[Extract]
No 75
Gentn
As it was thought by the last Convention that 50 Regular Troops:would be sufficient to watch the Movements of the Ships of "War and their '"[enders on your Coast, and to repel any sudden Attack or Invasion which might be attempted by small Parties, and as we do not conceive your Situation more dangerous now, than it was then, so we cannot think ourselves at I}berty to
station an additional Number of Men in your County ー We wish to prevent the Militia's being harassed, and apprehend when Captn [Reasori] Beall arrives at his Station, which we imagine will be by the last of ne# Week, there will not be any Occasion for them to move, unless a more fotmidable Force should come up the Bay, than has yet appeared, which we 'have no Reason to expect for some Time, under which Circumstance the Number you speak of would not avail, and the Militia would be under a N(!cessity of
taking the Field.
[Annapolis] 22 March 1776
