Secretary John Brown of the Continental Marine Committee to Maryland Delegate to Congress Samuel Chase, August 14, 1778

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[Philadelphia]

Sir

The Marine Committee have directed the Navy Board at this place¹ to send all the stores from Saved the British Frigate Mermaid to the Continental Agents in Virginia, except the Anchors, Guns, Provisions & Spirits which are to be brought up here—in both cases they are to be conveyed in the safest way mixing as much Water with land carriage as possible—It is not in my power to give you a Copy of the orders to the Navy Board have given the officer sent down to execute this business² I am sir [&c.]

John Brown

14 Aug^t.

MdAA, Maryland State Papers, Red Books, S989-15-70 (MdHR 4571-63A-B). Addressed below close: “S Chase Esq.” Chase enclosed this letter in his to Governor Thomas Johnson, Jr., of Maryland, 14 August. In it, Chase wrote: “I have not been able to get further Information respecting Mermaid than the inclosed will give you. I in[tend] to mention the Matter to Congress, but believe it would be adviseable for [you] to maintain the Jurisdiction of our court of Admiralty.” Letters of Delegates 10: 443.

1. Continental Navy Board of the Middle Department.

2. The French fleet had forced H.M. frigate Mermaid, Capt. James Hawker, ashore in July. The board’s instructions to Capt. Thomas Bell reflecting what Brown wrote in this letter and dated 1 August is in MdAA, Maryland State Papers, Red Books, S989 (MdHR 4588-73). On the dispute with Maryland authorities that these instructions engendered, see Joseph Dashiell to Thomas Johnson Jr., 9 Aug., above.

Document Information

Date

1778 August 14

Volume

Volume 13

Series

American Theater, June 1 to August 15, 1778

Naval Documents of the American Revolution

Secretary John Brown of the Continental Marine Committee to Maryland Delegate to Congress Samuel Chase, August 14, 1778

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