Sir

You are requested by the Gentlemen of the [Baltimore] Committee to proceed in Capt Nicholsons Tender with any Officer he may send to assist you and such a Number of Armed Men as may be necessary, and therewith proceed as Speedily as possible for Annapolis ー Should you, before you get there, meet the Governor's Barge or Boat, you must by all means endeavour to board her, & in case Governor Eden, his Secretary Mr Smith, or Mr Alexander Ross are found onboard you are by all means to seize their Persons & Papers, and instantly return with them under the strictest Guard to Baltimore, for doing which you may depend on being protected & justified by the Committee & held blameless ー in case you should not meet such Boat or Persons, you'l please to proceed Immediately to Annapolis and use every Precaution to prevent an Alarm by obliging the Men not to appear in N umber on Deck, and causing the Boat to lye at a Distance, while you go on shore with the Letter delivered you for the Gentlemen of the Baltimore Committee, who may be at Annapolis, whose Directions you'l please to follow after your Arrival there ー You'l please to take Blunderbusses and any Quantity you see necessary of Arms out of Capt Nicholson's Vessel which he will readily furnish ー please to consult in every Thing with the Officer, which Capt Nicholson sends with you, and let your Measures be kept as secret as possible from the Men at least, until it comes to the Execution ー I am in behalf of the Committee [&c.] Saml Purviance Junr Chn ~