Dear Sir

I have seen with a good deal of Concern, what appears to me an unfortunate dispute between Your Excellency and Capt Nicholson in Consequence of his having followed the example of his Brother officers who have for some time been Impressing Men into the Naval Service of the Continent in this Port —

The practice of Impressing Seamen cannot be supported on any other principle than Necessity and I am confident it is a practice as pernicious to the Commercial Interests of a Country as destructive of the Civil Liberty of those Individuals who become its Victims, under these opinions you will readily see I cannot advocate the measure, Nothing but the prospect of great Public advantages to result from a Well Manned Navy woud have induced me to be silent, whilst these things were doing here, but it was properly the business of the Executive power of the State to notice & stop the Practice, they have not interfered & that probably because they saw & Considered the force of Necessity; perhaps no great disadvantages might have resulted to the State of Maryld had you only checked this business so far as it had come before you by Complaint from Individuals whose particular Situations or Circumstances might have called for exemption or protection, [illegible] I don't offer these as fixed Sentiments. or as proper considerations in a settled Peaceable Invironment, because I know they are inconsistant with it but in times of Invasion & War especially such a War as ours, it seems to me that forcing out Militia against their will which I believe to have been much pra[c]tised is an equal infringement of Liberty with the Impressing of them for a limited time for the Naval service & it is to be observed that, it has hitherto been the practice at the end of every Cruize or Voyage made by our Continental Ships the Men have had their libery again; in the British Navy they are generally impressed for Life —

Thus much in paliation only With respect to Capt Nicholson he certainly deserves severe reprehension, the terms of his letter are quite unwarrantable & not a single Member of Congress offered to support him, You will see that the Resolves of Congress place him in your power so far as he values his Commission & at present he is at the head of the American Navy but I think the dispute unfortunate because I have been taught to believe him an excellent & Capable officer, the loss of such a one will be a real misfortune to the Continent & yet I think he ought to be dismissed unless by satisfactory submission he attones for the offensive stile of his letter which I suppose to have been written in warmth influenced by the [illegible] of that Species of Whiggism that savours more of passion than true Patriotism I am told he is of a high Spirit and that it is doubtfull if he will make the Cone[e]ssions he ought, I wish not to be guilty of an improper interference & shall only repeat that if he were dismissed the service it will be a heavy loss ー especially as the next in Command (Capt Manly) is vastly his, inferiour in abilities, & knowing as I do how much Your Exellency wishes to promote the service of America, I cou'd not refrain from mentioning my notions on this Subject

There is also another matter that gives me Concern & that is the detention of Continental Troops on the Eastern Shoar to keep Tories in order at a time when Genl Washington cou'd strike a Capital Stroke was he reinforced by those & others that ought to join him, I wish you wou'd think of this & order them to March on, other Means may be found to keep the Tories in order there, You will merit & acquire the thanks of the continent if You think proper to improve this hint, the resolve of Congress for detaining them was obtained in Consequence of your letter to me on that subject —

The Arms that came in the Ship ² blown up at our Capes I am told [illegible] generally damaged in the explosion, the Continent had 2500, onboard & for your State 500, but the Packages are all blown to pieces and the Muskets mixed therefore of what is saved we must receive in proportion & I am now Sending for the whole to this City to have them put in order & divided, that done I will inform Your Excellency or the Council of Safety & deliver what I receive as my proportion to their order.

The Continent also recd when at Balto 52 bbls of the Powder I imported for your State, supposing it theirs, I will get an order for it & send the same down, for I think that Powder is still at Baltimore. I am very respectfully [&c.]