never will be deserted, nor left the 
 solitary strugglers against arbitrary power. The act 
 for blocking up their harbor, and stopping their trade, 
 and the bill for altering and amending the charter of the 
 colony of the Massachusetts bay, which Lord North 
 has lately brought into the house of Commons, we view 
 as fatal strokes to the liberties of these colonies, and a 
 down right robbery of our rights ; but we rest with a 
 firm assurance that the paltry policy of attacking a town 
 or a province singly, will never so unhappily delude 
 us, as to disunite us from that joint, firm, and universal 
 opposition of all British America, which, we trust, will 
 always render abortive every such pernicious measure. 
 As we have had occasion to write to South Carolina, 
 previous to this, our earliest opportunity of answering 
 your favor, we transmit you a copy of that letter, which 
 you will please to communicate as you may think it 
 proper. You have also enclosed some other papers, 
 from which you will be fully sensible that we are ready 
 to unite in any measure for the public good. 
 We are, gentlemen, with great esteem, 
 
 Your obedient and most humble servants, 
 Joseph Hutchings, Paul Loyall, 
 
 Alex. Skinner, William Harvey. 
 
 James Taylor, 
 To the committee of Baltimore. 
 
140 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 22. 
 
 Baltimore, June ith, 1774. 
 
 Gentlemen, — On the 25th ultimo, we received, (by 
 express) from Philadelphia, a copy of your letter of 
 the 13th, to the gentlemen of that city, and a copy of 
 their reply thereto, together with the votes of your 
 town meeting, on the truly alarming situation of your 
 affairs, by the late act of parliament, for blocking up the 
 harbor of Boston. 
 
 Could we remain a moment indifferent to your suf- 
 ferings, the result of your noble and virtuous struggles 
 in defence of American liberties, we should be unwor- 
 thy to share in those blessings, which (under God,) we 
 owe, in a great measure, to your perseverance and zeal 
 in support of our common rights, that they have not 
 ere now, been wrested from us, by the rapacious hand 
 of power. Permit us, therefore, as brethren, fellow 
 citizens and Americans, embarked in one common in- 
 terest, most affectionately to sympathize with you, now 
 suffering and persecuted in the common cause of 
 our country, and to assure you of our readiness to con- 
 cur in every reasonable measure that can be devised for 
 obtaining the most effectual and speedy relief to our 
 distressed friends. 
 
 Actuated by these sentiments, we immediately, on 
 receipt of the letters aforesaid, called a meeting of the 
 principal inhabitants, and appointed a committee of twelve 
 persons, to correspond with you, the neighboring colo- 
 nies, and particularly with the towns in this province, to 
 collect the public sense of this important concern. We 
 procured a general meeting of the freeholders and gen- 
 tlemen of this county, the 31st ult., when the enclosed 
 
APPENDIX. 141 
 
 resolutions were agreed on, with a spirit and harmony, 
 which, we flatter ourselves, prevails very generally 
 through all parts of this province. The resolve of a 
 general congress of deputies, in order to unite the 
 sense of the whole colony on this interesting occasion, 
 will, (we have reason to hope) be attended with success. 
 Having addressed every county for that purpose, and 
 the gentlemen of Annapolis concurring in the same 
 design, as soon as the result of this congress is deter- 
 mined, we shall make you acquainted therewith. 
 
 In order to inspire the same zeal in others, with 
 which we are actuated for your cause, we have trans- 
 mitted copies of all the papers we received, to the 
 gentlemen of Alexandria, Norfolk and Portsmouth, in 
 Virginia, and have taken the liberty of recommending 
 to our friends in Philadelphia, the necessity of setting 
 a good example, as their influence would greatly pre- 
 ponderate in your favor. Although the gentlemen of 
 Philadelphia have recommended a general congress, 
 for proceeding by petition or remonstrance, we cannot 
 see the least grounds of expecting relief by it. The 
 contempt with which a similar petition was treated, in 
 1765, and many others since that period, convince us 
 that policy or reasons of state, instead of justice and 
 equity, are to prescribe the rule of our future conduct, 
 and that something more sensible than supplications 
 will best serve our purpose. The idea of a general 
 congress, held forth by our resolves, as merely to unite 
 Buch colonies as will associate in a general system of 
 non-exportation and non-importation, both to be regu- 
 lated in such degree and manner, as most suitable to 
 the circumstances of each colony, and as to enable us 
 
142 APPENDIX. 
 
 (if necessary) to hold out longer without aggrieving one 
 more than another. 
 
 Permit us, as friends, truly anxious for the preser- 
 vation of your and our common liberties, to recommend 
 firmness and moderation, under this severe trial of your 
 patience, trusting that the supreme disposer of all 
 events, will terminate the same, in a happy confirmation 
 of American freedom. We are, with much sincerity, 
 Your truly sympathizing friends, 
 
 Samuel Purviance, Chairman. 
 \Vm. Buchanan, 
 
 In behalf of the committee. 
 P. S. Your letter of the 13th May, with copy of 
 your town vote, is just now come to hand. 
 To the committee of Boston. 
 
 No. 23. 
 Baltimore, June Ath, 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — "We received by express, your letter 
 of the 21st ult., covering the resolves of the town 
 meeting of Boston, and copies of their very interesting 
 letter to you, with your answer and resolve. A meet- 
 ing of the town was immediately called, at which were 
 present, a number of the most respectable inhabitants, 
 before whom the letters and papers were read, who, 
 viewing the act of parliament for shutting the port of 
 Boston, as an arbitrary, cruel, and oppressive edict, 
 infringing one of the fundamental principles of the con- 
 stitution, by condemning unheard, and preceding any 
 convictions of the supposed crime, immediately appoint- 
 ed a committee of twelve gentlemen, with instructions 
 
APPENDIX. 143 
 
 to them, to forward copies of the letters, &c., to the 
 several counties of this province, and the neighboring 
 colony of Virginia. And the better to collect the sense 
 of the town and county of Baltimore, and to afford 
 time for reflection on this very interesting and import- 
 ant subject, they appointed the 31st ult., for a general 
 meeting, which was accordingly held on that day,— the 
 resolutions of which, will best evince to the world their 
 sentiments, on the measures now pursued by a corrupt, 
 venal and arbitrary ministry, against the town of Bos- 
 ton, and through her against the liberties of this exten- 
 sive continent. The alacrity and readiness, with which 
 the gentlemen of your city have hitherto, with great 
 spirit, entered into every measure that could promote 
 the public good ; the sacrifices they have made to pri- 
 vate interests, to attain that end, and the happy effects 
 resulting therefrom, convince us that Pennsylvania will 
 unite in every prudent measure to preserve her liber- 
 ties, and that of her American brethren. What those 
 measures m.ay be, we cannot determine. Our senti- 
 ments on the subject, we hold forth to the public, and 
 nearly concurring with the gentlemen of Annapolis, 
 (whose resolves were transmitted to you) we may ven- 
 ture to assert, nothing less favorable will be proposed 
 by any county of this province, or adopted at the 
 general meeting, which you will observe by our reso- 
 lutions, is to be held at Annapolis. The idea we have 
 formed of a general congress, as expressed in our 
 fourth resolve, is by no means formed upon the opinion 
 ornecessity of such a congress, for the purpose of pe- 
 titioning or remonstrating to the crown, or any branch 
 of the legislature of Great Britain. The indignity of- 
 
144 APPENDIX. 
 
 fered by the ministry to every petition from America; 
 the affected contempt with which they treated those 
 transmitted in 1765, and every other since that time, 
 leave us not the least ray of hope, that any application 
 in that mode, would be productive of relief to the suf- 
 ferings of Boston, whom we consider as a victim to 
 ministerial vengeance, for wisely and justly opposing 
 them, in their arbitrary attacks upon American liberty. 
 We have proposed the congress to settle and establish 
 a general plan of conduct for such colonies that may 
 think fit to send deputies ; their local circumstances and 
 particular situation, may render some little diversity 
 necessary, especially should the same influence, that 
 has unhappily guided the councils of Great Britain, con- 
 tinue to prevail. We make no doubt, every effort will 
 be used to enslave the colonies, and pave the way to 
 enslave England itself When such diversity is known, 
 and a general system established, doubt and distrust 
 among ourselves will be removed, confidence will take 
 place, and our enemies both know and fear the power 
 of American virtue, which they have most unjustly 
 provoked. Should you think our resolves adequate to 
 the measure, or that they may tend to inspire the gen- 
 tlemen of your province with favorable sentiments to 
 the general cause, we submit to you the propriety of 
 their publication; and when your province has agreed 
 on any plan, we shall be happy in having it communi- 
 cated to us, together with your sentiments on our con- 
 duct. The discharge of our duty on this occasion, 
 gives us great pleasure in aflTording the opportunity to 
 
APPENDIX. J45 
 
 express our sentiments of esteem for your public con- 
 duct, and respect to your private persons. 
 We are, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient servants, 
 Samuel Purviance, Jr. Thomas Sollers, 
 J. Harrison, John Moale, 
 
 Andrew Buchanan, Wm. Spear, 
 
 Robert Alexander, William Lux, 
 
 Wm. Buchanan, William Smith. 
 
 Jonathan Plowman, 
 To the committee of Philadelphia. 
 
 No. 24. 
 At a meeting of a very considerable and respectable 
 body of the inhabitants of Anne Arundel county, in- 
 clusive of those of the city of Annapolis, on Saturday, 
 the 4th day of June, 1774: 
 
 Mr. Brice Thomas Beale Worthington, moderator. 
 1st. Resolved, unanimously. That it is the opinion 
 of this meeting, that the town of Boston is now suffer- 
 ing in the common cause of America, and that it is in- 
 cumbent on every colony in America, to unite in ef- 
 fectual means to obtain a repeal of the late act of par- 
 liament, for blocking up the harbor of Boston. 
 
 2d. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting 
 that if the colonies come into a joint resolution to stop 
 all importations from, and exportations to Great Britain 
 and the West Indies, till the said act be repealed, the 
 same will be the most effectual means to obtain a repeal 
 of the said act, and preserve North America and her 
 liberties. 
 14 
 
146 APPENDIX. 
 
 3(1. Resolved, therefore, unanimously. That the in- 
 habitants of this county, will join in an association, with 
 the several counties in this province, and the principal 
 colonies in America, to put a stop to exports to Great 
 Britain and the West Indies, after the ninth day of Oc- 
 tober next, or such other day as may be agreed on ; 
 and to put a stop to the imports of goods not already 
 ordered, and of those ordered that shall not be shipped 
 from Great Britain, by the twentieth day of July next, 
 or such other day as may be agreed on, until the said 
 act shall bo repealed ; and that such association be on 
 oath. 
 
 4th. Resolved, That as remittances can be made 
 only from exports, after stopping the exports to Great 
 Britain and the West Indies, it will be impossible for 
 very many of the people of this province, who are pos- 
 sessed of valuable property, immediately to pay off 
 their debts, and therefore, it is the opinion of this meet- 
 ing, the gentlemen of the law ought to bring no suit 
 for the recovery of any debt, due from any inhabitant 
 of this province, to any inhabitant of Great Britain, 
 until the said act be repealed, and further that they 
 ought not to bring any suit for the recovery of any 
 debt due to any inhabitant of this province, except in 
 such cases where the debtor is guilty of a wilful delay 
 in payment, having ability to pay, or is about to ab- 
 scond, or remove his effects, or is wasting his substance, 
 or shall refuse to settle his account. 
 
 5th. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting 
 that a congress of deputies from the several counties 
 to be held at Annapolis, as soon as conveniently may 
 be, will be the most speedy and effectual means of 
 
APPENDIX. 1 47 
 
 uniting all the parts of this province, in such association 
 as proposed, and that if agreeable to the sense of our 
 sister colonies, delegates ought to be appointed from 
 this province, to attend a general congress of deputies, 
 from the other cplonles, at such time and place as may 
 be agreed on, to effect unity in a wise and prudent 
 plan, for the forementioned purpose. 
 
 6th. Resolved, unanimously, That the inhabitants of 
 this county MnW, and it is the opinion of this meeting 
 that the province ought, to break off all trade and deal- 
 ings with that colony, province or town, which shall 
 decline or refuse to come into similar resolutions of a 
 majority of the colonies. 
 
 7th. Resolved, That Brice Thomas Beale Worth- 
 ington, Charles Carroll, barrister, John Hall, William 
 Paca, Samuel Chase, Thomas Johnson, Jr., Matthias 
 Hammond, Thomas Sprigg, Samuel Chew, John 
 Weems, Thomas Dorsey, Rezln Hammond and John 
 Hood, Jr., be a committee to attend a general meeting 
 at Annapolis, and of correspondence to receive and 
 answer all letters, and on any emergency to call a 
 general meeting, and that any six of the number have 
 power to act. 
 
 Ordered, That a copy of these resolves be trans- 
 mitted to the committees of the several counties of this 
 province, and also published in the Maryland Gazette. 
 
 By order, 
 
 John Duckett, 
 
 Secretary of the Committee. 
 
148 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 25. 
 
 Annapolis, 5th June, 1774. 
 
 Gentlemen, — The Gazette was printed, and distri- 
 buting before the resolutions of your county reached 
 us. We enclose you those of this county, as well as 
 copies of papers received yesterday from Virginia. 
 We fear the Bostonians, whilst their brethren are de- 
 liberating, will lose all hope of an effectual union. 
 We are, gentlemen, 
 
 With the utmost regard, 
 
 Your most obedient servants, 
 The Committee of Correspondence 
 
 for Anne Arundel County. 
 To the committee of correspondence for Baltimore 
 county. 
 
 No. 26. 
 Baltimore^ June 11th, 1774. 
 
 Dear Sir, — We transmitted you a copy of the reso- 
 lutioris entered into by the people of this county. Since 
 which, similar resolves have been adopted, in several 
 other counties, and a general congress of the whole 
 province, is to be held the 22d inst. at Annapolis, to 
 consider in an united manner, the case of our suffering 
 brethren of Boston : all parts of this province discover 
 the most forward zeal in the common cause, — and we 
 sincerely wish Philadelphia was equally disposed to 
 embark in the matter. The alarming strides with 
 which parliament pushes their unfriendly designs, give 
 a full confirmation to the fears we have often entertain- 
 
APPENDIX. j^g 
 
 ed of a settled determined plan of despotism being in 
 view. We heartily pray for that union and harmony 
 of sentiment, so essentially necessary to avert every 
 insidious design against American liberties. 
 We are, dear sir, 
 
 Your friends and servants, 
 
 Samuel & Robert Purviance. 
 To Jeremiah Lee, Esq., Boston. 
 
 No. 27. 
 Baltimore June 13^J/^, 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — We took the liberty of addressing you 
 on the 4th inst., with a copy of the resolves of this town 
 and county, at a public meeting of the inhabitants, held 
 the 31st ult. Since that time, most counties in this 
 province, following the example of Annapolis and this 
 place, have had public meetings, and entered into simi- 
 lar resolutions, all concurring in the same general sen- 
 timents of your sufferings in defence of our common 
 rights, and expressing their cordial disposition to agree 
 in the most effectual measures, for asserting and defend- 
 ing our constitutional liberties, and for procuring a 
 repeal of the violent and arbitrary edict issued against 
 the town of Boston. It affords us singular satisfaction 
 to find the general sentiments of the good people of the 
 province, and such in Virginia as we have correspond- 
 ed with, so agreeable to our own apprehensions of this 
 important cause, tlie cause of every American, and we 
 sincerely congratulate you and every friend of our 
 country, on that laudable zeal and patriotic spirit, which 
 prevails among all ranks of our people, to assert and 
 14* 
 
150 APPENDIX. 
 
 vindicate your cause. We have now the pleasure of 
 giving you a recent proof of this by the enclosed copies 
 of letters and resolves, which we received this day 
 from the gentlemen of Norfolk and Portsmouth, in 
 Virginia, which we judged of such importance to the 
 common cause, that we now transmit copies thereof, 
 by express, to the committee of Philadelphia, where a 
 general meeting of the town and county is to be held, 
 the day after to-morrow, hoping 'it may tend to inspire 
 them with the same sentiments, so generally prevalent 
 in the province. 
 
