Page:1898 NB Magazine.djvu/235

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AT PORTLAND POINT.
221

Maugerville, November 16, 1777.

I promise to deliver to Mr. James White or his order two oxen coming five years old when the ice is strong sufficient to bear them to drive to the Mouth of this River, said White paying me on delivery fifty-five dollars. Witness my hand,

Asa Perley.

Many and difficult were the problems that beset the commander at Fort Howe, and on the whole he displayed both courage and discretion.

The age in which Studholme lived was not particularly remarkable for disinterestedness or virtue, and it need scarcely be a matter of surprise that the muster rolls, both of the Continental troops and of the Loyalist corps, showed many desertions from the ranks. A tew of the garrison at Fort Howe deserted and went to Machias, whence they contrived to send letters to their former comrades urging them to follow their example. Studholme took prompt and stern measures to suppress this evil, as will be seen in the following note to James White:

Fort Howe, 9 Aug't., 1780.

Sir,—I shall esteem it as a favor if you will endeavor to get some Indians to pursue and bring in the three deserters, for each of which I will give ten guineas. Should the soldiers make any opposition the Indians are to make use of force, and if compelled to kill them, they are to bring in their heads for each of which they will receive ten guineas.

I am sir, your most obedient servant,
G. Studholme.

Major Studholme mistrusted the loyalty of many of the old inhabitants, particularly of those who had composed the "rebel committee" formed in May, 1776. At this time letters sent by the Cartel ships to persons residing in the old colonies were personally inspected by Studholme, and on one occasion he arrested Israel Perley in consequence of certain expressions in a letter to the Rev. Seth Noble. Mr Perley was examined before James White in his capacity as a Justice of the Peace, and Lieut. Sam'l Denny Street appeared as prosecutor on Studholme's behalf.[1] Studholme, in his

  1. ↑ The proceedings at the examination will be found in full in the Collection of the N. B. Hist. Soc., p. 328.
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