of the Council of Maryland, 1777. 313

[Gov. Johnson to W. Cowper.]

Annapolis 8^th July 1777.
Sir.
M^r M^cHerd, on his Return, told me of your Friendly Dispo-
sition towards the Design on which the Council and myself
had sent him to Virginia and Carolina, by which we are very
much obliged. Cap^t Webb called on me with your Letter, I
should gladly have purchased the Salt on the Public Account
to have delivered it out to the People in small Quantities, if
Cap^t Webb could have thought himself at Liberty to deliver
it at 51 /, our Currency, the highest Price that the Council and
myself thought, from what we could understand of the Cost &
Charges, it is allowable to be retailed at, under our late Act.
But the Cap^t thinking himself bound, by your Instructions, not
to sell under the highest Price going at Baltimore, was disin-
clined to accept it. I inclose you one of our Papers, which
contains our late Act against Ingrossing & Forestalling, think-
ing it may not be unuseful to you. If the Practices, which
began in Philadelphia, were soon adopted in Baltimore and
have been since extended southward, are suffered to continue,
instead of 20 Dollars, which I have understood has been
extorted in Baltimore, I should not wonder that a Bushel of
Salt was up to twenty Pounds merely from the artificial
scarcity but I hope Virginia and the other States will take
Measures to suppress the growing Evil, else, I am apprehen-
sive, our Cause is ruined.
M^r M^cHerd tells me that M^r Josiah Jordan offered to supply
this State with one thousand Pair of good Shoes at two Dollars,
to be delivered this Fall; we shall want them for our Soldiers
and I shall take it kind that you would let M^r Jordan know
that we will take them, but must be on a Certainty, as to the
Time we may have them. Deliveries of Parts at set Times
may suit him best and do very well for us. I am Sir &^ca
M^r Willis Cowper Suffolk.

C. C.
126

Wednesday 9^th July 1777.
Present as on yesterday.
George Ross app^d first Lieutenant of the Ship of War
Defence & Commission Issued, he having served from the
18^th March last
John Roger's second Lieut, served from 11 March
Thomas Broomfield Cap^t. of Marines, served from 25 April
Vachel Yates first Lieut of Marines served from 23 Feb^y
Warrants Issued to Samuel Walker app^d Master of the
Defence & served from 22^d April last

C. B.