 A proposal has been made by some gentlemen of 
 Chestertown, in this colony, to open a subscription for 
 support of the poor inhabitants of your town, who may 
 be most immediately distressed by the stagnation of 
 business. Some of us have had the same object in 
 contemplation, and determine to propose it to the gene- 
 ral congress of deputies for the province, which, we 
 doubt not, will be generally adopted. With the most 
 affectionate wishes for your speedy and happy deliver- 
 ance. 
 
 We are, gentlemen, 
 
 Your very humble servants, 
 Samuel Purviance, Jr, Chairman, 
 Wm. Buchanan, 
 
 In behalf of the committee. 
 
 To the committee of Boston. 
 
 No. 28. 
 
 'Baltimore, \Wi June 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — We did ourselves the pleasure of writ- 
 ing you, the 4th inst, per post, covering copy of the re- 
 solutions entered into at a general meeting of this county- 
 
APPENDIX. 151 
 
 Having this day received from Norfolk in Virginia, a 
 letter, enclosing copy of a letter to the gentlemen of 
 Charleston in South Carolina, and also the resolutions 
 of the town of Norfolk and Portsmouth, we now transmit 
 you copies of the same by express, as we are informed 
 there is to be a general meeting of your city, the 15th 
 inst. When we consider the present important era, 
 and the further design meditated against the freedom of 
 America, it certainly ought to excite us to use every 
 just endeavor to avert the impending ruin. We doubt 
 not, every real friend to America, will take pleasure in 
 the agreeable prospect of unanimity in the colonies, so 
 absolutely necessary at the present time. 
 We are, gentlemen. 
 
 Your very humble servants, 
 Samuel Purviance, Jr., Chairman^ 
 
 In behalf of the committee. 
 To the committee of Philadelphia, 
 
 No. 29. 
 
 Boston, June lQ>tli, Yil^. 
 Gentlemen,— We- last evening received your affec- 
 tionate and generous letter of the 3d inst., enclosing your 
 noble and spirited resolves. Nothing gives us a more 
 animating confidence of the happy event of our present 
 struggles for the liberties of America; or affords us 
 greater support under the distresses we now feel, than 
 the assurances we receive from our brethren, of their 
 readiness to join with us in every salutary measure, for 
 preserving the rights of the colonies, and of their tender 
 sympathy for us, under our sufferings. We rejoice to 
 
152 APPENDIX. 
 
 find the respectable county of Baltimore so fully alarm. 
 ed at the public danger, and so prudent and resolute 
 in their measures to secure the blessings of freedom to 
 their country. Our general assembly is now sitting at 
 Salem, about twenty miles from this town. AVe expect 
 that the members for a general congress will speedily be 
 elected by them. We hope by the next opportunity, 
 to send you a full account of their proceedings : the 
 post just going off, we can only add, that we are, gen- 
 tlemen, with the most unfeigned respect and esteem, 
 Your most humble servants. 
 
 By order of the Committee 
 
 of Correspondence, 
 William Cooper, Clerk. 
 P. S. We think your caution of enclosing your letters 
 to a friend is extremely just, at this crisis of our affairs, 
 and we shall follow your example. 
 
 To Mr. Samuel Purviance, Jr., to be communicated 
 to the committee of correspondence of Baltimore. 
 
 No. 30. 
 BaUi7nore, Yltli June, 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — The want of opportunity has prevented 
 U8 from advising you sooner, of the measures pursued, 
 since we addressed you the 25th ult. The 31st May, a 
 general meeting of our county was held at this place, 
 when certain resolves (whereof you have copy enclosed,) 
 were agreed on, and copies of the same transmitted to 
 every county in the province, to Philadelphia, Boston, 
 &c. Many of the other colonies following our example 
 have already come into similar resolutions, and wo 
 have scarcely a doubt that all the rest will concur. 
 
APPENDIX. 153 
 
 Your letter of the 2d inst., which we received a few 
 days ago, by General Lee, affords the highest satisfac- 
 tion in finding your sentiments on the Boston port bill, 
 and other designs of administration, so correspondent 
 with our own, and the general sense of those important 
 subjects. Having learned that there was a general 
 meeting of the city and county of Philadelphia, to bo 
 held last Wednesday, we immediately despatched an 
 express, with copies of your letters and resolves, for 
 that place and Boston, which we hope would prove 
 of singular service in obviating some unfavorable im- 
 pressions, made by the association of your late repre- 
 sentatives, after the dissolution of your assembly, which 
 were considered by many here, (and, we presume 
 would by the people of Philadelphia,} far short of that 
 spirit and zeal by which the gentlemen of your colony 
 have ever been distinguished. As the association was 
 agreed on before your late represehtatlves had received 
 the express from Philadelphia, or a perfect information 
 on the subject, we are far from viewing their conduct in 
 an unfavorable light. We have seen their reply to 
 Philadelphia, by the express, which removes every sus- 
 picion of coolness or Indifference. 
 
 Although the despotic intentions of administration, 
 against the liberties of our country, are so manifest, 
 " that he who runs may read them," without much rea- 
 soning on the subject. If not wilfully blind to our 
 own interests, we must be convinced that on union 
 and harmony amongst ourselves, (under God) our sal- 
 vation from slavery perpetual to us and our posterity 
 must we depend, unless we determine tamely to sur- 
 render all our rights at once to the will of a rapacious 
 
154 APPENDIX. 
 
 profligate ministry, who have nearly subdued the 
 struggles for liberty in Britain, and with a conquest of 
 American liberties, bid fair to demolish the whole 
 British constitution. However alarming the Boston 
 port bill may be in its nature and tendency, what is it 
 compared to the effects of the two other bills, for alter- 
 ing and changing the constitution of their government, 
 and for the trial of persons concerned in shedding the 
 blood of our fellow subjects, who may be removed 
 elsewhere, or even to England for trial, as if intended 
 to protect them from the justice of the laws. If we 
 can tamely submit to these things, what security re- 
 mains for life, liberty or property. 
 
 A general meeting of delegates, from every county 
 in this province, will be held, as soon as we can know 
 the resolutions of your province, Pennsylvania and 
 New York, by whose conduct we imagine the other 
 colonies will chiefly be determined in their conduct. 
 
 We have, at present, every reason to hope for the 
 greatest harmony of sentiment in the good people of 
 this province, who discover a truly laudable spirit and 
 readiness to concur, in whatever measures are thought 
 best to adopt, either of a total or partial non-importa- 
 tion and non-exportation. We shall not fail to em- 
 brace every opportunity of advising you whatever 
 new may occur to us, on these or any other public 
 concerns, and shall hope for a friendly communication 
 of your sentiments. Being, with much respect, 
 
 Your most obedient servants, 
 Samuel Purviance, Jr. Wm. Spear, 
 Robert Alexander, Andrew Buchanan 
 
 John Smith Wm. Lux. 
 
 Wm. Buchanan. 
 
APPENDIX. 155 
 
 Enclosed, is a Philadelpliia paper, just come to hand. 
 To the Committee of Correspondence at Norfolk and 
 Portsmouth. 
 
 Per Negro Cesar, in Mr. Goodrich's boat. 
 
 No. 31. 
 Frederick Town, 20t7i June, 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — Your letter of the 1st current, to the 
 representatives of this county, was produced at our 
 meeting, and we think it necessary to return you thanks, 
 for acquainting us so early of your resolutions. You 
 will find by ours, (which will be published in the next 
 Maryland Gazette) how far we agree with "you in the 
 mode proposed for obtaining a repeal of the late acts 
 of parliament, so subversive of the liberties of Ameri- 
 ca. It will always give us pleasure to receive any in- 
 telligence from you, relative to the redress of our griev- 
 ances. We are, with great respect, gentlemen, 
 Your very humble servants, 
 Geo. Scott, Benj. Dulaney, 
 
 Arch'd Boyd, Thomas Schley, 
 John Cary, Conrad Grosh, . - 
 
 Chrs'tn Edelen, Peter Hoffman. 
 John Hanson, Jr. 
 To Messrs. William Lux, Robert Alexander, James 
 Gittings, Andrew Buchanan, William Spear, William 
 Buchanan, and Samuel Purviance, Jr.. gentlemen of 
 the Committee of Correspondence for Baltimore county. 
 
156 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 32. 
 
 Votes and proceedings of the town of Boston, June 
 17th, 1774. 
 
 At a legal and very full meeting of the freeholders 
 and other inhabitants of the town of Boston, by adjourn- 
 ment, at Faneuil hall, June, 17, 1774 : 
 
 The Hon. John Adams, Esq., Moderator. 
 
 Upon a motion made, the town again entered into 
 the consideration of that article in the warrant, viz. 
 " to consider and determine what measures are proper 
 to be taken upon the present exigency of our public 
 affairs, more especially, relative to the late edict of a 
 British Parliament, for blocking up the harbor of 
 Boston, and annihilating the trade of this town," and 
 after very serious debates thereon. 
 
 Voted, (with only one dissentient) that the committee 
 of correspondence be enjoined forthwith, to write to all 
 the other colonies, acquainting them that we are not 
 idle, that we are deliberating upon the steps to be taken 
 on the present exigencies of our public affairs ; that our 
 brethren, the landed interests of this province, with an 
 unexampled spirit and unanimity, are entering into 
 a non-consumption agreement; and that we are waiting 
 with anxious expectation, for the result of a continental 
 congress, whose meeting we impatiently desire, in 
 whose wisdom and firmness, we can confide, and in 
 whose determinations, we shall cheerfully acquiesce. 
 
 Agreeably to order, the committee of correspondence 
 laid before the town such letters, as they had received, 
 in answer to the circular letters, wrote by them to the 
 several colonies, and also the sea port towns in this pro- 
 
APPENDIX. 157 
 
 vince, since the reception of the Boston port bill ; and 
 the same being publicly read. 
 
 Voted, unanimously, That our warmest thanks be 
 transmitted to our brethren on the continent, for the 
 humanity, sympathy and affection, with which they have 
 been inspired, and which they have expressed towards 
 this distressed town, at this important season. 
 
 Voted, unanimously, That the thanks of this town 
 be, and hereby are given to the committee of corres- 
 pondence, for their faithfulness in the discharge of their 
 trust, and that they be desired to continue their vigilance 
 and activity in that service. 
 
 Whereas, the overseers of the poor, in the town of 
 Boston, are a body politic by law, constituted for 
 the reception and distribution of all charitable donations, 
 for the use of the poor of said town: 
 
 Voted, That all grants and donations to this town, 
 and the poor thereof, at this distressing season, be paid 
 and delivered into the hands of said overseers, and by 
 them appropriated and distributed in concert with the 
 committee lately appointed by this town, for the con- 
 sideration of ways and means of employing the poor. 
 
 Voted, That the town clerk be directed to publish 
 the proceedings of this meeting, in the several news- 
 papers. 
 
 The meeting was then adjourned to Monday, the 
 27th of June, instant. 
 Attest, 
 
 William Cooper, Town Clerk. 
 
 15 
 
158 APPENDIX. 
 
 Boston, June 20th, 1774, 1 o'clock, P. M. 
 Gentlemen, — The foregoing votes and proceedings 
 of this town, are just received from the press; we have 
 only time to inform you, that our general assembly have 
 appointed five gentlemen, to meet at a congress, at Phila- 
 delphia or elsewhere, on the first of September next, 
 upon which the house was dissolved ; for further par- 
 ticulars, must refer you to our next, as the post is now 
 waiting. 
 
 In behalf of the Committee of Correspondence, 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 Your humble servant, 
 
 Nathaniel Appleton, Cliairman. 
 
 To Mr. Samuel Purviance, merchant in Baltimore, 
 Maryland. 
 
 No. 33. 
 PhiladelpJiia, June 2Wi, 1774. 
 
 Gentlemen, — Time only admits the forwarding the 
 resolves passed on Saturday, at a large and respectable 
 meeting of the freeholders of this city and county. 
 
 Yesterday, our committee met, in order to prose- 
 cute the great and important business entrusted to them, 
 which they have so much at heart. 
 
 Our counties are in motion, Lancaster and Chester 
 have met. From the rest we have not yet heard. 
 
 Our subscription will be opened this week. The 
 committee have adjourned till to-morrow, to deliberate 
 and determine on what is committed to them by the 4th 
 resolve. 
 
APPENDIX. 159 
 
 I am to inform you, it is the desire of the committee, 
 " that all letters for them, be directed under cover, to 
 Charles Thomson, at or near Philadelphia." 
 
 Please to communicate this to the committee at An- 
 napolis. 
 
 I am gentlemen, 
 
 Your humble servant, 
 
 Charles Thomson. 
 Mr. Samuel Purviance and others, Committee at 
 Baltimore. 
 
 No. 34. 
 
 Boston^ 23d June, 1774. 
 
 Gentlemen, — Your favor of the 3d inst., now lies 
 before the committee. We cannot but gratefully re- 
 ceive the generous sympathy and tender concern of our 
 distant brethren for the distresses of the town of Bos- 
 ton, and esteem ourselves particularly obliged to the 
 benevolent town of Chester, for their early interposi- 
 tion and tenders of benevolence, towards the afflicted 
 poor of this devoted metropolis. 
 
 You conceive with justice, that we are suffering in 
 the common cause ; but being supported in the conflict 
 with such liberal and seasonable aids, we presume, by 
 the blessing of heaven, that this severe trial of the forti- 
 tude of the citizens, will never terminate in the surren- 
 der of the liberties of America. 
 
 The port bill, execrable as it is, and unparalleled for 
 its severity, is executed infinitely beyond the rigor of 
 the letter ; a discretionary power to accumulate distress, 
 is evidently betrusted to the executioner of the law ; 
 
160 APPENDIX. 
 
 — but you may rest assured, gentlemen, that we find 
 greater difficulties in repressing the indignation of the 
 people, than in inspiring them with a proper degree of 
 spirit, fortified by the kind assurance of the countenance 
 and assistance of the other colonies, though they bleed 
 at every vein, they will never desert the common in- 
 terest. Much we have to sacrifice, should the present 
 measures be protracted, but in a cause so important, 
 what sacrifice can be too great 1 
 
 "We cannot but applaud the spirit and determined vir- 
 tue of the town of Chester, in their public transactions. 
 A happy concurrence of sentiment and exertion, through- 
 out the continent, at this interesting period, bodes well 
 to the liberties of America. May this darling object 
 forever attract our attention, and success crown the 
 general struggle. 
 
 We shall not fail to communicate such interesting 
 matters, as may be worthy your attention. The smiles 
 and blessings of numerous poor, await your purposed 
 relief. Please to consign whatever you may think pro- 
 per to contribute to their necessities, to John Barrett, 
 Esq., merchant in Boston, who is authorized to dispense 
 your bounty. We shall esteem ourselves honored by 
 your communications, and are, gentlemen, with much 
 esteem, 
 
 Your most obedient humble servants, 
 Samuel Adams, 
 Benjamin Church, Jr. 
 John Sweetser, Jr. 
 
 By order of the Committee, for the town of Boston. 
 
 p. S. To increase the embarrassments of the town 
 of Boston, our provision vessels, which are directed by 
 
APPENDIX. Igl 
 
 the act to take a permit at Marblehead, before they arc 
 suffered to enter this harbor, are now compelled to un- 
 lade there, in pretence of preventing the conveyance of 
 unadmissable goods ;— but in fact, as some of their 
 own officers have declared, to accumulate new dis- 
 tresses on this unhappy town. 
 
 Samuel Adams, Chairman. 
 To the Committee of Correspondence of Chester. 
 
