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Mr˙ Samuel Purviance, Jun˙, Chairman of the Committee of Observation for Baltimore County, in obedience to the order of the 20th instant, appeared before the Council, and was informed by the President that instructions of a very extraordinary nature from him as Chairman of the Committee of Baltimore County to Captain Samuel Smith, and other matters of great importance, had come to the knowledge; of the Council of Safety, for which they had thought proper to call him before them to answer the charge which they imported.
The Instructions were then read in presence of Mr˙ Purviance, and are as follows:
"Baltimore, April 14, 1776.
"SIR: You are requested by the gentlemen of the Committee to proceed in Captain Nicholson' s 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. Should you, before you get there, meet the Governour' s boat or barge, you must by all means endeavour to board her. And in case Governour Eden, his Secretary Mr˙ Smith, or Mr˙ 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 Committee, and held blameless. In case you should not meet such boat or persons, you will please to proceed immediately to Annapolis, and use every precaution to prevent alarm, by obliging the men not to appear in numbers on deck, and causing; the boat to lie at a distance, whilst you go ashore with the; letter delivered you for the gentlemen of the Baltimore Committee, who may be at Annapolis, whose directions you will please to follow after your arrival there.
"You will please to take blunderbusses, and any quantity you see necessary of arms, out of Captain Nicholson' s vessel, which he will readily furnish. Please to consult in everything
"I am, sir, on behalf of the Committee, your very humble servant,
"SAMUEL PURVIANCE, JUN˙, Chairman.
"To Captain Samuel Smith."
Samuel Purviance, Jun., attended, and was informed of the charge against him
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thing with the officer which Captain Nicholson sends with you, and let your measures be kept as secret as possible from the men, at least till it comes to the execution.