290 Journal and Correspondence

C. S. C.

Gaither who was Ensign to the Company unless there should

appear substantial Objections against his being advanced to
the first Lieutenancy. We desire therefore you will inform
us whether you apprehend William Gaither would be an
improper Person to fill that Station and whether the others
would answer for second Lieutenant and Ensign, or if you
think there are Gentlemen in that Company mere deserving
Preferment we should be glad you would mention them to us.
27^th March 1776

Original.

[Maryland Deputies to Council.]

Phil^a 26 March 1776.
Gen^l The inclosed contains a state of the powder and
arms we have sent from hence. Willing and Morris still
assure us they daily expect an arrival of powder to enable
them to furnish us with the Quantity they contracted for
they were but partly interested in the Salt petre which arrived
& had not the management of it nor was it in their power to
procure any of it to be manufactured for us the Congress
having immediately on the arrival of the Salt petre taken up
all the Powder Mills If you think it necessary we have no
Doubt but that we can borrow a Ton of powder more as it
begins now to come in from the mills we should be inclined to
borrow & forward it but that we think the additional Expense
and Risk cannot be justified but by necessity. We should
have got a Return of the Musquets furnished the Hornet &
Wasp with the powder but the Congress have it not in their
power. M^r Rittenhouse has been pressed to get the plates
done he has been lately chosen into the Assembly which has
been sitting a good while past he promises to let us have
plates to begin, enough for one Sheet, next week, the paper
was to be finished about this Time. Inclosed you have the
pay in the Marine Service and for the 3 independ^t Companies
you'll be pleased to attend to the memd. at Bottom. There is
no getting Camp Kettles or Canteens on any Terms or at
least such Terms as you could submit to — instead of Canteens
the Congress has been obliged to substitute little Keggs
there's no Arrival here of any Tin. The price of Duck &
indeed every kind of Linen exceeds here what it does with
you any Thing of the kind cannot be got at scarce any price
nor could it when T. J. got to phil^a wherefore no attempt was
made to get Knapsacks & Haversacks buying proper mate-
rials might arrive in pot^o or from Vanbebber Time enough we
hope what was sent down of Vanbebber's Cargoe will answer
for there purposes & for tents. The duck is too heavy for