Gent/ We have had an Alarm here of a very interesting Nature, we think it advisable to communicate the Intelligence by express, at the same time letting you know what we have done therein ー and we are induced to expedite our dispatch because we do not know but that the Congress may have taken some steps in the same affair, Copies having been forwarded to them from the Committee of Observation for Baltimore County, to whom the whole Packett was transmitted by the Committee of Safety of Virginia, we think very improperly; as the Address ought to have been made in the first place to us. Some time past Alexander Ross (a great Scoun[drel] we fear) applyed to our board for a permit to Lord Dunmore under pretence of private business, getting some Money that was due to him as he alledged; he brought us a Letter from: two Gent of the Congress Messrs [Robert] Alexander and [John] Rogers, which we doubt R.A. remembers. ー We Refused to give him any other-permitt than to the Comee of Safety of Virginia, thither he went we are told, but could get no permitt to Dunmore, he got a Letter tis said to the Commee of Hampton ー they declined giving him any passport; he went to Lord Dunmore without any and on his way back was stopt by Capt [James] Barron, who took. from him some Letters to .Governor Eden and particularly a Circular Letter also a private Letter from Ld G. Germaine, which we take it for granted you have seen, sorµe.oJ the Commee of Balt Assuring us they fonyarded Duplicates to the Congress.-:-on Receit, o~ those

Letters Monday afternoon we immediately gave orders to apprehend Ross ー and the next Morning a Deputation from our board together with W. Paca Esqr t~en in Town waited on the Governor, showed him the Copys of the Intercepted Letters, and requested a sight of his Letter of the 27th of August to Lord Dartmouth, ー the Governor declard to us that he had sent away the Copy of that Letter with all his other Papers of Consequence last fall, and could not remember the particulars but observed we might be convinced there was nothing of a nature unfriendly to the peace of this province, because the Troops going to the Southward were not ordered here. ー he asserted also upon his honour that he had not endeavour'd to enflame the Ministry, by traducing the Character of Individuals, some he had spoke well of, others he had recommended as sufferers ー the Gent of the Congress he had spoke of as acting within the Line of Moderation.

The Deputation informd him they were instructed to ask his parole that he would not leave the province till the meeting of the Convention; he complained of being unjustly suspected gave us his Letter from Wm Eden Esqr his Brother one of the Under Secretarys also from Lord Dartmouth

(Copies of which we had leave to take and herewith transmitt you)-he desired time till this day 12. o'Clock to give his definitive Answer-he has given it, and we send you a Copy thereof we look upon it as giving his parol in effect that he will not leave the province till the Convention, and will endeavour to promote the peace thereof; in the mean time. ー he wishes to continue in that Line of conduct as long as he can consistent with his station, and will not leave the province, after the Convention, provided they will Assure him that when he finds he can no longer stay with peace and consistency, he may have leave to Depart and carry his effects-this we promised to recommend to our friends in Convention. ー W. P. [Paca] agrees with us in Opinion that we may rest satisfyed with this answer and not call the Convention sooner than the 27th of May, unless some thing further should intervene. ー You .have probably heard that our Convention did not meet agreeable to their late adjournmt on friday Evening 26 Members who were collected agreed to Seperate and that G. Duvall should write a circular Letter informing the Delegates that the Members Assembled recommended the holding a Convention on the 27th of May-we inclose also a Copy of their Circular Letter.

The Indignity Offerd our Board by the Commee of Safety in Virginia and the want of Confidence in the Balt. Commee to say nothing more harsh we cannot help complaining of-We know of no good cause for this insult in passing . us by, nor can we conceive what Motives could induce such treatment. ー We send you by Mr Green ー who will hand you this ー 1372 ;0. 7 Currency in Gold for die Continental service. W. P. has delivered in this Money he brought for the Treasury. ー be pleased 1-to ー forward the Money plates by Mr Green if not 'already sent.

We are Gent with respect [&c.J p order;

P.S. ー the last Ton of Continental powder if notalready serit to Chester we would have orderd to Balto having already sent powder to the Eastern shore-The Copies of the Governors Letters are sent in confidence and are not to be printed-Our Ansr to his Excy's Letter you shall receive by next Post.