446 Journal and Correspondence

C. S. C.

quence, it is with reluctance that I am obliged to address you
on Business of less importance, but am persuaded as it will
trespass not much on your time, & that it will appear neces-
sary, hope this will in some measure excuse the application at
this busy period. I find leather breeches & stockings are with
much difficulty procured, & those in all probability not to be
had in such quantities as will be wanting by the fall, when they
will be absolutely necessary, this perhaps might be remedied
by allowing the soldiers breeches & spatterdashes in one piece
made of oznab^gs which would not only be uniform with the
hunting shirts, but a good substitute for leather breeches &
stockings, & would enable those who have been furnished, to
lay them up for the winter, the soldiery would willingly pur-
chase one, if the convention would allow another pair, which
would enable them to be clean & comfortable; I am with
much Regard Sir.
Y^r very obed^{t
Huml Servt W. Smallwood :
To Thomas Johnson Esqr}

[Pendleton to Matthew Tilghman.]

W^msburg May 26^th 1776.
Sir. On Wednesday last Lord Dunmore and the Fleet at
Norfolk, quitted thai station and fell down into Hampton
Road, where they remained 'til yesterday evening, when they
got under way, apparently intending out to sea, but this
morning were discovered by our look outs to have turned up
the Bay and had passed the mouth of York River. I this
moment received the intelligence and thought it might be
useful to communicate it to you by express, that you might
not mistake it for some other armament. We have reason to
believe they are much in want of Provisions and also that they
are but weakly mann'd, as they burnt several small vessels
before they left Norfolk and three of a larger size just before
they quitted the Road The Roebuck is returned from Dela-
ware & is with this fleet. I have the Hon^r to be Sir.
Your mo. obed^t Edw^d Pendleton.

Original.

[Dorsey to Council.]

Gentlemen. When I was at Annapolis a few days past,
there was a memorial lodged with the convention, by M^r Henry
Ridgely reflecting greatly on my Honor, I returned home to
get acquainted with the charge, that I might have the charger
summonsed to support his assertion, the convention rising
before I could return, I apprehend the Business will lay before