 No. 35. 
 Annapolis, 2Q>th June, 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — The enclosed resolutions, which we 
 are directed to communicate, contain the sense of this 
 province of a union, and general plan of conduct in 
 defence of the liberties of America, in the present 
 dangerous and truly alarming crisis. We feel our- 
 selves happy, in the firm and steady spirit which ani- 
 mates the people of this province, to pursue those 
 means which they judge the most speedy and effectual 
 to prevent the fall of Boston, and the Massachusetts 
 government ; and by such prevention, to save America 
 from destruction. It is our most fervent wish and san- 
 guine hope, that your colony has the same disposition 
 and spirit, and that, by a general congress, such a plan 
 may be struck out, as may effectually accomplish the 
 grand object in view. We are also directed to pro- 
 pose, that the general congress be held at the city of 
 Philadelphia, the twentieth of September next. The 
 limits of our province, and the number of its inhabi- 
 tants, compared with yours, afforded an opportunity of 
 collecting our general sense, before the sentiments of 
 15* 
 
162 APPENDIX. 
 
 your colony could be regularly ascertained, and there- 
 fore, as this province had the first opportunity, it has 
 taken the liberty of making the first proposition. 
 
 We request that you will forward our resolutions 
 and proposition, to the colonies southward of you. If 
 any circumstance unknown to us, should render the 
 time or place inconvenient to your colony, you will 
 oblige us by advising us of it, as soon as possible, and 
 mentioning a time and place more agreeable. We 
 shall be thankful for a speedy communication of every 
 thing you may think of consequence. 
 We are, gentlemen. 
 
 With the utmost respect. 
 
 Your most obedient servants. 
 Signed by the Deputies from Maryland. 
 To the Committee of Correspondence for Virginia. 
 
 No. 36. 
 
 Annapolis, 21th June, 1774. 
 
 Gentlemen, — We have sent you our letters for Penn- 
 sylvania, which enclose those for New Jersey, Rhode 
 Island, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut, Mas- 
 sachusetts, and the three lower counties, and request 
 you will immediately despatch an express to Philadel- 
 phia. We are about closing up our letters for the 
 southward, and we have sent a duplicate of our letter 
 for South Carolina, which contains one to Georgia, 
 for Mr. Purviance to send by the second express to 
 Philadelphia, that some friend of his may take the 
 
APPENDIX. 163 
 
 chance of an early opportunity. We shall, as Boon as 
 we can get copies, send Mr. Purviance duplicates of 
 our letters to the three lower counties. 
 We are, gentlemen. 
 
 Your most obedient servants, 
 
 Tii. Johnson, Jr. 
 Wm. Paca, 
 Samuel Chase. 
 
 We have enclosed, for the three lower counties. 
 To any of the gentlemen of the Committee of Corres- 
 pondence, for Baltimore county. 
 
 No. 37. 
 
 Charles Town, South Carolina, ) 
 Juhj StJi, 1774. i 
 
 Gentlemen, — I am ordered by the most numerous 
 meeting of the inhabitants of this colony, that was ever 
 convened together, since our unhappy differences with 
 the mother country, to transmit you a copy of their 
 resolutions, under the fullest persuasion that you will 
 readily concur in every necessary measure that can be 
 fallen upon for restoring to British America, her just 
 rights and liberties. 
 
 I am, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most humble servant, 
 
 Gr. G. Powell, Chairman. 
 
 To the Committee of Correspondence, for the colony 
 of Maryland, at Baltimore. 
 
164 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 3S. 
 
 Boston, Juhj 16th, 1774, 
 
 Gentlemen, — Yoar important letter of the 27th ult., 
 with the enclosures, came safe to hand, and were re- 
 garded as " good news from a far country." The part 
 taken by the province of Maryland, must henceforth 
 stop the mouths of those blasphemers of humanity, who 
 have affected to question the existence of public vir- 
 tue. So bright an example as you have set, cannot fail 
 to animate and encourage even the lukewarm and in- 
 different, more especially such honest men as wish to 
 be assured of support, before they engage in so weighty 
 an enterprise. The account you give us, of the spirit 
 and magnanimity of the people of Virginia, confirms us 
 in the opinion we have ever had of that ancient colony, 
 of whose disinterested virtue this province has had 
 ample experience. The noble sacrifice you stand ready 
 to make of the staple commodity of your province, so 
 materially affecting the revenue of Great Britain, and 
 your generous interposition in our favor, have our warm- 
 est acknowledgments. So much honor, wisdom, pub- 
 lic and private virtue, so much readiness in every colony 
 to afford every species of aid and assistance, that the 
 suffering state requires, must convince the venal herd, 
 that notwithstanding they may be utterly unacquaint- 
 ed with the meaning of the word patriotism, it has, 
 however, a substantial existence in North America. 
 
 With the smiles of all governing providence, upon 
 the vigorous efforts of our inestimable brethren at home 
 and abroad, we promise ourselves a final deliverance 
 from the calamities we are now subjected to, and which 
 
APrENDIX. 165 
 
 for our own, our country, and posterity's political sal- 
 vation, we resolve, by God's assistance, to sustain with 
 fortitude and patience. We are, gentlemen, your friends 
 and fellow countrymen, 
 
 Signed per order, 
 
 William Cooper, Clerk. 
 To Samuel Purviance and others, of the Committee 
 of Correspondence at Baltimore. 
 
 No. 39. 
 Tliiladeljpliia, July 25t7i, 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — As Messrs. Dickinson and Read are 
 both out of town, I am directed to inform you, that our 
 assembly met last week, and appointed deputies to at- 
 tend the congress. 
 
 I have likewise the honor to enclose you the resolves 
 and instructions drawn up by the provincial committee, 
 by which you will see the sense of this province. 
 I am, gentlemen, 
 
 Your humble servant, 
 
 Charles Thomson. 
 To Mr. Samuel Purviance, for the Committee at Bal- 
 timore. 
 
 No. 40. 
 
 Nojfolk, August 3d, 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — I am directed by the committee of cor- 
 respondence to transmit you the enclosed association and 
 instructions, the result of a week's most studious delib- 
 eration at Williamsburg. The delegates appointed and 
 
166 APPENDIX. 
 
 instructed by almost every county in this extensive 
 colony, met in convention, with a great variety of dif- 
 ferent opinions with respect to the mode of redress, 
 although all agreed as to the oppressive and dangerous 
 right claimed by parliament, of taxing and punishing us 
 at their arbitrary pleasure. They all united, however, 
 in the enclosed association, which is subscribed and 
 adopted by the good people of this colony, with that 
 readiness that manifests the zeal of the planters in the 
 cause, for upon them we chiefly depend with respect to 
 the stoppage of tobacco. The merchants that are na- 
 tives are unanimous on this, and of those that are not, 
 all that are married and fixed among us are enemies 
 to the power claimed by parliament of taxing us, and 
 we doubt not will act agreeably to the general associa- 
 tion of this colony, and the measures that may be adopt- 
 ed by the congress. We hope the conditional non- 
 exportation agreement adopted by us will prove agree- 
 able to the patriotic gentlemen of your province, as we 
 have reason to believe a non-importation agreement will 
 prove effectual. It was thought better to hang out the 
 other in terrorem, and after our planters had made what 
 profit they could of the crops they had raised, that they 
 might be encouraged to turn their force to some 
 other article of produce, and deprive the exchequer of 
 that immense revenue it received from that article. 
 The several counties in this colony are liberally contri- 
 buting to the relief and support of the people of Bos- 
 ton, who are esteemed worthy sufferers in this grand 
 cause of all America. As to North Carolina, I am in- 
 formed by a gentleman of veracity, just arrived from 
 
appe;vdix. ^Qy 
 
 Bute county in that province, that expresses had been 
 despatched through all the colony, desiring each county 
 to send two delegates to a convention to be lield at 
 Johnson court house, which they thought was the most 
 central place in the province. There seems to be a 
 greater spirit of unanimity on this occasion than on any 
 other that ever engrossed the thoughts of the people of 
 this colony, and we hope the whole continent will be as 
 one man in this glorious opposition. 
 
 I have the honor to be, gentlemen. 
 
 Your most ob't humble serv't, 
 
 William Davies. 
 ^ To Samuel Purviance and others, committee at Balti- 
 more. 
 
 No. 41. 
 Williamsburg, August 4, 1774. 
 
 Grentlemen, — Delegates from the different counties in 
 this colony composed of the representatives of this 
 people, met in this city on Monday last, to consider and 
 deliberate on the present critical and alarming situation 
 of the British American colonies. 
 
 As these matters are still the subjects of their delib- 
 eration, we cannot at present make you so fully ac- 
 quainted with their determinations as we could wisli. 
 The expediency and necessity, however, of a general 
 congress of deputies from the different colonies was so 
 obvious, that the meeting have already come to the re- 
 solutions respecting it, which we now take the liberty 
 to inclose you, and of which they have directed us to 
 give you the earliest intelligence. 
 
168 APPENDIX. 
 
 We request the favor of you to forward our letter to 
 Philadelphia, and are with great respect, gentlemen, 
 Your most obedient humble servants, 
 
 Peyton Randolph, 
 Robert C.Nicholas, 
 Dudley Digges. 
 To the Committee of Correspondence of Maryland. 
 
 Virginia, Monday the first day of August, in the year 
 of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy- 
 four. 
 
 At a general meeting of delegates from the different 
 counties in this colony convened in the city of Wil- 
 liamsburg, to take under their consideration the pre- 
 sent critical and alarming situation of the continent of 
 North America : 
 
 The Honorable Peyton Randolph, Esq. in the chair. 
 
 The moderator recommended it to the meeting to 
 proceed with that prudence, decency and order which 
 the importance of the several matters that would come 
 under their consideration required, and laid before them 
 sundry letters and papers received by the committee of 
 correspondence from the different colonies, which being 
 read. 
 
 It was unanimously resolved, that it is the opinion of 
 this meeting that it will be highly conducive to the 
 security and happiness of the British Empire, that a 
 general congress of deputies from all the colonies as- 
 semble, as quickly as the nature of their situations will 
 admit, to consider of the most proper and effectual man- 
 ner of so operating on the commercial connexion of the 
 colonies with the mother country, as to procure redress 
 
APPENDIX. iQg 
 
 for the much injured province of Massachusetts Bay ; 
 to secure British America from the ravage and ruin of 
 arbitrary taxes, and speedily as possible to procure the 
 return of that harmony and union so beneficial to the 
 whole empire, and so ardently desired by all British 
 America. 
 
 And then the meeting adjourned till to-morrow morn- 
 ing, nine o'clock. 
 
 Tuesday, August 2, 1774. 
 
 The delegates having met according to adjournment, 
 resumed the consideration of the several important mat- 
 ters laid before them, and having spent the day therein, 
 postponed the further consideration and discussion 
 thereof till to-morrow. And then the meeting adjourn- 
 ed till to-morrow, nine o'clock. 
 
 Resolved, That the honorable Peyton Randolph, 
 Esq., Richard Henry Lee, George Washington, Pat- 
 rick Henry, Richard Bland, Benjamin Harrison, and 
 Edmund Pendleton, Esqs. be appointed deputies on the 
 part of this colony, to meet the deputies appointed or 
 to be appointed by the other colonies in general con- 
 gress, and that they do repair to the city of Philadel- 
 phia, on Monday the fifth of next month, for the pur- 
 poses aforesaid. 
 
 No. 42. 
 Balti?nore, August 4, 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — By order of the committee of corres- 
 pondence for this town, we have shipped on board the 
 
 16 
 
170 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 sloop America, Perkins Allen, master, 3000 bushels of 
 corn, 20 barrels of rye flour, 2 barrels of pork, and 21 
 barrels of bread, for the relief of our brethren, the 
 distressed inhabitants of your town, being in virtue of 
 subscriptions raised by the inhabitants of Baltimore 
 town on that account. In the bill of lading for said 
 articles, are also included 1000 bushels of corn, which 
 we have purchased and shipped for the same account, 
 on the strength of a subscription now making by the 
 inhabitants of Annapolis, which a gentleman of their 
 committee has assured us should be paid to us when 
 their collection is made. As there was spare room in 
 the vessel we were glad of an opportunity of forward- 
 ing to you a part of their benevolent intentions. "We 
 flatter ourselves the good people of this province, wl^o 
 have in general discovered a hearty disposition to sym- 
 pathize in your grievances, will generously contribute 
 according to their abilities, to maintain and support 
 every sufferer in your and their own common cause. 
 If we can be the least instrumental in furthering any 
 contributions made in favor of your inhabitants, it will 
 give us the most sincere pleasure, and some opportunity 
 of exercising the grateful sense of many obligations 
 M-'hich, as individuals, we are under, to many good 
 people of your province. 
 
 We are with the highest respect, gentlemen, 
 Your most humble servants, 
 
 Samuel and Robert Purviance. 
 
 To the Committee of Correspondence for the town 
 of Boston. 
 
• APPENDIX. 17j 
 
 No. 43. 
 
 Williamsburg^ August 5, 1774. 
 
 Sir, — As the resolves of all the colonies which had 
 come to hand in this meeting, adopted your appoint- 
 ment of Philadelphia as the place to hold the congress 
 in; as the first of September or thereabouts hath been 
 fixed upon by all of them (except your province) as a 
 fit time ; and as the time is now so near at hand as to 
 render it difficult, if practicable, to change it, without 
 putting too much to the hazard ; it was resolved here 
 to abide by tlie general choice of Philadelphia, though 
 judged an improper place, and to fix upon the 5th of 
 September, (as the South Carolinians have done) for the 
 time. 
 
 Those measures or appointments were more the 
 effects of a seeming necessity than choice ; and entered 
 into by us to prevent any disappointment or confusion 
 which might arise from a change of them, being finally 
 agreed to, after Lancaster and the 15th of September, 
 were the time and place first chosen. 
 
 For the resolutions of, and proceedings in our meet- 
 ing, I refer you to the letter wrote by our committee 
 of correspondence to that of yours. We never before 
 had so full a meeting of delegates at any one time, as 
 upon the present occasion. I shall not add, being a 
 good deal hurried, but with esteem remain, sir. 
 Your most ob't humble servant, 
 
 Geo. Washington. 
 
 To Thos. Johnson, Jr. Esq., Annapolis. 
 
172 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 44. 
 
 Annapolis, August 10, 1774. 
 Sir, — The inclosed copies will show you the pro- 
 ceedings in Virginia. The letter from Col. Washing- 
 ton to Mr. Johnson, you will perceive, was not design- 
 ed for public view. We are sorry that the meeting is 
 to be so early as the 5th of September, but perhaps it 
 will be better then, and at Philadelphia, than to run the 
 risk of a new appointment. 
 
 The letter to Mr. Thompson, we suppose, contains 
 duplicates of what was sent to us, and we imagine the 
 pass will be a sufficient conveyance, without sending an 
 express. Mr. Paca is not in town, but our letter con- 
 tains a concurrence to the time and place. 
 
 We are, sir, your most ob't servants, 
 
 Thos. JoHxNson, Jr. 
 Samuel Chase. 
 To Samuel Purviance, Esq. chairman of the commit- 
 tee of correspondence, Baltimore. 
 
 No. 45. 
 
 Baltimore, ScjH, 2St7i, 1774. 
 
 Gentlemen, — We have received information of 30 
 chests of tea being shipped on board a ship chartered 
 by Messrs. William Kelly & Co. of London, and bound 
 for this province, and on enquiry we have learnt that a 
 ship called the Generous Friends, Capt. Nailor, sailed 
 from London the latter end of July, with goods on 
 board from that house, bound to Maryland. We there- 
 fore give you the earliest notice, that you may be pre- 
 
APPENDIX. J yg 
 
 pared how to act on the occasion. We are of opinion 
 that if the entry at the custom house can be prevented, 
 and the tea sent back, it would be the best mode of 
 proceeding, but this we submit to your better judg- 
 ment, not doubting that you will pursue such measures 
 as will best contribute to preserve the liberties of 
 America. 
 
 We are very respectfully, gentlemen. 
 
 Your friends and servants, 
 
 Samuel Purviance, Jr. 
 William Lux, 
 In behalf of the committee. 
 To the committees of Chester and Annapolis. 
 
