USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial Records of Pennsylvania Volumes 1 > Part 35
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Ordered, That the Sum of Six thousand Dollars be sent to Tho's Heslip & Sam'l Culbertson, Esq'rs, Commissioners for the purchasing of Provisions in the County of Chester, and that the same be Sealed up, directed to them, & forwarded by Capt. Stephen Coobran ; which was done accordingly.
James M'Leno and James Reed, Esq'rs, a Committee from the Hon'ble House of General Assembly, attended in Council & in- formed the Council that the House was now met, & desired to know if the Council had any business to lay before the House. The Council informed the Committee of their having appointed Jacob S. Howell to be Receiver General of Cloathing in the room of Colo. Francis Johnson, and delivered to them a Copy of his said appointment.
Ordered, That the Sum of Ten thousand Dollars, to Peter Evans and Colo. John Moore, Commissioners for purchasing Provisions in Philadelphia County, & the Sum of Six thousand to And'w Kichlien & Jos Green, Commissioners for the said purpose in the County of Bucks, be sealed up, directed & forwarded by Mr. Jas Cummins, & was forwarded accordingly.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
1 LANCASTER, Monday February 23, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THOS. WHARTON, juu'r, Esq'r, President. Joseph Hart, Thomas Urie, & }
John Hambright, Thomas Scott, Esq'rs.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Hon'ble George Bryan, Vice President, for the Sum of Fifty Pounds on ac- count of his salary.
The Hon'ble House of General Assembly, by a Committee, ao- quainted the Council that they apprehend that the board of War had given orders to their Superintendants of Provisions, &ca., which the House conceived to be a violation of the laws of the State, & requested that the Council will join them in a free conference on this subject,
Ordered, That the Hon'ble House of General Assembly be in- formed, that the Council will confer with them in the Assembly room, at four O'Clock this Afternoon.
His Excell'y the President & the Council having conferred with the Hon'ble House of Representatives, agreeable to the order of the day, & the House requesting to be furnished with the following pa- pers relating to the subject of conference, Vizt. :
"The instructions of the Board of War to their Superintendants of Provisions.
"The plan laid down by the Superintendants for the purchase, dea., of Provisions.
"The instructions for the Millers, dated 1. th Jan'ry, 1778.
" A Letter from the Superintendants to the Board of War, dated Feb'ry 11, 1778.
" A Letter dated Feb'ry 12, 1778, Signed, R. S. Hooper, Deputy Q'r General, to the Purchasers under the Superintendants;" there- upon,
Ordered, That a Letter be written to the Hon'ble J. B. Smith, Keq'r, requesting that he will procure Copies of the said Papers, and forward them by express to this Board immediately.
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MINUTES OF THE
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Tuesday February 24, 1778
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President. Joseph Hart, Thomas Scott, &
John Hambright, James Edgar, Esq'rs.
Thomas Urie,
The following Address was read, to Wit :
" To the President & Council, now sitting at Lancaster:
" These may show that We, the Subscribers, being appointed on behalf of the Westerly quarterly Meeting of the People called Quakers, in order to lay before you various deeply distressing cases & circumstances that nearly effect us as a Religious Society, request an admittance, to be heard by you for the purpose abovesaid, which favor will be acknowledged by Your real friends.
(Signed,) " WARNER MIFFLIN, " JOSEPH HUSBAND,
" JAMES JACKSON, " ABR'M GIBBONS, " W'M JACKSON, jun'r, "JACOB LINDLEY.
" Lancaster, the 23d of the 2nd Month, 1778."
Ordered, That the Subscribers of the said request be informed that the Council are willing to attend to their representation, to be made in Writing, & are disposed to hear them on such matters as may be contained therein, so far as is within the cognizance of Council.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Christ'n Zorn. for Twelve Pounds Seven Shillings & Six Pence, for riding ex- press.
An ofder was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Tho's Lieper, James Hunter, Will'm Hall, & John Dunlap, for the Sum of Six- teen Pounds Ten Shillings, for their expences in takeing the Paroles of John Penn, James Hamilton & Joseph Shippen, Esq'rs, by order of Council.
