[Extract]
... I called on Mr [Robert] Morris to know the quantity of Arms & powder imported by him for the province, he was from home, his Clerk inform[ed] me about 400 stand of arms & 3500 lbs of Cannon powder, I have directed a Gent of Maryland now in this city to receive them & to forward them by the stages to Elk from thence to send them in a Boat to Back River in Balt. City, with orders for the skipper of the boat to proceed to Balt Town & there take directions, in what manner to land them. I have taken this precaution to avoid all danger for should any Tender or armed vessel be cruising in Patapsco River, the boat can proceed to the head of Back River & land the arms & powder within five miles of the town ー if no vessel of the Enemy, she can run round without any great expence incurred by the delay ー last night a ship arrived here from Bristol which she left the 17th of Decr she cleared out for Cork to avoid suspission, notwithstanding which, she was strictly searched & a letter being discovered, directed to a Mercht in Philadelphia, the ship was detained but the letter being merely on private business the Capt on his petition, was discharged & permitted to sail some News-papers & private letters are brought in they were stowed away by a messenger in the bottom of a Barrel of bread, which being placed in a careless manner, as if for the ships use, it escaped the search, one of the letters was directed to Willing & Morris,
without any signature ー it contained a printed copy of my Lord North's conciliatory act by which all American vessels found on the Coast of Great Britain or Ireland are to be seized; & confiscated on the first day of January ー all American Vessels sailing into or out off the ports of America after the first of March are to be seized & confiscated, all foreign vessels trading to America after the first of June to be seized all Communication between Great Britain or Ireland or the British West Indies with America to be cut of[f] all captures made by British Ships of War or by the Officers of the Kings troops in America adjudged by this act to be lawful prizes and as such Courts of admiralty to proceed in their condemnation all orders, for the regulation of Courts of Admiralty in America, heretofore made by the King in council or which may hereafter be made, are confirmed ー the Boston port bill, the fishery bill, and the restraining act are repealed by this Bill, the Colonies being in the like circumstances & situation ー the last clause of this more than diabolical act enables the King to appoint Commissioners to grant pardons & receive the submissions of any province, County, Town or District ー I shall make no comments on this act, it is only a further step in that system of Tyranny, hitherto pursued by that ---- who under the influence of a Scotch Junto now disgraces the British throne. what measures Congress may pursue in consequence of this act, I know not with me every Idea of Reconciliation is precluded by the conduct of G. Britain, & the only alternative, absolute slavery or Independency, the latter I have often reprobated both in public & private, but am now almost convinced the measure is right & can be iListified by necessity ー the Gent who inclosed the Bill to W & M, writes that 26000 troops are to be employed in America that a sufft body of men are to defend Boston, while difft bodies are to attack New York, Virginia & South Carolina, that Lord [Charles] Cornwallis is destined for the last place with 5000 men & was to sail in January. . . .