 No. 46. 
 Oxford, October 20th, 1774. 
 Gentlemen, — We are appointed by the committees of 
 Talbot and Dorchester counties to address to your care 
 some corn and rye collected for the support of the suf- 
 fering poor of Boston. Our being disappointed in send- 
 ing it by a ready conveyance from our place, has occa- 
 sioned our ordering it to your care ; especially as we 
 have been well advised Mr. Purviance has been kind 
 enough to offer storage and assistance in those cases. 
 Should he have an}^ vessel to accept the frelglit we 
 would be glad, otherwise we understand Mr. Mark 
 Alexander has offered to have it sent to them. By 
 some of these conveyances we hope it will be as 
 speedily conveyed as possible ; and as to the freight, 
 we must rely on your having it on as good terms as you 
 16* 
 
174 APPENDIX. 
 
 can, and the amount shall either be transmitted to Bal- 
 timore for the person undertaking to carry, or paid by 
 the order of your committee here, to whomsoever it 
 shall be directed. 
 
 We are, gentlemen, with great esteem. 
 
 Your very humble servants, 
 James Murray, 
 Charles Crookshanks. 
 
 To the gentlemen of the Committee of Baltimore 
 county. 
 
 No. 47. 
 Harford County y December ^ 1774. 
 
 Gentlemen, — Mr. Joseph McGoffin, has lately sold 
 a cask of tea, to Mr. William Young of Harford town, 
 and given a certificate under his hand, that the same 
 had never paid any duty whatever. It was likewise 
 attested, that he was a man of exceeding good charac- 
 ter ; upon which the committee of this county were of 
 opinion, that Mr. Young might be permitted to vend 
 the same, as being consistent with the resolves of the 
 continental congress. 
 
 A quarter chest of tea, sold by the same gentleman, 
 to Mr. Robert Tremble, has been carried to Joppa, 
 and there seized by order of the committee, who have 
 had Mr. Tremble up before them, and he informs them 
 that he does not know whether a duty has been paid 
 or not on it, but is to give further information and satis- 
 faction on the subject, at a future day. 
 
APPENDIX. 175 
 
 As we cannot search so deeply into this affair, with- 
 out your assistance, the merchant being in your juris- 
 diction ; should be glad you would enquire into the affair, 
 and give us such light into it, as you can come at, that 
 the public may be served agreeable to the trust repos- 
 ed in us. 
 
 We are, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most humble servants, 
 Jo. Mathews, Wm. Smitiison, 
 
 Aquila Hall, John Taylor, 
 
 Benjamin Rumsey, George Bradford, 
 
 Wm. Webb, Thos. Johnson. 
 
 To the gentlemen of the Committee of Baltimore 
 county. 
 
 December 7th, 1774, answered, and a certificate en- 
 closed. 
 
 Attest, 
 
 John Boyd, Clerk. 
 
 No. 48. 
 Frederick Toum, 21st October, 1774. 
 
 Gentlemen, — As we have every day different ac- 
 counts of your proceedings relative to teas, which have 
 been lately imported, we think it necessary to apply 
 to you for information, that we may know how to act 
 with regard to the tea brought to this place. We have 
 lately taken aw^ay from a Mr. Ferguson of this place, 
 a chest of tea weighing 360 gross, and have stored it 
 till he produces a certificate of its not having paid duty. 
 Indeed it has been proposed at our last meeting, to 
 store every pound of tea in the possession of the mer- 
 
176 APPENDIX. 
 
 chants, effectually to prevent every possibility of dutied 
 tea from being sold -amongst us. And that measure is 
 only delayed till we hear from you, whether you 
 would advise it, or what more effectual method you 
 have fallen on to prevent the mischief. 
 We are, gentlemen, 
 
 Your very humble servants, 
 Signed per order of the Committee, 
 
 Archibald Boyd, Clerk. 
 To the gentlemen of the Committee of Correspon- 
 dence for Baltimore county, Baltimore town. 
 
 Baltimore, May 2Uk, 1774. 
 
 To the gentlemen of Norfolk and Portsmouth, — On 
 Tuesday last, we received by express from a com- 
 mittee of correspondence, lately appointed at Phila- 
 delphia a number of papers, whereof we take the 
 liberty of enclosing you copies, in order to give you the 
 earliest advice in a matter wherein we conceive we not 
 only on our own, but yours and the general interest 
 of every American, is most seriously concerned, by 
 the late severe parliamentary edict, issued against the 
 town of Boston, a measure so violent, that we presume 
 no man who values liberty or property can, with in- 
 difference, behold a sister colony so cruelly treated for 
 their spirited zeal in the common cause of American 
 rights. 
 
 On the receipt of the papers referred, a meeting of 
 the inhabitants of this town was immediately called, 
 and the papers read to them, in order to collect the 
 general sense, as well as we could, in so little time, 
 
APPENDIX. 177 
 
 what measures we ought to take. A committee of 12 
 persons were chosen, whereof you have the names an- 
 nexed, in order to correspond with sucli committees as 
 may be appointed in any part of our own, or the 
 neighboring colonies, and to endeavor by every rea- 
 sonable means in our power, to promote in a peace- 
 able, decent, and regular manner, such measures as 
 may be judged most expedient to obtain relief for our 
 brethren of Boston, now suffering for the common cause 
 of America. Though we understand the gentlemen 
 of Philadelphia have ordered the express, as far as 
 Williamsburg, with copies of these papers, yet we 
 think it a matter of the highest importance, that all the 
 commercial towns should harmonise in sentiments on 
 so important an occasion, and therefore doubt not your 
 accepting, in a favorable manner, this early communica- 
 tion of our intentions. 
 
 It has been proposed to collect, as early as possible, 
 the general opinion whether we ought not to apply to 
 the governor to convene the assembly, which, if judg- 
 ed best, we hope may be granted, if his hands are not 
 tied up by ministerial mandates. In the meantime, 
 we have written to the gentlemen at Annapolis, to take 
 their sense of such a measure. 
 
 We flatter ourselves with great hopes from the well 
 known spirit and zeal of the gentlemen of your provmce, 
 one of the most ancient, extensive and prosperous m 
 America, and hitherto foremost in the assertion of 
 American rights, that they will not desert the cause of 
 a province and town, famed like tliemselves, for a 
 generous regard to the rights of their fellow subjects. 
 
 If we can but for a moment, only consider the dan- 
 
178 APPENDIX. 
 
 gerous tendency of the Boston port bill, as it may affect 
 the commercial towns on this extensive continent, and 
 the dreadful power with which it invests the crown, of 
 immediately annihilating millions of property, vested 
 in wharves and stores, we cannot but tremble for a 
 measure, which, if enforced against any one town may, 
 and most certainly will be, extended to all. 
 
 "We shall take the liberty to advise you, if any thing 
 new yet may occur on this subject, and shall at all 
 times be glad to know your sentiments on this, or any 
 other similar matter. 
 
 We are, with the greatest respect. 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 Your most humble servants. 
 
 Signed in behalf of the Committee, 
 
 Samuel Purviance, Jr. John Moale, 
 
 John Smith, Wm. Smith. 
 
 Wm. Buchanan, 
 
 To Dr. James Taylor, Messrs. Matthew Phrip, John 
 Goodrich, Thomas Newton, Jr., and all others, the 
 principal gentlemen of Norfolk and Portsmouth. 
 
 London, I2th April, 1775. 
 
 To the General Committee of Correspondence of 
 Baltimore, in Maryland, — Sir, the committee of West 
 India planters and merchants of the city of London, 
 having applied to us to dispose in the province of Mary- 
 land of some copies of the evidence produced by them, 
 at the bar of the house of Commons ; we, at their de- 
 
APPENDIX. 179 
 
 Bire, and in their name, do request your acceptance of 
 the enclosed pamphlet. 
 
 We are, with the greatest respect, sir, 
 
 Your most obedient humble servants, 
 
 Wm. & R. MOLLESON. 
 
 To the Chairman of the Committee of Baltimore 
 county, Maryland. 
 
 Annapolis, March 26tJi, 1775. 
 Gentlemen, — Your letter of the 23d inst. we received 
 yesterday, and we take this opportunity of thanking 
 you for the communication of the extracts of the pro- 
 ceedings of your committee. These extracts shall be 
 sent early to-morrow to the press, and we doubt not, 
 of their being inserted in the next Maryland Gazette. 
 We agree with you in opinion, that it may promote the 
 public cause, if the committee of each county pass a 
 vote of approving the conduct of the New York Com- 
 mittee. We shall use our endeavors to obtain a vote to 
 that effect, at the next meeting of the committee for 
 this county. At this critical juncture, a firm union of 
 the colonies, and a rigid adherence to the continental 
 a^fesociation, we deem, under God, the most effectual 
 means of preserving our liberties ; every means, there- 
 fore, of tending to disunite the colonies, and to sow 
 groundless jealousies between them, ought to be strictly 
 guarded against. Invidious calumnies have been dili- 
 gently propagated by the enemies of American liberty, 
 to create distrust, to blind the people, and to seduce 
 them from a steady pursuit of their true interests. 
 Happily, such execrable designs have hitherto failed, 
 
ISO APPENDIX. 
 
 and a speedy detection of the lie of tlie day, has serv- 
 ed only to confound and stigmatize the secret contri- 
 vers and abettors of those transitory falsehoods ; to 
 men of that stamp, public infamy is no punishment ; 
 the greatest they can suffer, arises from the failure of 
 their schemes; and built on fallacy and deception, they 
 must ever fail. But there are other practices more 
 dangerous to American rights, than those just mention- 
 ed, because they may originate from, at least, receive 
 the sanction of men in public stations of the highest 
 trust. The administration of justice may be made sub- 
 servient to state policy, and gentlemen of unexception- 
 able character, of independent spirit and firmness, may 
 be removed from ofRce, to make room for persons of 
 more compliant temper, and of more courtly principles. 
 We are, gentlemen, with due regard. 
 
 Your most obedient and humble servants, 
 Charles Carroll, Thomas Johnson, Jr. 
 Charles Carroll of Carrollton, 
 J. Hall, Samuel Chase. 
 
 To the Committee of Baltimore county. 
 
 Baltimore, July 21st, 1775. • 
 Gentlemen, — In the month of December last, you 
 were kind enough to permit my landing a quantity of 
 mdze. from on board the Snow Potomac, which mdze. 
 still remains in store, under your direction, and I would 
 beg leave to remark, that I do not deem it safe in it8 
 present situation, as it is exposed to the mercy of any 
 king's cruiser, that may be ordered this way. Yester- 
 day's post brought me a letter from one of the pro- 
 
APPENDIX. 181 
 
 prietors, requesting I would, with your permission, re- 
 move a part of it to the head of Elk, there to be stored 
 till the times were more favorable for the disposal 
 ^hereof. I request your indulgence in this matter, 
 under such restrictions as you may deem reasonable, 
 and also, that you will be pleased to allow me to distri- 
 bute remainder in such parts of the town as you may 
 deem most eligible for its safety ; the sooner you take 
 this matter into consideration the better, for every day 
 increases the danger it is subject to. 
 I am, very respectfully, 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 David Stewart. 
 
 Committee for Baltimore county. 
 
 Alexandria, June 25th, 1775. 
 
 Gentlemen,— -Your obliging favor was handed to us 
 very early this morning, by Capt. Hendrick, and hold- 
 ing the measure recommended by you to be highly 
 necessary and expedient, we repaired to the office, 
 examined the mail, and found such a packet as you 
 mention. The contents were examined, and did not 
 prove very important; consisting of sundry copies of 
 Gen. Burgoyne's speech ; the act for restraining the 
 trade of the colonies, and two letters from Lord Dart- 
 mouth, confirming only the report of the high and ab- 
 solute power vested in his majesty's general officers in 
 the American service. The powers are not defined, 
 
 17 
 
] 82 APPENDIX. 
 
 but to us it appears they have a right to do as they 
 please with us. 
 
 We are, gentlemen, 
 
 With great esteem and regard. 
 
 Your most obedient servants, 
 John Dalton, James Hendricks, 
 
 Robert H. Harrison, John Muir. 
 George Gilpin, 
 To Samuel Purviance, Robert Alexander, and John 
 Boyd, Esqrs., in Baltimore. 
 
 In Provincial Conveniiony ) 
 Annapolis, Wi August, 1775. f 
 
 Resolved, That this convention will replace any 
 arms, or powder, or lead, that may be delivered to the 
 order of Messrs. Samuel Purviance, William Smith, 
 and David Stewart, or any two of them, by the peo- 
 ple of Bermuda, or will pay the just and full value 
 thereof at farthest, as soon as America shall be in a 
 settled state. 
 
 G. DuvALL, Clerk. 
 
 No. 49. 
 
 Philadelphia, January 29, 1776. 
 
 Dear Sir, — I received your favor of the 20th, inform- 
 ins: me of Mr. Lux's resin:natlon. The marine commit. 
 tee met the next day after your letter got here, a ma- 
 jority of whom were of opinion that a letter should be 
 wrote to Mr. Lux, to request him to act in his appoint- 
 ment, and Mr. Morris was requested to write in behalf 
 
APPENDIX. 133 
 
 of the committee to him on that subject ; they were 
 also of opinion, in case Mr. Lux should refuse, that 
 the business should go on under the direction of your- 
 self, Mr. Chase and Mr. Stewart. I should have been 
 very glad to have had your brother put on that service 
 in Mr. Lux's room, but the committee in general 
 thought it unnecessary to add another, seeing two good 
 men had agreed to join Mr. Chase in the service ; as 
 Mr. Chase is entirely unacquainted with ship building, I 
 do not expect you will be much assisted by him. I 
 wish you had been mentioned at first on this business, 
 that no time might have been lost ; however, I make 
 no doubt but that you will have your ship ready before 
 some of those that are building to the northward. I 
 shall be glad to have a line from you when any thing 
 occurs, and am with compliments to your brother. 
 Dear sir, your most ob't humble serv't, 
 
 Joseph Hewes. 
 To Samuel Purviance, Jr. Esq., Baltimore. 
 
 No. 50. 
 
 In Committee of Safety, ) 
 
 New York, FeVy 4, 1776. ] 
 
 Gentlemen, — We think it our duty to inform the con- 
 tinental congress, through you, tbat General Clinton of 
 the ministerial troops, and one transport are this day 
 arrived here, but we do not know that she contains any 
 troops. That the Mercury ship of war is near Staten 
 Island, coming into port. 
 
184 APPENDIX. 
 
 We are well informed that those vessels left Boston 
 not more than fourteen days ago. 
 
 The Mayor has this evening declared to us, that he 
 was then come from Governor Tryon, and is authorised 
 by the Governor to assure the inhabitants that no troops 
 are coming here; that General Clinton was present, and 
 said that no troops are coming here. That Governor 
 Tryon further told that General Clinton had only called 
 to pay him a short visit — that if any transport with 
 troops should by accident or stress of weather put in 
 here, they are not intended to remain here. 
 
 We do not rely on this information, but if it be true, 
 we conceive that the most natural conclusion is, that he 
 is going to the southward. 
 
 Major General Lee is arrived here this day, ill with 
 the gout, and has sent over for Lord Sterling's regi- 
 ment. 
 
 We are most respectfully, gentlemen, &c. 
 By order, 
 
 Jos. Hall, Chairman, 
 of the Committee of Safety of New York. 
 
 To the New York Delegates in Congress. 
 
 The above letter was sent by Mr. Chase from con- 
 gress, to the Baltimore committee of correspondence. 
 
 No. 5L 
 
 Otter Sloop, CJiesapcaJce Bay, March 8, 1776. 
 Sir, — I have just now received yours of this date, 
 and have by Mr. Eddis, sent some pamphlets I receiv- 
 ed for you. My intention on my return was to have 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 185 
 
 called at Annapolis, and sent them on shore by a flag of 
 truce, as well as to purchase fresh provisions. 1 am 
 sorry to find by your letter that the people of Anna- 
 polis should be under any apprehensions from tlieir 
 town being burnt or beat down. I must beg leave to 
 assure you nothing of that kind will happen from me. 
 I am on a cruize here in order to procure fresh provi- 
 sions for the king's ships, and whenever I can be sup- 
 plied with it, shall most readily pay the market price. 
 I expect being at Annapolis in a few days. 
 I have the honor to be, sir, 
 
 Your most ob't humble serv't, 
 
 M. Squire. 
 To his Excellency Robert Eden, Esq., Governor of 
 Maryland. 
 
 No. 52. 
 York Toxvuy March 10, 1776. 
 