The following representation was read, Viz :
" LANCASTER, 24th 2 mo., 1778. " To the President & Council, now sitting at Lancaster :
" We the Subscribers, are desirous to lay before you, ' First,' the case of a number of our Friends, now under confinement at Win- chester in Virginia, by the Authority of your body, as We apprehend,
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. 427
whose release we strongly desire, or if that cannot be obtained, that three or more of them, on behalf of the rest, may be heard in their own vindication, either before Council or Congress, as you may direct. Secondly, That you would weightely consider the situation of four of our Friends, closely confined in the common Goal of this Borough. Thirdly, That you would interpose for our relief in case of exorbitant Fines, taken from us, because of our Conscience sake, we cannot yield our personal service in War. Fourthly, We desire redress of grievance in a certain Law, com- monly called the T'est Law.
(Signed,) "WARNER MIFFLIN, "JOSEPH HUSBAND, " JAMES JACKSON, " AB'M GIBBONS, "WILL'M JACKSON, jun'r, "JACOB LINDLEY.
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" Lancaster 24th 2 mo., 1778." 1
And the Subscribers of the said representation having requested to be heard in Council on the several subjects mentioned thercin, were accordingly admitted & heard. The Council in the course of a conference with these People, which continued several hours, in- formed them That the Council had it in contemplation to represent the case of the said Prisoners at Winchester to the Hon'ble House of General Assembly, & that they judged it was probable the House would take the same into their consideration ; That the Arrest of the said Prisoners, & their removal to Virginia, was at the request & under the direction of Congress, before whom that matter at present wholly lies ; That as to the other matters con- tained therein, they are not any of them within the power or au- thority of the Council ; They appear to be cases wherein the law is executed; & that Council are not vested with any authority to alter them in any case whatever; That if any person be confined contrary to Law, their case may be laid before the Judges, or one of them, whose duty it is to hear them; And that if it is appre- hended that the Law in any instance is grievous or oppressive, the Legislative authority may be applied to for alteration or amend- ments in such instance.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Capt. Marshall, for the Sum of Three hundred Dollars, for the recruiting service, for which he is to account. Order dated yesterday.
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MINUTES OF THE
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Wednesday February 25, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S. WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Joseph Hart, Thomas Scott,
John Hambright, Thomas Urie, Jacob Morgan,
James Edgar, & (Esq'gs.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Capt. Willis, for the Sum of eight Dollars, in part of his expences in forwarding dispatches to the Commissioners for purchasing of Provisions, and to the Waggon Masters, of the Counties of Bucks & Philadelphia.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Colo. Is'c Mel- chior, Barrack Master, for the Sum or Two Thousand Dollars, for which he is to account.
Leonard Reed, appointed to be Waggon Master of the County of Berks, having resigned; thereupon,
Ordered, That Colo. Henry Haller be appointed Waggon Mas- ter of the County of Berks, in the room of Leonard Reed, who has resigned.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Jacob S. Howell, for the Sum of One Thousand Pounds, for which he is to account.
And an order was drawn on Jacob S. Howell for the Sum of One thousand Pounds, in favor of Jas Dundas, Paymaster of the People employed at Billingsport, for which he is to acco't.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Thursday Feb'ry 26, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S. WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Joseph Hart, John Hambright, James Edgar, & & Esq'rs.
Thomas Scott,
Thomas Urie, Jacob Morgan,
His Excell'y Gen'l Washington having enclosed to His Excell'y the President, an Address to the inhabitants of New Jersey, Penn- sylvania, Delaware, Maryland & Virginia, requesting that the same may be published, & submiting to the consideration of Council whether it may not serve to encrease its effects, if it were ushered into the Papers of this State with a recommendation from His Excell'y the President.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
On consideration, Ordered, That the following Proclamation be published, with His Excell'y Gen'l Washington's address above said :
" By the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
"A PROCLAMATION :
" WHEREAS, His Excell'y Gen'l Washington hath thought proper to address the inhabitants of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland & Virginia, recommending it to them to put up & feed immediately as many of their Stock Cattle as they can spare for the supply of the Army, in the Months of May, June & July next, as in the said address hereunto subjoined doth more at large ap- pear :
" We, the Supreme Executive Council, being desirous to promote a measure so essentially necessary at this time, do earnestly recom- mend it to the good people of this State, to exert themselves in an- swering the purposes of His Excell'ys address, as all circumstances seem happily to conspire in rendering the approaching Campaign decisive, & the fruit of our toil is not only in view, but even within reach ; we hope all those who wish well to their Country, & have it in their power to contribute anything to the support of our Army, in the way recommended by the General, will exert them- selves on this occasion. We can have no doubt of the virtuous in- tentions of the good people of this State, in a cause so righteous as the present contest with Great Britain most certainly is, & there- fore. firmly rely on their exertions to afford the relief required in due time.
