of the Council of Maryland. 279

to the Neighbourhood of that Part of Virginia where the British
Army are, for the Purpose of obtaining the earliest Information of
every material Occurrence, and especially of their future Designs.
we shall meet with great Difficulties in complying with the Desire of
the Legislature unless you are pleased to give us your Assistance.
We are so sensible of the friendly Offices you have rendered this
State in a Variety of Instances that nothing but absolute Necessity
could induce us to call upon you in this Occasion. We wish you to
establish Riders at convenient Places between Alexandria and Rich-
mond or near to the Place the Enemy may be and to request a Gentle-
man you can depend on there to furnish you with the freshest Intel-
ligence of the Operations and Movements of the Enemy. Every
Expence we will defray with the greatest chearfulness and Gratitude.
W^re have agreed with M^r Longdon to ride from Alexandria to this
State.

January 18
Liber No. 78
P. 38

[Council to William McBride, Esqr.]

We received your Letter of the 15^th Instant by M^r Vails and cant
help expressing our Concern at the Unwillingness of the People to
take the new Money, however you may depend on it this Humour
must soon cease and the continental Money will not long have the
Preferrence as the Circulation of it within this State is prohibited
after a particular short Day. We have sent you thirteen hundred
continental Dollars and one hundred Pounds of the new Emission
and expect to have it in our Power to furnish you with a further sum
when the Assembly rises. You must not on any Account remit your
Exertions to procure what Porks and Beef can possibly be had in
your County; whatever can be affected by us shall be done to enable
you to comply with your Engagements, inform us by every oppor-
tunity of your Success and Expectations and the Impediments you
may meet with.

Ibid.

[Council to Patrick Sim Smith, Esqr.]

You will receive by M^r. Gray two hundred Pounds of the new
Emission, that you may proceed in your Purposes. We wrote some
Days ago relative to the Beef you have on hand, wherein we requested
you to send what Number you had to Frederick to M^r Murdock, for
the support of the Convention Troops which we now repeat and
request you to send with all possible Dispatch. The limitation with
respect to wheat, from what you mention, we think need not be
obligatory at this Time, but at the same Time hope you will use your
utmost Endeavours to purchase on the best Terms you can, as it is
not in our Power to know the Market Price, for those Articles. The
Salt shall be sent you, when Col. Wilkinson sends for the Army
Accoutrements &^ca or there should be a Conveniency.

Ibid.
p. 39