 Gentlemen, — This moment we received Mr. Alexan- 
 der Donaldson's letter of the 9th inst. At the time of 
 writing our former letter to him it was uncertain, from 
 the intelligence, what force might be sent against Balti- 
 more, and judged it would be proper for this county 
 to have in readiness detachments from the several 
 militia battalions, to the amount of five hundred men. 
 
 We are glad to hear that it is only the buccaneer 
 Squire that payed you a visit, of whom we hope to hear 
 Capt. Nicholson will give a good account. But as a 
 greater force may be sent to harass you in revenge for 
 
 17* 
 
186 APPENDIX. 
 
 Capt. Squire's bad success ; in pursuance of the desire 
 of your committee, communicated to us by Mr. Don- 
 aldson, our committee resolved instantly to raise a good 
 rifle company, to be ready to march on an hour's warn- 
 ing to your province, in case you should judge it ne- 
 cessary, and signify the same to our committee. 
 
 The oflicers chosen are, Joseph Donaldson, captain ; 
 William Rankin, first Lieutenant; John Kean, second 
 Lieutenant ; Wm. Baillie, third Lieutenant, and Jacob 
 Hottzinger, fourth Lieutenant ; and none are to be ad- 
 mitted but expert riflemen. 
 
 By order of the committee, 
 
 Jas. Smith, Chairman. 
 
 To the Committee of Inspection, Baltimore. 
 
 No. 53. 
 
 Baltimore, March 12, 1776. 
 
 Gentlemen, — We have just now received your ac- 
 ceptable favor of the 10th, per Mr. Donaldson, and re- 
 turn you our warmest thanks for your ready offers of 
 succour in defending us from the incursions of Captain 
 Squire, who after taking many prizes at the mouth of 
 our river, was obliged to relinquish the most valuable 
 on the appearance of the gallant Capt. Nicholson, of 
 the ship Defence, who has first had the honor of dis- 
 playing the continental colors to a British man of war 
 without a return. 
 
 The county of York have always stood in the fore- 
 most rank for zeal and attachment in the glorious cause 
 of liberty, and this committee would do them an injury 
 
APPENDIX. iQ-j 
 
 in refusing the rifle company to march at the first notice; 
 they cheerfully then accept the generous offer, and 
 will on any appearance of danger, inform tliem by ex- 
 press. 
 
 By order of the committee, 
 
 Wm. Lux, Djj. Chairman. 
 To the Committee of York. 
 
 No. 54. 
 Frederick Tow?i, March 10, 1776. 
 Gentlemen, — From advices received, we are appre- 
 hensive that before this time you must have had an at- 
 tack from the ships of war belonging to the ministerial 
 troops; our anxiety and feelings for the sufferings of 
 our distressed brethren are almost beyond expression ; 
 we have, therefore, despatched an express to know 
 whether you would wish the assistance of a battalion 
 from the middle district of this county. If you should, 
 and will procure an order for one from the council of 
 safety, we are of opinion that out of the three battalions 
 which we have the honor to command, one might be 
 soon exceedingly well equipped with good arms, 
 (bayonets excepted) fit for the field. We hope to have 
 a full state of your situation by the return of the ex- 
 press, which we expect as soon as possible. 
 We are gentlemen, with great regard, 
 
 Your sincere friends, 
 C. Beatty, 
 Jas. Johnson, 
 B. Johnson. 
 To the Committee of Correspondence for Baltimore 
 town. 
 
188 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 55. 
 Baltimore, MarcJi 12, 1776. 
 
 Sirs, — The committee of Baltimore county beg leave 
 to return you and the officers and men of your battalion, 
 their thanks, for the alacrity shewn in marching down 
 to the assistance of Baltimore town, on the late alarm- 
 ing attempt of Capt. Squire in the Otter sloop of war. 
 It is owing to you, sirs, with your worthy officers and 
 battalion, together with the other gentlemen of the 
 militia, and the gallant Capt. Nicholson, with his officers 
 and men, that we are preserved from the threatened 
 danger, and knowing your attachment to the noble 
 cause of liberty, we shall with confidence rely on your 
 succour when any further hostile attempts are made. 
 I am, sir, your most ob't servant, 
 
 Per order of the committee, 
 
 William Lux, Dp. Chairman. 
 
 To Cols. Hall and Rumsey, Harford county. 
 
 No. 56. 
 
 Antietc?n Furnace, 10th March, 1776. 
 
 Sir, — Mr. B. Johnson enclosed me your letter to Mr. 
 Beatty and himself. It gives me very great concern 
 to hear of your being in so much danger in Baltimore, 
 and my not having it in my power to send so many 
 guns as I expected. I have sent one yesterday, and 
 three go to-day, wliich have stood the proof of 7^ lbs. 
 powder, two balls and two wads at first, and 6 lbs, pow- 
 der, two balls and two wads the second time. I am 
 
APPENDIX. 1S9 
 
 convinced, they will do for service, and as you are bo 
 much in want of these, I have thought it best to send 
 them down without being passed by the proper person. 
 I shall continue to send as many as will stand tliis 
 proof, and as fast as \Ye can finish them. The powder 
 we have used, is several degrees stronger than cannon 
 powder; this will hereafter be considered. Themis- 
 carriage of the first proof put us at least a week back 
 in our business, but we have recovered our spirits, and 
 are determined to push with redoubled vigor. Should 
 you refuse to take the guns I send down, I sliall ex- 
 pect an express ; otherwise, shall send all I can. 
 I am, your very humble servant, 
 
 S. Hughes. 
 To Samuel Purviance, Baltimore. 
 
 No. 57. 
 Philadelphia, February 21th, 1776. 
 Gentlemen, — We take the earliest opportunity to 
 send you the enclosed resolution of congress, and to re- 
 quest your immediate attention thereto, and that you 
 will inform us of the number and circumstances of the 
 permits which have been granted, and the destination 
 of the vessels for exporting the produce of the colonies, 
 in consequence of the importation of ammunition and 
 warlike stores. We are appointed to make enquiry 
 into this subject. 
 
 We are, gentlemen, 
 
 Your obedient servants, 
 
 DuANE, Livingston, 
 
 Samuel Chase, Geof.ge Wvthe. 
 
 James Wilson, 
 To the Committee of observation for Baltimore town. 
 
190 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 58. 
 PhiladclpJiia, 21th May, 1776. 
 
 Dear Sir, — I received your account of the re-taking 
 Hudson's ship, and the flight of the enemy with great 
 pleasure. I hope you will make wise use of the oppor- 
 tunity to render the avenues to your flourishing town, 
 inaccessible to the enemy. I think you have the 
 means of doing this most effectually, and sure it ought 
 not to be neglected. I suppose the Defence and her 
 tender, will now be employed in keeping your bay 
 coast, as far as Potomac, clear of sloops and tenders 
 from our enemies. I am sure Capt. Squires will not 
 interrupt your trade, so long as he knows Capt. Nich- 
 olson is with you ; and as for larger ships, if they should 
 come, which is not very probable, it will be no difficult 
 matter to get out of their way, by retiring to shallow 
 water. I expect this will be delivered you by General 
 Lee, who is on his way to his southern command. I 
 am in no doubt of the worthy general meeting with 
 those civilities from you, that prove so agreeable to 
 every body else. It is of great importance that Gene- 
 ral Lee should quickly get to the place of his destina- 
 tion, and therefore, if he should want either horses or 
 guides for this purpose, I know your patriotic commit- 
 tee will furnish them. I need not trouble you with 
 news, as the general can give you any that prevails here. 
 I am, with much esteem, sir. 
 
 Your obliged and obedient servant, 
 
 Richard Henry Lee. 
 
 To Samuel Purviance, Jr., Esq., Chairman of the 
 Committee of Baltimore, favored by General Lee. 
 
APPEiNDIX. 191 
 
 No. 59. 
 
 Joppa, April QtiJi, 1776. 
 Sir, — I have communicated your letter to the eighth 
 battalion, who are much pleased that their conduct on 
 the late alarm, occasioned by the Otter, has met with 
 the approbation of so truly respectable a body as the 
 committee of Baltimore county. 
 
 That battalion, sir, esteem it but their duty to march 
 to the assistance of any part of this province when at- 
 tacked, or in danger of it. But they march with greater 
 alacrity to your assistance, from the pleasing memory 
 of former connexions, and a sense of the value and im- 
 portance of Baltimore town to the province in general. 
 You may, from the known and firm attachment of the 
 battalion to the cause of liberty, rest assured that you 
 will most certainly receive their succour, to repel all 
 hostile attempts on it. 
 
 I am, sir, 
 
 Your most humble servant, 
 
 Benjamin Rumsey. 
 Mr. Wm Lux, deputy chairman of the Committee of 
 Baltimore county. 
 
 No. 60. 
 
 In Committee, Baltiinore, lith, April, 177G, ) 
 10 o'clock, P. M. ) 
 
 Honorable Sir, 
 
 The enclosed copies of letters were just now receiv- 
 ed by our committee, by express from the council of 
 safety of Virginia, with desire that they might be for- 
 warded to you instantly. Indeed, they contain matter, 
 
192 APPENDIX. 
 
 we think, of too much importance, to have been delay- 
 ed a moment. In consequence whereof, we have pre- 
 vailed on our commanding officer here, to appoint 
 Mr. David Plunket, a lieutenant, in whose prudence 
 and industry we can rely, to wait on you with this ; and 
 if your honorable body should think it necessary to take 
 any steps, or give any instruction to the council of safety 
 on the occasion, he will wait your commands. 
 We have the honor to be, 
 
 With the greatest respect, honorable sir, 
 Your most obedient servants, 
 Samuel Purviance, Jr., Chairma7iy 
 Wm. Lux, Vice Chairman, John Smith, 
 James Calhoun, Wm. Buchanan, 
 
 Thomas Harrison, John Boyd, 
 
 Benj. Nicholson, John Sterett. 
 
 The honorable John Hancock, Esq., president of the 
 congress, Philadelphia. 
 
 No. 61. 
 PhiladclpJiia, Ajml lQ,t7i, 1776. 
 Gentlemen, — I received, and immediately communi- 
 cated to congress, your letter of the 14th, with the im- 
 portant papers enclosed. In consequence of which 
 the congress have resolved, that the person and papers 
 of Governor Eden be immediately seized by the com- 
 mittee of safety, to whom I write by this opportunity. 
 The person mentioned in the enclosed resolution, (Mr. 
 Alexander Ross,) is represented as a dangerous par- 
 tizan of administration, who has lately been with Lord 
 
f 
 
 APPENDIX. 1Q3 
 
 Dunmore, and It is suggested, is on his way to the In- 
 dian country, to execute the execrable designs of our 
 enemies. I have no doubt, but you will exert your ut- 
 most endeavors in seizing and securing him. 
 I am, with respect, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 John Hancock, President. 
 You will please not to make public mention of the 
 resolution respecting Governor Eden, until the com- 
 mittee of safety have executed it. 
 
 To the honorable Committee of Baltimore, 
 
 No. e>2. 
 
 Baltimore^ 11th April, 1776. 
 
 Gelitlemen, — We herewith transmit you copies of 
 the resolve of congress, respecting the seizing and 
 securing Alexander Ross, and the letter of the presi- 
 dent of the congress, informing us of their resolution, 
 that the person and papers of Governor Eden be im- 
 mediately seized by our council of safety, to whom 
 that resolution is transmitted. Instantly upon receiv- 
 ing your letter by express, we appointed three of our 
 body to wait on the council of safety, to communicate 
 the intelligence received, and to use their utmost en- 
 deavors to have Governor Eden put under arrest. 
 Our council have thought it sufficient to take Governor 
 Eden's parole of honor, not to depart the province, till 
 the meeting of the convention of Maryland, and to pro- 
 mote the peace in the meantime, but we make no doubt 
 that they will, upon receiving the resolve of congress 
 18 
 
jg4 APPENDIX. 
 
 immediately seize the person and papers of Governor 
 Eden. We hope you will excuse our detaining your 
 express. 
 
 1 am, on behalf of the Committee, 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 Your most humble servant, 
 
 Samuel Purviance, Jr. Chairman. 
 To the honorable Council of Safety of Virginia, Wil- 
 liamsburg. 
 
 No. 63. 
 
 Philadelphia, 1st May, 1776. 
 Dear Sir,— I thank you for your favor of the 23d 
 April, which I should have answered before now, if I 
 had not been prevented by much business. If zeal in 
 a good cause may not cover small irregularities, or de- 
 viations from the strict line of office, and regard for 
 the public safety be chained to the letter of busmess, 
 I feai: such pedantic politics will ruin America, as they 
 must fatally injure every country where they prevail- 
 ed The public of America is a generous pubhc, and 
 when appealed to will readily distinguish things dic- 
 tated by the general good, though irregularly execut- 
 ed from such as are evil in their nature, and merely 
 the suggestions of folly and wickedness. I am sure a 
 generous community will not suffer any person to be 
 persecuted for the former, nor would I scruple in such 
 a case, to say as of old, Provoco ad populum, and then 
 look the proudest connexions in the face, trustmg to 
 the wisdom of the object, and the integrity of design, 
 notwithstanding the manner might be something un- 
 usual. 
 
APPENDIX. ycj^ 
 
 I find Capt. Nicholson's merit is well understood 
 here, and therefore I hope he will succeed in his desires. 
 
 I am, truly, your friend and obliged humble servant, 
 
 Richard Henry Lee. 
 
 To Samuel Purviance, Jr., Esq., Baltimore, Mary- 
 land. 
 
 No. 64. 
 Philadelpliia, May 6tk, 177G. 
 Dear Sir. — I received yesterday, your favor of the 
 2d inst., and in answer to that part of it, desiring to 
 know if Mr. Hancock gave a copy of your letter to any 
 person, I must say that I do not know whether or not, 
 but I am inclined to think he has not. This business 
 appears to me thus : — when Mr. Hancock received the 
 despatches from Baltimore, he proceeded to read the 
 whole in congress; and among others, a letter containing 
 observations on the council of safety of Maryland, rela- 
 tive to the timidity of their councils, which it appears 
 he had not previously read in private ; because when 
 he came to that part of it which mentioned its being 
 written in confidence, he stopt, and observed it was 
 private, and proposed it should be so considered ; but 
 as he read so much of it, he went on, but read no 
 name at the bottom; and in the debate consequent upon 
 it, it was supposed to be anonymous, and it was con- 
 jecture alone that fixed you as the author. I 
 should have certainly informed you of this, if I had 
 then found myself at liberty to do it ; and when I heard 
 from you of your summons before the convention, it 
 was too late for a letter to reach you, before your ap- 
 
196 APPENDIX. 
 
 jicarance at that board. But the idea of drawing from 
 the mouth of a person accused his own condemnation, 
 is reprobated by English jurisprudence, and is the prac- 
 tice only, of inquisitorial or star chamber tyranny. I 
 should incline to think that this persecution will be 
 carried no further, at least I am sure the time is quickly 
 coming, wlien violence from without will render abso- 
 lutely necessary, a perfect union within. A late arri- 
 val from Port L'Orient, with 13 tons of powder and 
 30 of saltpetre, brings us a Cork paper near the middle 
 of March, by which we learn that more than 40,000 
 men would sail from Portsmouth and Greenock about 
 the 1st April, for North America. They consist of 
 Hessians, Hanoverians, Mecklenburghers, Scotch Hol- 
 landers and Scotch Highlanders, with some British re- 
 giments. Their destination not certain, but said to be 
 New York, New England, Canada, and two expedi- 
 tions more south. 
 
 Should the persecutors go on against you, I would 
 advise answering no interrogatories, but plainly de- 
 tail my conduct, acknowledge such parts as were with- 
 out the strict line of duty, and lay it to the account of 
 my zeal for the cause of America, which I hoped a 
 generous community would pardon and forget. 
 
