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Letter Bk. III
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time the Garrison of Fort Frederick has been too weak to
spare Convoys, the men therefore at Fort Cumberland have
suffered much & Mr Ross may probably have his Bond put in
Suit for not complying with the Terms of his Contract, which
Risk surely he would not run if his Deputy at Fort Cumber-
land was not well satisfied of the Justness of the Return that
Lieutl Linn & Doctor Mearnes made. But here perhaps it
might not be unnecessary to observe to you tho I think I did
it when we were at Phila that I have less to do with victualling
the Troops that are in the pay of this Province than by yr Lettr
you seem to imagine. By the Act of Assembly which I lately
assented to as well as by that which was before made for His
Majesty's Service & the more immediate Defence of this
Province Agents were appointed who are not dependant on
me nor to receive my Directions about victualling our Troops
otherwise than to see them properly supplied. The method
they take is this, by an Advertisement, they invite all Persons
that are inclined to contract for furnishing the Troops with
Provisions to deliver in their proposals on a certain Day. the
Offer that is most advantageous for the Country is accepted
& no questions are asked whether the Person that makes it is
agreeable or obnoxious to the Governr Articles are drawn up
& Security given for due performance, the Agents are to
pay at a certain Rate p Diem for victualling every man that
is borne on the Muster Roll & the Contractor is to take Care
that the Soldiers have no just cause to complain. This being
the Case Can you desire Mr Ross to pay for such Provisions
as the Soldiers whom he is bound to satisfy will on no Ac-
count touch or for any thing that was left at the Fort for which
he has no Demand or occasion or can he be at all affected by
Capt Dagworthy's passing such a general Receit as you
mention. If you are not convinced that the Return is just
Nothing remains but to desire Colo Stanwix (who has taken
our Men under his immediate Command) to order some
Officers or People To Fort Cumberland to review the Provi-
sions & if they pronounce it wholsome he will no doubt
order the Commissary to serve it out. Mr Ross will be secure
& will no longer hesitate or refuse to comply with Your Requi-
sition, untill some such Step has been taken I cannot desire
him to do so, neither can I do any thing farther in the Affair.
I am glad to learn that you are likely to succeed so well with
Your Assembly, when the Act is passed I shall be much
obliged to you for a Copy of it. As I am sensible that a
Refusal to supply such Indian Allies as may come into this
Province with provisions might be productive of very ill Con-
sequences I have given orders for supplying them & hope the
Assembly will be prevailed on to defray so necessary an Ex-
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