No 38
Gentn We received your Letter just now and are glad to hear the Ship Defence has got her Guns, and that some of the Powder and Arms we expected, had arrived at the Head of Elk, we doubt not your doing every thing for the best in ordering them down ー our Commissary is not in Town, we request you will appoint one pro Tempore and take Care that Nothing may be wanted in the Provision-Way that may be thought necessary, and to put you in Cash, have sent you by Captn [William] Hyde £ 1000 Currency. ー Our Information before your Letter came to Hand was that the Ship anchored short of the Mouth of Patapsco, but that the Tenders went forward; we have some Companies out to guard the Shore on this side of Patapsco & as low as the Mouth of Magoty [Magothy] River, as yet we have received no Intelligence this Morning we can depend upon from that Quarter.ー
We doubt not your exerting yourselves on this Occasion for the public service and your own Preservation, Mr [Charles] Carroll is on the spot, and will order Powder and Lead from Major Gaither's, should any be wanted - we Yesterday ordered Colo Thomas Dorsey to march with the Elk Ridge Battalion ー and are making all necessary Dispositions to prevent their Landing, in Case they should return to Annapolis. We are &c.
[Annapolis] March 9th 10 o'Clock 1776
1. Council of Safety Letter Book, No. 1, Md. Arch.