The following Letter was sent to Capt Nicholsonー

Sir - Baltimore 9 March 1776 ー I am directed by the Committee of Baltimore to inform you, that, should the Tenders escape you, before you get down to Mr Hudson's Ship, and join the Otter, it is their Opinion, it would [be] improper for you to attack them all together, and that if you think there is a Probability of their coming to attack you, it would be most adviseable for you to return to Whetstone Point or Fells Point, to be ready to protect the Town, & remain there, until you are properly enabled to attack the whole united Force ー All the Vessels at Whetstone are getting . Ballasted, & will be ready for Sinking, when you see a Necessity for doing it ー P Order of the Committee

S. Purviance Chn

The Committee having recieved Information by Paul Miller that the Otter Sloop is aground on the Bodkin Shoals, & that Capt Nicholson desired a Reinforcement of Men, Major Gist is directed to dispatch empty Vessels to lighten his Ship to be under the Direction of Capt Nicholson ー A letter from Capt Nicholson was just reced informing them of retaking Mr Hudson's Ship, & desiring Vessels to be sent to lighten her, but that being already done, which he could not know, when he wrote, the Committee thought it needless to send moreー

9 oClock P.M.

An Express just arrived from North Point with Information, that the Otter & her Tenders & Prizes had left the Mouth of the River, and stood down the Bay, on which William Adams was instantly dispatched with an Express to the Council of Safety, giving them the Informationー