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Country. Immediately on their being taken, we had an
Opportunity and inclosed Copies to Col" Simpson. If Ster-
ling or any of his Party should fall in the Way of the Militia
Officers, or it should be in the Power of the Militia Officers to
seize any of them, we would have it done, without waiting for
Applications to the Magistrates, which may and, in most
Instances will, occasion so much Delay, that the Culprits will
escape. We hope for the Exertion of the Magistrates and
every Friend to the Country to get the Deserters taken up
and Sterling's Recruiting put an End to, and, if it is not
done, we may expect a serious Piece of Work in your County
in the Spring. If the Cattle collected in Somerset & Wor-
cester Counties can be conveniently joined, we think it would
be best to send them in one Drove as your Brother proposed,
but if it will occasion any Delay, they had better be sent off
at once for Genl Smallwood's Troops at Wilmington. No
more need go with the Cattle after they are through your
County than are just sufficient to drive them and let the Men
call on Colo Henry Hollingsworth at the Head of Elk and take
his Advice & Instructions; he now purchases for the Conti-
nent and perhaps may receive the Cattle there, if he will, every
good Purpose will be answered. Pray write him what further
Number can be got and he will, we expect take Measures for
purchasing and driving them. We had no Doubt but that
Capt Dashiell was long ago left at Liberty to give £5. a Hun-
dred for Pork, that being the Price the Purchasers for the
Continent are giving and are at Liberty to give and if Capt
Dashiell can purchase at that Price or under, you would do
well to let him know he is quite safe in doing so. You men-
tion a Gentn from Virginia purchasing Pork in your Neigh-
bourhood for that State. It is strange it should be so, as
there must be a Plenty more convenient within that State ;
yet if it is really for the State, he ought to be suffered to go
on, but this ought to be examined into, and, if it turns out
that he is not empowered to purchase for the State of Vir-
ginia or the Continent we request you will stop the Pork and
the Person too, 'til you can get well ascertained it is not for
the Use of the Enemy. We think there would be an Impro-
priety in any particular Recommendation to the Magistrates
by us, on the Subject of the Warrants; we send down the
Laws which alone will and ought to influence their Conduct.
Our Treasury was in a low State when you went from hence;
it is now much lower, so that we cannot advance farther for
the Purchase of Cattle for the Continent. We are Sir &ca
Colo George Dashiell.
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