[Extract]

Gent. Capt Tibbit [James Tibbett] in a Brig from Statia, purchased & loaded by Abram Vanbebber for our Province, arrived here last Week,
² the Capt applied to us for Orders agreable to Directions, he had received 'for that Purpose from Vanbebber; We ordered the Cargo to be landed & stored, and the Hands to be discharged ー a few Days since Application was made to Us, for the Sale of the Brig to the Congress, which We agreed to, and have delivered her up with the Guns Stores &c the Accts relative to her, will be settled in a few Days, & shall be transmitted ー You have inclosed a List of the Goods imported, all of which, 'will be forwarded by the Stages, except the Duck, We have retained this, till your Orders, it is an Article very scarce & dear in this City, if you do not want the whole Quantity, We can sell it, at a Price that will leave a considerable Profit ー ... We make no doubt you have heard various Reports relative to a Mr.[Robert] Temple, who came passenger in the Packet & is now in this City, before his Arrival here it was asserted, that he was charged with Dispatches from the Minority to Congress, that Commrs were appointed with full powers, and that if on their Arrival in America, the different Assemblies refused to treat, they were to treat with Congress; Temple on his Arrival, delivered his Budget, which was truly Garnial, being only a Button of his Coat, in which was contained a Scrawl from Arthur Lee informing Congress, that Troops were to sail from Ireland, & for the Particulars, referring to Temple who could give Information, as he Lee had acquainted him with the State of Affairs & the Designs of Administration; We have now seen Temple, it is said, he is sick, some say he is mad, from his Conduct in taking this Journey to deliver such a trifling Letter, if this is his sole business, the latter Opinion seems well founded. ー the Packet Letters are put on Board the Asia Man of War, the Post Master, it is reported has refused to deliver any Letters, unless the Postage of the whole is paid ー We are in Expectation of an Express from Boston; Genl Washington took Possesssion of Dorchester Point which commands South Boston, it is said by the [receipt of] a Letter to Congress that Howe was embarquing his Artillery Stores &[c] in the greatest Confusion  We are with Respect [&c.]

The Delegates of Maryland

Phila 19 March 1776.