Maryland Council to President of the Continental Congress Henry Laurens, August 5, 1778

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In Council Annapolis 5^th Aug^t 1778.

Sir.

We yesterday received a Letter from M^r Richard Harrison from Martinique, advising us of his Sale of the Sloop Molly belonging to this State, to M^r Bingham.¹ Knowing that M^r Bingham is Agent for the congress and presuming that the Purchase was for the Benefit of the United States,² we inclose you Copies of our Instructions to the Captain and of our Letters to M^r Harrison, beyond which he had no Authority.³ In Justice to this State we cannot confirm the Sale and have wrote a Letter to the Captain, now gone up to Baltimore in the Sloop, of which we inclose a Copy,⁴ not doubting but the Congress, on being apprized of the Circumstances of this Affair, will immediately order the Vessel, if purchased for them, to be delivered to our Order. We request the Favor of you Sir to lay this Matter before the Congress and to acquaint us with their Determination.⁵

We are &^ca

Presid^tof Congress.

Maryland Archives 21: 176–77.

1. The letter from Richard Harrison, Maryland's agent in Martinique, dated 18 July, announced the sale of the Maryland State Trading sloop Molly to William Bingham, a merchant and the Continental Commercial agent in Martinique. On the same day as their letter to Laurens, the Council wrote the Maryland delegates in Congress apprising them of the sale. In that letter they said that Harrison had sold Molly, with its six four-pound cannon, for $2,500, adding "We cannot agree to the Injury or Example." Maryland Archives 21: 177.

On 18 Aug., Maryland Delegate to Congress George Plater wrote Gov. Thomas Johnson Jr., that "it does not appear that Mr. Bingham purchased” the sloop Molly “for the Continent.” Letters of Delegates 10: 482.

3. See Maryland Council to Capt. Daniel Deshon and Maryland Council to Richard Harrison, both dated 15 May, in NDAR 12: 359–60 and 360.

4. On 5 Aug., the Council wrote Capt. Daniel Deshon that while they were working out the matter with Congress, for whom they assumed Molly was purchased, Deshon should "not lay out any Thing on the Vessel or give her out of your Hands without our Orders.” Maryland Archives 21: 177–78.

5. On 14 Aug., a more chastened Council wrote its delegates in Congress that they believed Harrison's desperate financial situation, brought on by the state's having not paid its debts in Martinique, had caused him to sell Molly. In order to relieve Harrison and repay those debts the Council asked the delegates to purchase bills of exchange on France “to the Amount of 2400 £ Sterling." Maryland Archives 21: 186.

Document Information

Date

1778 August 5

Volume

Volume 13

Series

American Theater, June 1 to August 15, 1778

Naval Documents of the American Revolution

Maryland Council to President of the Continental Congress Henry Laurens, August 5, 1778

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