 My time and attention are so taken up with public 
 business, that I must now conclude, with referring you 
 to my letter by Dr. Bankhead. 
 
 I am, with regard, dear sir, 
 
 Your friend and obedient servant, 
 
 Richard HexXry Lee. 
 
 To Samuel Purviance, Jr., Esq., of Baltimore, in 
 Maryland. 
 
APPENDIX. jg^ 
 
 No. 65. 
 
 FJuladelphia, 2d June, 1776. 
 Sir,— I have received your favors of the 24th and 
 28th ult.; with respect to the former, I wish you could 
 collect all the accounts that are yet unpaid for the two 
 vessels fitted out by you and Mr. Lux, and settle them 
 in such manner, that the marine committee may have 
 nothing further to do with them than to order payment. 
 As the men belonging to the Hornet and Wasp, at the 
 time of their arrival here, have been discharged at their 
 own request, being at that time very sick, some few of 
 them may have entered again on board of some of the 
 vessels, for ought I know ; however, you are requested 
 by the marine committee, not to advance any thino- for 
 any of them. I received your last letter to that board, 
 who directed me to inform you, that cannon had been 
 contracted for in this colony, for all the frigates, but as 
 there is no certainty of getting them in any reasonable 
 time, they wish you to get them for the frigate you are 
 building. If I can get the dimensions of them to send 
 by this post, you shall have them enclosed, if not I 
 will send them by the next. I suppose it will be more 
 convenient for you to get the cannon from Mr. Hughes' 
 works, than from any other place. The committee in- 
 tend to have all the frigates fitted out as fast as possible, 
 and desire your board to furnish every thing for the 
 one under your care. Your precaution in keeping a 
 guard, I think a good one. 
 
 I am, with much respect, sir, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 Joseph Hetves. 
 To Samuel Purviance, Jr., Esq., Baltimore. 
 18* 
 
198 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 66. 
 
 Philadelphia, 2d July, 1776. 
 Dear sir, — When I wrote to you last, I believe I 
 mentioned to you only two lieutenants for the ship. It 
 was a mistake. Three are allowed to each of the 
 frigates, so that, when Capt. Nicholson sends up a re- 
 commendation for sea officers, he should put down 
 tliree lieutenants. Part of General Howe's army is 
 arrived at Sandy Hook. We must expect warm work 
 in that quarter in a few days. 
 
 I am, with respect, sir, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 Joseph Hewes. 
 To Samuel Purviance, Jr., Esq., Baltimore. 
 
 No. 67. 
 
 Philadelphia July Uh, 1776. 
 
 Gentlemen, — The congress have this day received 
 intelligence, which renders it absolutely necessary that 
 the greatest exertion should be made to save our coun- 
 try from being desolated by the hands of tyranny. 
 General Howe having taken possession of Staten Is- 
 land, and the Jerseys being drained of their militia, for 
 the defence of New York, I am directed by congress, 
 to request you will proceed immediately to embody your 
 miUtia for the establishment of the flying camp, and 
 march them with all possible expedition, either by bat- 
 talion, detachments of battalions, or by companies, to 
 the city of Philadelphia. 
 
 The present campaign, I have no doubt, if we exert 
 ourselves properly, will secure the enjoyment of our 
 
APPENDIX. iQq 
 
 liberties for ever. All accounts agree, that Great 
 Britain will make the greatest effort this summer. 
 Should we, therefore, be able to keep our ground, we 
 shall afterwards have little to apprehend from her. I 
 do, therefore, most ardently beseech and require you, in 
 the name and by the authority of congress, as you re- 
 gard your own freedom, and as you stand engaged by 
 the most solemn ties of honor, to support the common 
 cause : — to strain every nerve to send forward your 
 militia. This is a step of such infinite moment, that in 
 all probability, your speedy compliance will prove the 
 salvation of your country. It is impossible we can 
 have any higher motive to Induce us to act. We 
 should reflect, too, that the loss of the campaign, 
 must inevitably protract the war ; and that in order to 
 gain it, we have only to exert ourselves, and to make 
 use of the means which God and nature have given us 
 to defend ourselves. I must therefore again repeat to 
 you, that the congress most anxiously expect and re- 
 quest, you will not lose a moment in carrying into ef- 
 fect this requisition, with all the zeal, spirit and des- 
 patch, which are so indispensably required by the criti- 
 cal situation of our affairs. 
 
 I have the honor to be, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient and very humble servant, 
 John Hancock, President. 
 Honorable Convention of Maryland. 
 
 No. 68. 
 
 Philadelphia, July Sth, 1776. 
 Gentlemen,— Although it is not possible to foresee 
 the consequences of human actions, yet it is neverthe- 
 
200 APPENDIX. 
 
 less a duty we owe ourselves and posterity, in all our 
 public counsels, to decide in the best manner we are 
 able, and to trust the event to that Being, who controls 
 both causes and events so as to bring about his own 
 determination. Impressed with this sentiment, and at 
 the same time fully convinced that our affairs may take 
 a more favorable turn, the congress have judged it ne- 
 cessary to dissolve all connexion between Great Bri- 
 tain and the American colonies, and to declare them 
 free and independent states, as you will perceive by the 
 enclosed declaration, which I am directed by congress 
 to transmit to you, and to request you will have it pro- 
 claimed in your colony in the way you shall think most 
 proper. 
 
 The important consequences to the American states 
 from this declaration of independence, considered as the 
 ground and foundation of a future government, will 
 naturally suggest the propriety of proclaiming it in such 
 a manner as that the people may be universally inform 
 ed of it. 
 
 I have the honor to be, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most ob't humble servant, 
 
 John Hancock, President. 
 
 Honorable Convention of Maryland. 
 
 No. 69. 
 PhiladelpJiia, 25th June, 1776. 
 Sir, — Your favor of the 25th I laid before the ma- 
 rine committee last evening, and in answer thereto I 
 have now to inform you, that when congress appointed 
 the captains for the frigates, it was agreed that the rank 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 201 
 
 should be settled hereafter, and that the captains should 
 only at present be certified of their appointment. Cap- 
 tain Nicholson has been strongly recommended, and 
 congress has a high opinion of his abilities and merit, 
 and I have no doubt of his standing pretty hio-h in rank. 
 The marine committee will pay great attention to the 
 recommendations of Capt. Nicholson, and your board of 
 commissioners for building the frigates ; but when you 
 recommend two gentlemen for sea lieutenants, it would 
 be well to get such of your delegates as may be in your 
 province to join in such recommendation. I believe 
 it will be agreeable to the committee that Capt. Nich- 
 olson should recommend all the warrant officers ; in 
 this, however, you can also join, and the committee 
 will immediately transmit the warrants, filled up agree- 
 ably to such recommendation. The marine officers for 
 your ship will be appointed to-day; their names you 
 have below ; the sooner Capt. Nicholson engages all the 
 warrant and petty officers, the more agreeable it will 
 be to the committee, who wish to have the ships ready 
 soon as possible. I fear many of them will wait for 
 guns and anchors. 
 
 I am, in haste, sir, 
 
 Your most ob't humble serv't, 
 
 Joseph Hewes. 
 
 John Stewart, Captain, ^ 
 Thos. Pownal, 1st Lieut. > Marines. 
 E-ich'd Harrison, 2d do. ) 
 N. B. Those gentlemen were strongly recommended 
 by the delegates of your province, and I hope they will 
 be agreeable to all. 
 
 To Samuel Purviance, Jr. Esq., Baltimore. 
 
202 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 70. 
 
 Philadelphia, 23d July, 1776. 
 
 Dear Sir, — I received your favor per jNIr. Hughes, 
 and immediately went with him to a member of com- 
 mittee for the cannon contracts ; they have agreed with 
 him for a large quantity of cannon. My ill state of 
 health has prevented me from attending much to busi- 
 ness lately, and has obliged me for some time past to 
 make an excursion or two into the country. I propose 
 to return to North Carolina shortly, when I mean to 
 retire from public business for a month or two. I have 
 laid your accounts before the marine committee, and 
 shall see that they are properly settled. I have not 
 seen the person in whose favor you drew, and your bro- 
 ther is not in town ; to whom must the money be paid % 
 I do not hear of any person that has been recommend- 
 ed as lieutenant for the ship you are building, nor have 
 I as yet received your recommendations. Please to 
 send me the names of these gentlemen in the order that 
 you and Capt. Nicholson would wish them to stand ; I 
 have mentioned Dr. Budd to the committee, he is not 
 yet appointed ; I have no doubt but he will be, at the 
 same time the lieutenants are appointed. 
 I am, with much respect, dear sir, 
 
 Your most ob't humble serv't, 
 
 Joseph Hewes. 
 
 To Samuel Purviance, Jr. Esq., Baltimore. 
 
APPENDIX. 203 
 
 No. 71. 
 
 Fhiladelphia, 22d July, 1776. 
 Sir, — I have contracted with congress for 1000 tons 
 of cannon, at c£36 10^. to be dehvered again the first 
 January, 1778. I have had but little conversation with 
 the marine committee about the frigate's guns ; they 
 seem to leave it to you and Capt. Nicholson to direct 
 the length, 3 inches in or over; therefore hope you will 
 send me the draft and direction, as soon as you can to 
 the furnace, where I hope to be in 3 or 4 days. No 
 news from New York. The militia of this province are 
 marching daily to New York. The news of Clinton's 
 defeat has raised their spirits in this place wonderfully. 
 I am, with regard. 
 
 Your very humble servant, 
 
 S. Hughes. 
 To Samuel Purviance, Esq., Baltimore. 
 
 No. 72. 
 PhiladelpJiia, lQ>th Sept. 1776. 
 Dear Sir, — Since your brother left this city Mr. 
 Nicholson has been confirmed first lieutenant of the 
 Washington ; and his worthy brother may be assured 
 that in settling the ranks of the captains, his merit will 
 not be forgotten. It is not probable that the frigates 
 will sail in fleets for some time ; and therefore it is like 
 ly that no higher appointment than that of captain will 
 soon take place. It will be highly proper for Captain 
 Nicholson to hasten on the Virginia (for that is most 
 
204 APPENDIX. 
 
 certainly the name of the Baltimore frigate) as much as 
 possible. Her great obstruction, I fear, will be the an- 
 chors ; however, we hope that will be removed ere 
 long, as means have been taken to forward them. 
 
 You will shortly see published, the conference of our 
 members with Lord Howe on Staten Island, in which 
 you will find that his Lordship's much talked of pow- 
 ers are no more than to confer and converse with gen- 
 tlemen of influence, and to prosecute the war ! We 
 anxiously expect here the issue of a long canonade at 
 York, and another lately on Lake Champlain. 
 I am, sir, your most humble serv't, 
 
 Richard Henry Lee. 
 
 To Samuel Purviance, Jr. Esq., Baltimore. 
 
 No. 73. 
 PhiladelpMa, 11th Sept. 1776. 
 Dear Sir, — Agreeable to my promise to your brother 
 I now send a printed article for seamen. You will ob- 
 serve the wages allowed to able seamen is eight dollars 
 per month; ordinary seamen and landsmen six dollars 
 and two-thirds of a dollar per month. 
 I am, respectfully, dear sir. 
 
 Your most ob't servant, 
 
 Joseph Hewes. 
 To Samuel Purviance, Esq. 
 
 No. 74. 
 Fhiladclphia, llth October, 1776. 
 
 Dear Sir, — Among the inconveniences of this busy 
 scene, I esteem it not the least to be so often prevented 
 
APrENDIX. 205 
 
 from acknowledging the favors of my friends sooner 
 than I do. It has been owing to much business that 
 your letter of the 27th has not received an answer be- 
 fore now. I have the pleasure to acquaint you that in 
 ranking the captains of our continental sliips, the con- 
 gress have placed Capt. Nicholson at the head, he beino- 
 the first captain. I wish it were in my power to give 
 you a satisfactory answer about the building another 
 frigate. Hitherto nothing has been determined on this 
 subject, the committee having been prevented by an in- 
 finite multiplicity of other business ; and to the same 
 cause has it been owing that no orders have been sent 
 concerning the frigate Virginia. I have no doubt but 
 that another frigate will soon be directed, and that the 
 builder of greatest merit will be preferred. It would 
 give me the greatest pleasure to hear that the Virginia 
 was ready for sea, and I am happy in being satisfied 
 that the managers of this business in Baltimore will not 
 lose a moment in effecting so salutary a work. I sup- 
 pose a want of anchors will be the greatest obstruction, 
 as I take it for granted no time will be lost in getting 
 the guns down from Mr. Hughes's works, and having 
 the carriages made. I shall be glad to have an exact 
 state of the frigate, and what she wants to complete her. 
 I refer you to the papers for news, and am, sir, 
 Your most ob't servant, 
 
 Richard Hi::nry Lee. 
 To Samuel Purviance, Jr. Esq., Baltimore. 
 
 19 
 
206 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 75. 
 P7iiladelp7iia, 2Uh Nov., 1776. 
 
 Dear Sir, — You have imputed to the right cause ray 
 not answering your former letter sooner : it was indeed 
 multiplicity of business. 
 
 Very long before your recommendation of Mr. Plun- 
 ket came to hand, a Capt. Disney had been appointed 
 captain of marines on board the Virginia, upon the re- 
 commendation of Mr. Stone. The congress have deter- 
 mined to build in Maryland two frigates of 36 guns each, 
 and I make no doubt but tliat one at least of these will 
 be built at Baltimore. I suppose when the committee 
 meets on Tuesday next, that directions concerning the 
 building the new ships will issue to the respective 
 states. Not a word has been yet said in congress touch- 
 ing a quarrel with Portugal, nor will any such thing 
 happen, 1 imagine, unless they should confiscate any of 
 our vessels. 
 
 It will give us much pleasure to learn that Captain 
 Nicholson is ready for sea, and I think we can furnish 
 him from hence with one such anchor as you mention. 
 Capt. Biddle's frigate Randolph, of 32 guns, is now 
 completely ready, except that she wants men, which 
 want we hope to remedy when the vessels, daily ex- 
 pected, arrive. The Virginia and the Randolph, cruiz- 
 ing together, might bring us in some of the enemy's 
 scattering frigates that now go about, very badly man- 
 ned, injuring our trade extremely. I wish, therefore, 
 that every effort were strained to get the Virginia 
 ready. Our enemy's army has been pretty busy since 
 they retreated from the White Plains. Already they 
 
APPE.NDIX. 207 
 
 have got po'ssession both of Mount Washington and 
 Fort Lee, and they talk, or the Tories talk for them, 
 strongly of their aiming at this city. I fancy they will 
 find some difficulty and not a little danger in the ac- 
 complishment of this part of their plan. 
 
 My compliments, if you please, to the reverend Mr. 
 Allison and my other friends in Baltimore. 
 
 If the Tories do not mend their manners, be more 
 modest, and less noisy, they will shortly be hauled over 
 the coals in such a manner as will make the country too 
 hot to hold them. 
 
 I am, sir, your most ob't humble servant, 
 
 Richard Hex\ry Lee 
 
 List of new shiiJS to he immediately undertaken. 
 New Hampshire, 1 ship of 74 guns. 
 Massachusetts, 1 ship of 74 guns, and 1 of 36 guns. 
 Pennsylvania, 1 ship of 74 guns, and 1 of 18 guns. 
 Maryland, 2 ships of 36 guns each. 
 Virginia, 2 do. do. do. 
 To Samuel Purviance, Jr., Esq., Baltimore. 
 
 P. S. Nov. 25, 1776—1 thank you for your favor of 
 the 22d, with its enclosures, and will answer your letter 
 by next post, not being able now to do it with proper 
 effect. I know we want vessels, both on charter and 
 to purchase, in Virginia and Maryland. But more of 
 this hereafter. Gen'l Howe seems intent on this city. 
 
 R. H. Leh 
 
208 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 76. 
 Philadelphia, Dec. 27th, 1776. 
 
