374 Journal and Correspondence

C. S. J.

send to assist you and such a number of armed men as may be
necessary, and therewith proceed as speedily as possible for
Annapolis.
Should you before you get there meet the Governor's Boat
or Barge, you must by all Means endeavour to board her.
And in Case Governor Eden, his Secretary M^r Smith, or M^r
Alexander Ross are found on Board, you are by all means to
seize their Persons and Papers and instantly return with them
under the strictest Guard to Baltimore, for doing which you
may depend on being protected and justified by the Com-
mittee and held blameless. In Case you should not meet such
Boat or Persons, you'll please to proceed immediately to
Annapolis and use every Precaution to prevent Alarm by
obliging the men not appear in numbers on Deck, and causing
the Boat to ly at Distance, whilst you go ashore with the Letter
delivered you for the Gentlemen of Baltimore Committee who
may be at Annapolis, whose Directions you'll please to follow
after your Arrival there. You'll please to take Blunderbusses
and any Qnt^y you see necessary of Arms out of Cap^t Nichol-
son's Vessel which he will readily furnish. Please to consult
in every thing with the Officer w^h Cap^t 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. I am Sir on
Behalf of the Comm
Your very hb^l Serv^t
Sam. Purviance jun^r Chair.
To Cap^t Sam. Smith. Balt. 14 Ap^l 1776.

On the Back of the above Instructions was thus indorsed to
wit,

"Sir,
You will take Care to proceed with what Number of men
you may think necessary out of your Company, agreeable to
the annexed Instructions. Wishing you a pleasant and pros-
perous Voyage, am yours truly
M Gist
To Cap^t Sam^l Smith. 16 Ap^l 1776.

M^r Purviance was then examined concerning said Instruc-
tions and other matters, and his Examination taken in Writing,
(a Copy whereof is filed.) He was told by the President he
might be furnished from the Clerk with a Copy of his Exam-
ination in Order that he might explain such of his answers as
he thought proper.
Ordered That the Treasurer of the Western Shore pay to
Mess^rs Daniel and Sam. Hughes two hundred Pounds Currency.