" By Order of the Council, "(Signed) THOMAS WHARTON, jun'r, President. "(Attest)-T. MATLACK, Secretary.
. " LANCASTER, Feb'ry 27, 1778."
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" To the Inhabitants of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia :
" Friends, Countrymen and Fellow Citizens :
"After three Campaigns, during which the brave Subjects of these States have contended, not unsuccessfully, with one of the most powerful kingdoms upon earth, we now find ourselves at least upon a level with our opponents ; & there is the best reason to believe that efforts adequate to the abilities of this Country would enable us speedily to conclude the War, & to secure the invaluable bless- . ings of Peace, Liberty & Safety. With this view, it is in contem-
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MINUTES OF THE
plation at the opening of the next Campaign, to assemble a force sufficient not barely to cover the Country from a repetition of those depredations which it hath already suffered, but also to operate of- fensively, & strike some decisive blow. In the prosecution of this object, it is to be feared, that so largo an Army must suffer for. want of Provisions. The distance between this & the Eastern States, whence considerable supplies of Flesh have been hitherto drawn, will necessarily render those supplies extremely precarious ; And unless the virtucus Yeomanry of the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland & Virginia, will exert them- selves to prepare Cattle for the use of the Army during the Months of May, June & July next, great difficulties may arise in the course of the Campaign. It is therefore recommended to the inhabitants of those States, to put up & feed immediately as many of their Stock Cattle as they can spare, so as they may be driven to this Army within that period. A bountiful price will be given, and the pro- prietors may assure themselves that they will render a most essen- tial service to the illustrious cause of their Country, & contribute in a great degree to shorten this bloody contest. But should there be any so insensible to the common interest as not to exert them- selves upon these generous principles, the private interest of those whose situation makes them liable to become immediate Sub- . jects to the enemy's incursions, should prompt them at least to a a measure which is calculated to save their property from plunder, their families from insult, & their own persons from abuse, hopeless confinement, or perhaps a violent death.
(Signed) "G. WASHINGTON.
" HEAD QUARTERS, Valley Forge, l " February 28, 1778."" -
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The Council met.
LANCASTER, Friday February 27, 1778. PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Joseph Hart, Thomas Scott, r Thomas Urie, Jacob Morgan,
John Hambright, James Edgar, & Esq'rs.
The Justices of the Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the County of Westmoreland having recommended Archibald Lochry, Esq'r, to be a person qualified to act as Clerk of the said Court; thereupon,
Ordered, That the sai"
Tochry
Clerk of the Court of ( County of Westmorel
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. 431
The following representation to the Hon'ble House of Repre- sentatives having been now read and considered, Vizt :
"LANCASTER, February 26th, 1778. ' .
" To the Honorable the House of Representatives of the Freemen of the State of Pennsylvania :
" The Supreme Executive Council of the said State represent:
" That from the excessive price of all the necessaries of life, and other circumstances attending the present situation of this State, the salaries and fees heretofore established, or allowed to the re- spective Civil Officers of this State, is found not to be now a reasonable compensation for the duties of such Officers, whereby the execution of the laws hath been greatly impeded, and in some cases rendered impracticable to be executed, and, therefore, claims the serious attention of the Legislature; That after having made enquiry for proper persons to engage in the recruiting service, upon the encouragement given by your Honourable House, the Council was obliged to apply to His Excellency General Washington, to recommend Officers of the Army for this purpose. The gentlemen named by him have entered upon the business under great disad- vantages, confiding that their case will be considered by the Gene- ral Assembly, and such further compensation allowed them as the House, in their wisdom, shall judge to be reasonable and adequate to the expense of this duty; And we have assured them that Council would endeavour to obtain the attention of the Honorable House to this matter; That it appears to Council to be worthy of the consideration of your Honorable House, whether the exempting from militia duty for a certain time each man who shall take up a Deserter from the Continental Army and deliver him to some proper officer, may not be attended with considerable success in fill- ing up a Quota of Troops in the Army, and preventing of de- sertion ; That the case of those Prisoners arrested as dangerous and disaffected persons, agreeable to the recommendation, and under this authority sent into the State of Virginia as a place of more security than this State was at that time supposed to be, appears to require your serious attention ; not only as it relates to these gen- tlemen in particular, but also to a great number of others who have refused or neglected to give the assurance of allegiance to the State which is required by law; And that there are several persons con- fined in the Goals of this State for refusing to give assurance of allegiance, who cannot, as the law now standa, be sent into the State to which they belong, although they may be able and willing to give security for their immediate return there, and to submit themselves to the Laws of such State.