 Dear Sir, — An hour's detainment of the tide gives me 
 an opportunity of writing the particulars of yesterday's 
 action at Trenton. Gen'l Washington, with about four 
 thousand men, crossed on the Christmas night, and sur- 
 rounded the town; the enemy was surprised, and col- 
 lected confusedly ; after a short resistance they ground- 
 ed their arms and surrendered to the amount of 750 
 (Hessians solely) ; they lost 30 killed and wounded, 
 and we 2 killed and 3 or 4 wounded ; Capt. Washing- 
 ton among the last, who commanded the advanced 
 party, but not mortally. Had the weather proved fa- 
 vorable, and the other three divisions got over, there 
 would (I have no doubt) the whole of them shared the 
 same fate with those. Their light horse scampered 
 away on the first alarm, and all those on the outskirts 
 of the town made their escape, about as many as were 
 taken. There are 1 colonel, 2 majors, 4 captains, 7 
 lieutenants and 8 ensigns prisoners, with 6 field pieces, 
 2 standards and 1000 stand of arms, 20 drums ; one col- 
 onel wounded and left on his parole in Trenton. Our 
 people having returned on this side again ; we should 
 have whipped them in the same manner at Borden- 
 town, could our men under Col. Cadwallader have 
 crossed, but the weather and ice made it impossible. — 
 This affair has given such amazing spirit to our people, 
 that you might do any thing, or go any where with 
 them. We have vast numbers of fine militia coming 
 in momently, but none from our jorovince. I believe an 
 attack is intended to-morrow upon the Hessian main 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 209 
 
 body at Bordentown, in which I intend serving with 
 my people as artillery men, and are embarked for that 
 purpose on board the galUes. Immediately it is over 
 (please God) I intend down, and am doubtful if I can 
 bring an anchor with me, but more of this hereafter. 
 (I am not pleased about it.) 
 
 I am yours, most sincerely, 
 
 James Nicholson. 
 To Samuel Purviance, Jr. Esq., Baltimore. 
 
 No. 77. 
 
 Baltimore, 2^th Jan. 1111. 
 Gentlemen, — Please to deliver Mr. Francis Lewis, a 
 member of congress, one pair of blankets out of the con- 
 tinental stores, he to be accountable for the same. 
 
 Richard Henry Lee, 
 *• Fras. Lewis, 
 Wm. Whipple, 
 To Messrs. Purviance. 
 
 No. 78. 
 
 Mr. Hancock's compliments to Mr. Purviance, and 
 begs he would be kind enough to send him the price 
 current he mentioned to him, and informs Mr. Purviance 
 that it is the desire of the marine committee that he, 
 with Mr. Stewart, would immediately give the neces- 
 sary directions for cutting timber, and agreemg with 
 persons for building the two frigates here. Mr. Han- 
 
 19* 
 
210 APPENDIX. 
 
 cock Leing much engaged in forwarding despatches, 
 prevented his sending him the regular resolution, but 
 he shall have them in the morning. 
 Tuesday Evening, Jan. 21, 1777. 
 
 No. 79. 
 Providence, Feb. ISt/i, 1777. 
 
 Sir, — The very great scarcity of flour, bread and iron 
 in this state, and the danger of the inhabitants suffering 
 for want of these necessary articles, have induced the 
 council of war to fit out the sloop Diamond, Timothy 
 Coffin, master, to your address to procure them. 
 
 We enclose you a draft upon the continental treasurer 
 for a sufficient sum of money to lade her, and desire that 
 you will put on board her ten tons of bar iron, if to be 
 procured, otherwise fifteen tons of pig iron, to fill her 
 hold with flour, and her steerage and cabin with as 
 much bread as she can with any convenience take in. 
 I am, in behalf of the state, sir, 
 
 Your most ob't humble serv't, 
 
 Nicholas Cooke, Governor. 
 
 To Samuel Purviance, Esq. 
 
 No. SO. 
 
 Portsmouth, Nc2c ETigland, Feb. 20, 1777. 
 
 Gentlemen, — I lately received an order from the hon- 
 orable continental marine committee, to send two small 
 vessels to Baltimore for iron and flour on account of the 
 
APPENDIX. 211 
 
 continent, to your address ; in consequence of wliicli 
 I have sent the schooner Dove, Capt. James Miller, by 
 whom this will be handed you, and by whom you will 
 please ship as much iron and flour as the schooner will 
 carry with safety, on account of the United States of 
 America ; as I am in much want of iron, you will 
 please ship as large a proportion of that article as the 
 vessel will bear. I shall want for the use of the conti- 
 nent at least forty tons of iron this season, the whole 
 of which I hope will be sent, or more in this and the 
 Friend's Adventure, which will sail in a few days for 
 your place. Pray let about two and a half tons of iron 
 be in very wide bars, suitable for making fire places on 
 board ships ; should also be glad of about two tons of 
 nail rods assorted. Col. Whipple, who is one of the 
 honorable committee, has wrote me from Baltimore 
 that you would load and despatch the vessels on ac- 
 count of the continent. 
 
 I am, with all due respect, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 John Langdon. 
 
 To Messrs. Samuel and Robert Purviance, Baltimore. 
 
 No. 81. 
 
 Philadelphia, I5th April, 1777. 
 
 Sirs,— I am favored with yours of the 12th inst. 
 which I last night laid before the committee. In that 
 letter you say you had transmitted to the board, in- 
 ventories of the materials belonging to the ship and 
 
212 APPExXDIX. 
 
 brigantlnes, but no such is come to hand, and Mr. Mor- 
 ris tells he has received none. 
 
 Such is the perplexed situation of our affairs at pre- 
 sent, that nothing can be done relative to the ships, coals, 
 &c., for yesterday the alarm guns were fired as a sig- 
 nal for nine ships of war coming up the bay, and Gene- 
 ral Howe's army is in motion, in order to attack this 
 city, in a poor state for defence for the want of troops. 
 Pray forward all you can from Baltimore, for without 
 reinforcements the conquest of this city is inevitable. 
 Therefore, it behooves you to turn out all the force 
 you can, and speedily, or it will be too late. 
 I am, gentleman. 
 
 Your very humble servant, 
 
 Francis Lewis. 
 
 To Messrs. Samuel and Robert Purviance, Baltimore. 
 
 No. 83. 
 
 Annapolis, Aprilllth, 1777. 
 Gentlemen, — I addressed the governor and council 
 upon the subject matter of your favor, to take their di- 
 rection, upon which they entertain some doubt; how- 
 ever, the governor is of opinion the pork ought to be 
 charged to the continent ; upon a supposition that the 
 expedition into Somerset and Worcester counties was 
 a measure concerted for the benefit of the states in 
 general, as well as this in particular. 
 
 I am, very respectfully, gentlemen, 
 
 Your very obedient humble servant, 
 
 W. Smallwood, BrigW Ge?ieral. 
 To Messrs. Samuel and Robert Purviatice, Baltimore. 
 
APrENDlX. 213 
 
 No. 83. 
 Philadelphia, April lOM, 1777. 
 Gentlemen, — Your favors of the 12th and 15th inst., 
 came duly to hand, — the first advising your purchase 
 of flour and enclosing inventories of the two prize 
 vessels. We think the flour was bought very reason- 
 ably, and mentioned it in congress, as proper to be 
 delivered to the commissary at Baltimore, for the use 
 of the army, which was agreed to, and he must settle 
 with you for it. It would give us pleasure to hear 
 that the Virginia, Capt. Nicholson was sailed, and your 
 bay clear of the enemy's ships : there are several of 
 them at Cape Henlopen, where they have done much 
 mischief. 
 
 We are, gentlemen, 
 
 Your obedient humble servant. 
 
 By order of the Secret Committee, 
 Robert Morris, Chair?}ian. 
 To Messrs. Samuel and Robert Purviance, Baltimore. 
 
 No. 84. 
 Philadelphia, June lOlJi, 1777. 
 Gentlemen,— The secrect committee are now prepar- 
 ing their accounts and papers, in order to report the state 
 of them and their proceedings to congress ; and for this 
 purpose, they must call on every body with whom they 
 have transacted business, to render in their accounts 
 speedily as possible. You will therefore be pleased 
 to send us account sales of the goods put into your 
 hands ; account.of the purchases you made by order ot 
 
214 APPENDIX. 
 
 this committee, and account current, the sooner the 
 better. 
 
 I am, sirs. 
 
 Your obedient Iiumble servant, 
 By order of the Committee, 
 
 Robert Morris, Chairman. 
 To Messrs. Samuel and Robert Purviance, Baltimore. 
 
 No. 85. 
 York, the 11th November, 1777. 
 
 Dear Sir, — The affair of the Spanish fleet that you 
 mention, we had heard of some time ago, and at the same 
 time, that since the death of the king of Portugal, all 
 differences were made up between the two courts, and 
 orders were sent to South America to restore all things 
 there to quiet. We hear nothing from Philadelphia, 
 except that the inhabitants are in great distress for pro- 
 visions. Both armies are still, and both have lately re- 
 ceived reinforcements. A considerable part of General 
 Gates's army will shortly join General Washington. 
 I am, dear sir, 
 
 Your most obedient and very humble servant, 
 Richard Hexry Lee, 
 To Samuel Purviance, Jr., Esq., Baltimore. 
 
 No. 86. 
 York Town, January 12th, 1778. 
 Gentlemen, — I had the honor of receiving and re- 
 porting your letter of the 10th, to congress this morn- 
 
APPENDIX 215 
 
 ing. It is referred to the marine committee, from 
 whence you will receive a proper reply, I hope by re- 
 turn of the post. 
 
 Congress having received information, by divers 
 tneans, of the arrival of the cargo of salt, intimated in 
 your letter above mentioned, framed the inclosed act 
 of the present date, for securing, if possible, the whole 
 for the use of the army, for which it is wanted in the 
 extremest degree. As some days may elapse before 
 the governor and council can act, I am directed to trans- 
 mit the copy enclosed as above mentioned to you, and 
 to request you to exert your endeavors to prevent a 
 sale or removal of the salt, until his excellency shall 
 give directions, in consequence of the present recom- 
 mendation and resolve. The term " secure," in the 
 latter part of the resolve, you may be assured, compre- 
 hends the idea of purchasing, and I have so explained 
 it to the governor. 
 
 It is expected that every friend to these states in 
 your town, will give you all needful assistance to serve 
 the public in this momentous business ; without salt, it 
 will be impossible to lay up magazines of provision 
 for the army, and I need not predict what will be the 
 consequence of deficiency. 
 
 I am, with great respect, 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 Your obedient humble servant, 
 Henry LaurExNS, President of Congress. 
 
 To Samuel and Robert Purviance, Esqrs., agents for 
 the United States at Baltimore. 
 
216 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 87. 
 
 Commercial Committee, York^ > 
 January 15th, 177S. ) 
 
 Gentlemen, — We are informed that you are building 
 a small vessel, that will be ready for launching in a few 
 days. We should be glad to know whether you will 
 sell her, and what you will ask for her as she is when 
 launched. We would wish for a speedy answer, as 
 we shall look out somewhere else for a suitable vessel 
 for our purpose, if we should not purchase that you are 
 building. 
 
 We do not doubt at all, gentlemen, but that you 
 could make it convenient to take bills on the commis- 
 sioners at Paris, but we have not heard that congress 
 had any thought of drawing on them. We hope you 
 will be able to get the draft on the loan office, paid in 
 negotiable certificates, otherwise we do not know how 
 we shall be able to pay the balance, which it seems will 
 be due to you. 
 
 We are, gentlemen, 
 
 Your obedient servants, 
 
 Francis Lewis, 
 William Ellery, 
 James Forbes. 
 To Messrs. Samuel and Robert Purviance, Baltimore. 
 
 No. 88. 
 
 York Toivn, Ylth February, 1778. 
 
 Gentlemen, — The day before I left Baltimore, it 
 
 was reported that a large French ship was on shore, 
 
 on the coast near Clilncotcague, and that they were 
 
 taking part of the cargo out, in order to lighten her. 
 
APPENDIX. 217 
 
 The agent from France arrived here yesterday, and in- 
 forms us that a 50 gun ship, laden for the congress, 
 may be about this time expected at the Capes from 
 St. Domingo, and is anxious to know if that ship 
 reported to be on shore, may not be the same, of 
 which please to get the best information you can 
 and inform me. Also, whether the Virginia has cm- 
 braced the opportunities of these fair winds to put to 
 sea, which I am very anxious to know. 
 I am, gentlemen. 
 
 Your very humble servant, 
 
 FRANCIS Lewis, Chairman 
 
 of Commercial Committee. 
 To Messrs. Samuel and Robert Purviance, Baltimore, 
 
 No. 89. 
 War OJice, York, March 16th, 1778. 
 Gentlemen, — The board have been duly favored 
 with yours of the 14th inst. They are happy to find 
 you have had the important business of procuring tents 
 for our army, in as good a train as circumstances will 
 admit. From our loss of Philadelphia, the workmen 
 who came out are dispersed to places in which trade 
 is open, and therefore none can be expected from this 
 state, and every sail maker the quarter master general 
 could properly procure, being at work on tents. You 
 will please to keep as much tent cloth as you can have 
 made up by the first of May, and send the rest on to 
 be made up under the direction of the quarter master 
 general. 
 
 I am your obedient servant, 
 
 Richard Peters. 
 By order of the Board. 
 20 
 
II 
 
 218 APPENDIX. 
 
 If you could, by any means, continue to get tlie 
 whole made up at Baltimore, it would be doing much 
 service ; as the workmen are every where exceedingly 
 scarce. As the enemy will endeavor to push out early, 
 the tents should be, by all means, ready the first of 
 May. We shall be much distressed for want of tents, 
 as so many were lost last year, from the lateness of the 
 campaign ; therefore, do exert yourselves to have them 
 made, but do not detain the cloth on a great uncer- 
 tainty. 
 
 If the Virginia cannot get out, but should return, 
 cannot some of her hands be procured to make tents ? 
 
 By order, 
 
 R. Peters. 
 
 To Messrs. Samuel and Robert Purviance, Baltimore. 
 
 No. 90. 
 
 Navy Board, Middle District, ) 
 Baltimore, 25th June, 1778, ) 
 
 Gentlemen, — As we are sensible it must take some 
 considerable time to examine and adjust your accounts, 
 which must be for large sums of long standing, we 
 cannot, with any tolerable conveniency, continue the 
 board here for that purpose, and therefore request you 
 will, as soon as may be convenient, forward the same 
 to us at Philadelpliia. 
 
 We are, gentlemen, 
 
 Your very humble servants, 
 
 Francis Hopkinson, 
 W. Smith, 
 John Wharton. 
 To Messrs. Purviance and Stewart, Baltimore. 
 
APPENDIX. 219 
 
 No. 91. 
 In Council, Annapolis, Yith Fehruary, 1779. 
 Sir, — We hoped to have got the Conqueror off on 
 Monday ; she went off, however, yesterday morning, 
 and expect she got up last night. We expect the 
 Chester will be ready before the Conqueror can get 
 down. We have recommended the Conqueror to Capt- 
 Nicholson's care, as also the Dolphin, to have her masts 
 fitted. 
 
 It is very agreeable to us, that Capt. Nicholson 
 should command the Conqueror ; the moderation he has 
 shown is highly praiseworthy in him, and pleasing to 
 us ; we had no idea of* either of our captains command- 
 ing Capt. Nicholson. The Commodore goes in the 
 Chester, and from his disposition we expect the great- 
 est harmony. We have no objection to putting in 
 three lieutenants for this service. 
 
 We shall most cheerfully recommend any application 
 for giving the whole of the prizes to the captors, nor 
 doubt the success of it, so that we do not esteem it of 
 any very great consequence, what they would be en- 
 titled to under the subsisting regulations, though we 
 believe it is the same as in the continental service. 
 
 Bread, flour, meat, ammunition, and muskets, sliall 
 be all ready here to be put on board instantly. We 
 are preparing for the Chester, and the like provision 
 will be made for the Conqueror. 
 
 We shall be greatly at a loss for a surgeon, unless 
 one can be got from Baltimore ; it is desirable that one 
 good one should go, and a mate. We have only one 
 belonging to our marine, and we expect nothing further 
 of him than to act as a mate. 
 
220 APPENDIX. 
 
 Enclosed you have a line to Major Smith, to furnish 
 what of the mattresses may be wanting, a lieutentant, 
 sargeant, corporal, and not exceeding sixteen privates. 
 We are, sir, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 Thomas Johnson. 
 To Samuel Purviance, Jr., Esq., Baltimore. 
 
 No. 92. 
 To the Honorable Committee. 
 
 Gentlemen, — We, the officers on board the Con- 
 queror Galley, beg leave to lay before their honorable 
 body our petition. Should we have, in the time of the 
 cruize, the bad fortune to be taken prisoners, will un- 
 doubtedly be confined on board some prison ship, and 
 as we are protecting the trade of private property, 
 should be glad to know if our wages will be continued, 
 and by which way we may expect to be exchanged, as 
 the greatest part are married men, and by long confine- 
 ment our families would suffer. Therefore, we hope 
 their honorable body will take into consideration our 
 grievances. But should we receive no address, it shall 
 not in the least detain our services from the cause in 
 which we are now engaged. We have nothing more 
 to add, but beg leave to subscribe ourselves, 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient humble servants, 
 James Nicholson, Jeremiah Hudson, Master^ 
 Thomas Moore, Thomas Doyle, 4^7^ Lieut., 
 John Martin, Joseph Harrison, Surgeon, 
 
 Robert Caulfield, 
 March ith, 1779. 
 
APPENDIX. 221 
 
 No. 93. 
 
 Hampton Roads, Ajml 3(1, 1770. 
 
 Gentlemen, — It gives me no small concern to inform 
 you that we have not, until these few days past, had it 
 in our power to answer the purpose of our coming 
 down, owing to the severity of the weather and the 
 want of a pilot, the last of which we have now pro- 
 cured, after being detained three days in Cherrystone, 
 where the severity of the weather forced us. We have 
 JDcen on the sea board for these two days past, and are 
 now on our way convoying several merchantmen out, 
 amongst which are Capts. Dill and Yellott. You may 
 depend (I think) we shall defend the entrance and 
 bordering of the bay from any cruizers inferior to 
 frigates. Our galley answers our most sanguine ex- 
 pectations in point of sailing, &c., and I have to entreat, 
 that should we not be fortunate within our two months, 
 nor have it in our power to prevail with our people to 
 continue one month extra, in that case, that you retain 
 such sums as would fit us out for two months longer. 
 We have lost one half of our time as above, and the 
 season most favorable for the galleys will only lake 
 place by the time our cruize expires. AVe have 
 not heard of any of the enemy being in the bay, since 
 we have been down, nor do I believe there has been ; 
 but am very apprehensive they have made a great num- 
 ber of captures to the eastward, as we have heard of 
 very few arrivals. We expect to be joined by the two 
 Virginia ships to-morrow; they are no great things. I like 
 their captains, who 1 think will do all in their power to 
 assist us. I have not had it in my power to write you 
 
 20* 
 
222 APPENDIX. 
 
 before. Our rendezvous is at Cape Charles or Isaac's 
 shoals, where your outward bound vessels I would re- 
 commend should call. Should they not find us there, 
 they may depend the coast is clear within our reach, 
 and that we are extending our ground. They will also 
 hear of us at Hampton, should they not be able to come 
 to the Cape. At present our commodore does not 
 seem extensively inclined, but I think after the Tender 
 returns, if he will not go further to the northward or 
 southward, if agreeable to my officers, we will go with- 
 out him. For further particulars refer to Capt. Moore, 
 who has got a memorandum of such articles as we are 
 in want of, which I hope you will indulge us with, and 
 send by the return of the Tender. The weather has 
 been exceedingly bad. Good living has been all our 
 comfort. 
 
 I am, gentlemen, with mucli respect, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 James Nicholson. 
 To the Honorable the Committee of Merchants of 
 Baltimore. 
 
 No. 94. 
 
 In Council, Annapolis, 20th May, 1779. 
 
 Sir, — In yours of the 17th, you mention that salt pro- 
 visions may be had in Baltimore for the Conqueror, on 
 returning it or paying for it. We imagine that what 
 was sent down in the boat and returned would serve 
 for some time. It had best be so applied, and if more 
 is wanted, that it had best be furnished out of that sent 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 223 
 
 up in the Smallwood. The officers you mention in 
 yours of yesterday are very agreeable to us. The In- 
 dependence wants a good deal done to her to fit her for 
 a cruize ; the men we have are at present divided be- 
 tween her and the Chester : they in concert with our 
 fort might be useful against vessels ; the same end 
 would be answered to you by the Baltimore and John- 
 son, they are gunned. We have them ready to send to 
 Indian landing, with pork and other articles, but if you 
 can get a force to use them as batteries, Baltimore 
 town may have them for that purpose, if men can be 
 engaged to carry up the Baltimore and Johnson, and 
 act in them in case it should become necessary. We 
 will on this occasion draw their pay for the little time 
 they can be wanted out of the treasury, and risk the 
 assembly's approbation of your conduct. The stores 
 proposed by Capt. Nicholson appear reasonable to us. 
 We wish you to lay in exactly the same for the Ches- 
 ter, except meat, which we can furnish them. 
 We are, sir. 
 
 Your most obedient servants, 
 
 Thos. Johnson. 
 To Samuel Purviance, Esq., Baltimore. 
 
 No. 95. 
 In Council, Awiapolis, 2SthJuly, 1780, 
 Gentlemen,-— We have enclosed you tlie letter wc 
 have wrote to our delegates in congress on the subject 
 
224 APPENDIX. 
 
 of the distresses of our trade, for your perusal, which 
 we request you to seal and send forward. 
 We are, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most ob't humble servants, 
 
 Thomas S. Lee. 
 To Samuel and Robert Purviance, Esqrs. and others, 
 merchants in Baltimore town. 
 
 In Council, Anna'polis, 2Sth July, 1780. 
 Gentlemen, — The general assembly on the 12th June 
 last, took into consideration the trade of this state, and 
 entered into the following resolution : — ** Resolved, that 
 congress be informed that the trade of this state and 
 Virginia, through the Capes of Chesapeake bay, is very 
 considerable, and that this state and the United States 
 are greatly interested in its preservation, and that this 
 state has always contributed to the expenses of the con- 
 tinental navy, but the state or its trade has never re- 
 ceived any benefit or advantage from the marine of the 
 United States, and therefore that congress be earnestly 
 requested to direct one of the continental frigates to be 
 so stationed as to protect the trade from this state and 
 Virginia, and further to order, (when the service of the 
 United States will permit) that one of the frigates con- 
 voy the fleets from this bay," — which was transmitted 
 to congress, and by them referred to the board of ad- 
 miralty, the result of whose deliberations thereon has 
 not yet been communicated to us; nor do we know 
 that the requisition of the assembly will be complied 
 with. Our coast has lately been much infested with 
 
APPENDIX. 226 
 
 the privateers and cruizers of the enemy; our trade and 
 navigation obstructed, and many of our vessels cap- 
 tured, to the great detriment of the public, and ruin of 
 some and distress of many of our merchants; and wc 
 can assure you, unless two, or one at least of the conti- 
 nental frigates are so stationed as to afford protection to 
 the trade of Virginia and this state, that there is little 
 or no probability of our providing clothing and other 
 necessaries for our quota of the army. As this state 
 have on every occasion exerted themselves in an extra- 
 ordinary degree in support of the common cause, and 
 have and do contribute their proportion of the expense 
 of the continental navy, and have not hitherto received 
 any advantage from it ; we can but think it reasonable 
 that our request should be gratified. We have just re- 
 ceived a letter from the commercial gentlemen of the 
 town of Baltimore, representing that the successes of 
 small armed vessels and boats have invited a vqry for- 
 midable enemy into our bay, and that not less than 
 twenty of their most valuable vessels outward bound, 
 are now blocked up in Patuxent river, and have been 
 for some time past, and that every day they receive ac- 
 counts of their vessels being taken or destroyed. This 
 representation of the distresses and embarrassments of 
 the trade and navigation of the states of Virginia and 
 Maryland not only merit the immediate notice of con- 
 gress, but we think cannot fail to induce them to order 
 such a number of frigates to be stationed at the Capes 
 of the Chesapeake as will afford ample protection to the 
 commerce thereof. We entreat you in the most earnest 
 manner to lay this important subject before congress, 
 
226 APPENDIX. 
 
 and to use your utmost efforts and the weight and in- 
 fluence of this state to obtain the protection desired. 
 We are, gentlemen, 
 
 With great respect and esteem, 
 
 Your most ob't humble servants, 
 
 Thomas S. Lee. 
 To the Honorable the Delegates in Congress from 
 Maryland. 
 
 No. 96. 
 Annapolis, Nov. 12th, 1780. 
 
 Gentlemen, — I am favored with your letter of the 
 10th, accompanied with the resolution and subscription 
 of the merchants of Baltimore town. The public spirit 
 and disinterestedness manifested by the measures which 
 that respectable body have promptly taken, claim my 
 full approbation, and I do not hesitate to assure you I 
 have the utmost confidence in the disposition of the 
 legislature to indemnify you fully in every of your mea- 
 sures, as well that of ordering an armed vessel to pre- 
 vent any but vessels of a certain description from leav- 
 ing the harbor whilst your preparations were carrying 
 on, as the engagements you have made with the pro- 
 prietors of the brig and schooner. The former I esteem 
 very necessary and prudential, and which I have no 
 doubt the council would have advised, had the proprie- 
 ty of it occurred in the hurry of writing you. 
 
 Mr. Purviance arrived here yesterday just after both 
 branches of the legislature adjourned to Monday, or 
 their answer might have been more satisfactory, and at 
 
APPENDIX. ^Qj 
 
 my request he waited till this morning that I might have 
 an opportunity of consulting the council, but I have not 
 seen more than Mr. Carroll and Mr. Jno. Bricc this morn- 
 ing, who approve of this letter. I have Col. Smith's by 
 Capt. Revelley, and request you to assure him that the 
 commissions desired shall be made out in time for the 
 officers, and that the captain shall have every assistance 
 in equipping the barge and men promised. 
 
 With sentiments of great respect and esteem, 
 I am, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 Thomas S. Lee. 
 To Samuel and Robert Purviance, Esqs. and others, 
 merchants in Baltimore town. 
 
 No. 98. 
 
 PhiladelpJiia, 21th Feh. 1781. 
 
 Dear Sir, — The Marquis La Fayette will pass by 
 your city in a very short space with a very respectable 
 detachment from General Washington. His movements 
 will be as rapid as possible, therefore the supplies for 
 his troops should be very certain ; every thing in the 
 provision way is sent from hence, except flour, and that 
 might also be forwarded, provided shallops were to be 
 had from hence, and teams to cart it from Christiana to 
 Elk ; it seems also like sending coals to New Castle, to 
 send flour from hence to Baltimore ; therefore, to ward 
 against every chance of disappointment, we beg of you 
 to procure and put into the care of Mr. Donnelan, com- 
 missary of issues at Baltimore, two hundred barrels of 
 
228 APPENDIX. 
 
 flour, or so much in addition to what he may have on 
 hand, as to make up the quantity of two hundred bar- 
 rels. We give you this trouble, because we do not 
 know who is the superintendent of purchase for the 
 state of Maryland, whose residence may also be out of 
 the way of this express, and also to avoid every possi- 
 ble delay on this occasion. If Mr. Donnelan has flour 
 on hand, or can instantly get it from the state agent, 
 you will have no further trouble, but should neither be 
 the case, and yourself and your brother merchants will 
 please to furnish it, and be assured of having it replaced 
 as speedily as possible out of the public magazine, of 
 equal quality. We shall make no further apology at 
 present for giving you this trouble, as we are assured 
 of your readiness to do essential service to your country 
 on every occasion. We shall write by next express 
 more particularly, and are, dear sir. 
 
 Your most obedient servants, 
 
 Tim. Pickering, Q,. M. G. 
 
 Chas. Stewart, C. E. S. 
 To Samuel Purviance, Esq., Baltimore. 
 
 No. 99. 
 Li Council^ Annapolis, 20t7i j\larc7i, 1781. 
 Gentlemen, — We received your letter of the 10th, 
 covering the engagement of the gentlemen of Balti- 
 more, and an extract of a letter from Mr. McHenry of 
 the 6 th. 
 
 We very much applaud tlie zeal and activity of the 
 gentlemen of Baltimore, and think their readiness to 
 
 « 
 
APPENDIX. 229 
 
 assist the executive, at a time when they were destitute 
 of the means of providing those things which were 
 immediately necessary for the detachment under the 
 command of the Marquis de la Fayette, justly entitle 
 them to the thanks of the public. 
 
 We cannot but approve of the proceedings of those 
 gentlemen, and assure you we will adopt any expe- 
 dient to prevent any individual of that body, from suf- 
 fering, or being in the least embarrassed by his engage- 
 ments for the state. 
 
 As soon as we are informed by the Committee of 
 the amount of the sum advanced by their constituents, 
 and the extent of their engagements, to procure the 
 numerous articles required for the use of the detach- 
 ment, we will transmit orders on the collectors of 
 Baltimore county, for such a sum as will cover the 
 whole. 
 
 We think it reasonable the state should pay the 
 value of money advanced, and interest thereon until 
 paid, and do agree to pay the value with interest, to 
 those gentlemen who have made advances, and will 
 give an order on the collectors of Baltimore for their 
 reimbursement. 
 
 We are, gentlemen. 
 
 With very great respect and esteem, 
 
 Your most obedient humble servants, 
 
 Thomas S. Lee. 
 
 To Robert Purviance, Matthew Ridley, and Wil- 
 liam Patterson, Esqrs., Baltimore. 
 
 21 
 
230 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 100. 
 In Council, Annapolis, Sth November, 1781. 
 Gentlemen, — The enclosure is a copy of a letter 
 just received from the mouth of Patuxent, by which 
 you will perceive, that some of the enemy's vessels are 
 at present in that river. We hope there may be some 
 vessels equipped in your harbor of sufficient force to 
 prevent their getting off with their booty. 
 
 The value of the vessels and the great plunder they 
 are probably encumbered with, make them an inviting 
 object of profit, while their force Is not so considerable 
 as to discourage an attempt. Our stare boats are 
 down the bay, and may probably join any vessels you 
 may send. 
 
 We can send 15 or 20 soldiers to assist in manning 
 them, and will cheerfully render every assistance in 
 our power, as to arms and ammunition. 
 
 We are, gentlemen, with respect, 
 
 Your most obedient servants, 
 
 Thomas S. Lee. 
 To William Smith and Samuel and Robert Pur- 
 viance, Esqrs., Baltimore town. 
 
 No. 101. 
 By the United States i?i Congress assevibled, 
 
 July 2M, 1781. 
 Resolved, That five suitable persons be appointed 
 and authorized to open a subscription for a loan of 
 thirty thousand dollars, for the support of such of the 
 citizens of the states of South Carolina and Georgia 
 as have been driven from their country and possessions 
 
■APPENDIX. 231 
 
 by the enemy ; the said states respectively, by their 
 delegates in congress, pledging their faith for the re- 
 payment of the sums so lent with interest, in proportion 
 to the sums which shall be received by their respective 
 citizens, as soon as the legislatures of the said states 
 shall severally be in condition to make provision for 
 so doing, and congress hereby guarantee this obligation. 
 
 That the said five persons do also receive voluntary 
 and free donations to be applied to the further relief of 
 said sufferers. 
 
 Ordered, That the president send a copy of the above 
 resolution to the executive of the several states, not in 
 the power of the enemy, requesting them to promote 
 the success of the said loan and donation, in such way 
 as they shall think best. 
 
 Juhj 2Ath, 1781. 
 Resolved, That Messrs. William Bingham, John 
 Bayard, George Mead, Jacob Barge, and Doctor 
 Hutchinson, be and they are hereby appointed and au- 
 thorized to open a subscription for a loan, agreeable to 
 the resolution, passed yesterday. 
 
 Extract from the minutes, 
 
 Charles Thomson, Secrctar>/. 
 
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