"T. B .- A Memorial from these people addressed to the Council, t Herewith.
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Ordered, The same be presented to the Hon'ble House of Gen- eral Assembly, together with the remonstrance received from the Prisoners sent from this State into the State of Virginia, under the authority of Congress.
The Council taking into consideration the return of Justices from the several Townships in the County of Bedford,
Ordered, That Henry Rhodes, Will'm Tyshur, James Wells, Francis More & David Jones, be appointed Justices of the Peace for the said County of Bedford, & that they be Commissioned accord- ingly.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Saturday February 28, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Joseph Hart, John Hambright, Thomas Urie, Jacob Morgan,
Thomas Scott,
James Edgar, & Esq'rs.
Lieutenant John Cobea having laid before Council a Certifi- cate signed by Will'm Henry, Esq'r, that Peter Magee, Amos Tharp & Dan'l Ramsdale, have voluntarily inlisted with him, and were sworn before the said Will'm Henry, Esq'r, and requested a further supply of Money ; thereupon,
An order was drawn on the 'Treasurer in favor of Lieut. John Cobea, for the Sum of One hundred and Fifty Dollars, for which he is to account.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Mr. John Dun- lap, for the Sum of Three hundred & two Pounds. Two Shillings & Six Pence, for Printing Work done by him.
Archibald Lochry, Esq'r, Prothonotary of the County of West- morland, having made Oath, that on or about the 16th day of this instant, Feb'ry, agreeable to an Act of General Assembly of Pean- sylvania, he had demanded in Writing of Mich'l Hoofnagle, Eaq'r, late Prothonotary of the County of Westmorland, all the Books, Papers, Records & Seals belonging to the Prothonotary's Office, of & for the said County, and that the said Mich'l Hoofnagle then did, and hitherto hath refused & neglected to deliver the same or any part thereof ; thereupon,
Ordered, That the said Mich'l Hoofnagle, Esq'r, be Arrested & . confined according to Law, and that the Sheriff of the County of Cumberland be authorized & directed to aid & assist the said Azobi- bald Lochry, Esq'r, in the searching for, & procuring the mid Books, Papers, &ca., and if necessary, to break open in the day time, any House or Houses where the same may respected to be.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council Met.
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LANCASTER, Monday March 2, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, Jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Joseph Hart, John Hambright, Thomas Urie, Jacob Morgan,
Thomas Scott, James Edgar, & Esq'rs.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Christ's Wirts, Town Major, for the Sum of Three hundred & Eighty-nine Pounds Two Shillings & Seyen Pence, Money advanced by him, & his Pay,, &ca.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Tuesday March 3, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President. Joseph Hart, Thomas Scott,
John Hambright, James Edgar, & Esq'rs. Thomas Urie, Jacob Morgan,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Hon'ble Tho's Urie, Esq'r, for the Sum of One hundred Pounds, to be charged.to him.
The Council Met.
LANCASTER, Wednesday March 4, 1778. .
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Joseph Hart, Thomas Soott,
John Hambright, James Edgar, & ( Esq'ra. Thomas Urie, Jacob Morgan,
Some difficulties having arisen with respect to the Pay of the- Commissioners appointed by the Council of Safety to purchase- Ofosthing, & the same being now considered,
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Council, that the allow- amos ordered by the Council of Safety, made to the Commissioners appointed by them for collecting of Closthing, be paid by the VOL. XI~28.
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Clothier General of the United States; & if he shall judge that any charge made for this service is too high, it is recommended to him not to Pay the same, unless the Party shall qualify to the truth of his account.
The Hon'ble House of Assembly having been informed that the Council had received the Resolves of Congress respecting the Magazines to be laid up for the Army ;
The orders of the board of War to their Superintendants;
The orders issued by the Superintendants to the Militia; & divers other Papers relating to this business, the whole No. 1 @ 9 in- clusive ;
A Committee of the House attended in Council to confer on this important Business. This Committee consisted of Mr. Bayard, (the Speaker of the House,) Mr. Knox, Mr. Lollur, Mr. Lowman, Mr. McLene, Mr. Whitehill, Mr. Lowry & Mr. Ralston.
And the said Papers from No. 1 @@ 9 inclusive, were read, & the same being taken into consideration, & some time being spent there- on,
Agreed, That a Representation of the situation of the business of establishing the Magazines be drawn up & laid before the House of Assembly, & with their approbation presented to the Hon'ble Congress.
The Council Met.
LANCASTER, Thursday March 5, 1778. PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Joseph Hart, Thomas Scott,
John Hambright, James Edgar, & > Esq'rs.
Thomas Urie, Jacob Morgan,
The Committee of General Assembly again met in conference on the business of establishing Magazines, and the following repre- sentation was read, Viz't .:
[Blank in Council Book. ]
And after a second reading, Agreed :
That the said Representation be laid before the Hon'ble House of General Assembly, & that the same be forwarded to Congress, with the approbation of the House, be signed by the President & the Speaker of the House.
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met.
LANCASTER, Friday March 6, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Joseph Hart, Thomas Scott,
John Hambright, James Edgar, & Esq'rs.
Thomas Urie, Jacob Morgan,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Peter Dehaven, for the Sum of Five Hundred Pounds, for which he is to do- count. 1
'A Letter from His Excell'y the President of Congress, dated March 1st, 1778, enclosing Resolves of Congress of 26th of Feb'ry, respecting Prisoners & Quota of Troops, and return of deficiencies in the Quotas of the several States of the Continental Army ;
A Letter from the Committee of Congress at Camp, proposing that this State furnish 250 Horses for the Army ;
Ordered, That the same be laid before the Hon'ble House of General Assembly.
A Committee of the Hon'ble House of General Assembly in- formed the Council that James MoLene & R. Whitehill, Esq'rs, are appointed by the House to attend the Congress at Yorktown, &os,
Ordered, That the Hon'ble Tho's Scott, Esq, be appointed to attend on Congress, in conjunction with the Committee of the Hon'ble House of General Assembly, to present the joint represen- tation of Council & General Assembly respecting the establishing of Magazines for the Army, and to confer with the Delegates of Pennsylvania in Congress, & such others as Congress may appoint on this business ; and also on the Subject of the Prisoners now in Virginia, and others, mentioned in the address of this day, which last mentioned Address is as follows, Viz't. :
[Blank in Council Book.]
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The Council met.
LANCASTER, Saturday March 7, 1778. PRESENT :
His Excell'y THOS. WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Joseph Hart, Thomas Scott,
John Hambright, James Edgar, & Kaq'ra.
Thomas Urie, Jacob Morgan.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Colo. Adam Hubley, for One Thousand Dollars, for the recruiting Service, for which he is to account.
Ordered, That Mr. Hambright procure as many Saddles as he ona get made in this Borough, until further orders, on the 'beat terms he is able.
The Council Met.
LANCASTER, Monday March 9, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Joseph Hart, Thomas Scott,
John Hambright, James Edgar, &
Thomas Urie,
Jacob Morgan.
( Bg's.
Letter from Gen'l Washington, dated 7th inst., respecting Weg- gona, were read and considered ;
Ordered, That extracts from the joint Representations of the Council & Gen'l Assembly to Congress of the 6th instant & of a Letter of the - instant, in reply to his Letter, & such remarks as may further explain these extracts.
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The Council Met.
LANCASTER, Tuesday March 10, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Joseph Hart, Thomas Scott,
John Hambright, James Edgar, & {Enq'ra.
Thomas Urie, Jacob Morgan.
The Council having consulted with the members of General As- combly,
Ordered, That blank in Council book
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
The Council met. LANCASTER, Wednesday March 11, 1778.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, Esq'r, President.
Joseph Hart, Thomas Scott,
John Hambright, Thomas Urie, Jacob Morgan.
James Edgar, &
(Req're.
Letter from Henry Laurens, Esq'r, inclosing Siz blank Commis- sions for private Ships of War.
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. An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Capt. Thomas's Dorsey, Paymaster of Militia, for the Sum of Three thousand Dol- lars, for which he is to account. (Paid Postage 78 6, Ex. 7 letters. )
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