518 Journal and Correspondence

C. C.
Original.

[Gates to Gov. Johnson.]

War Office Feb^ry 23^rd 1778.
Sir
The Board have been favoured with your Excellency's
Letter of the 18^th inst & I am to express the due Sense they
have of the Attention you & the Honourable Council have
been pleased to pay to their several Requests on the Subjects
mentioned in your Letter. We believe the Limitation of the
Price of Pork operated strongly against our procuring it, &
that the Commissary General with the best Intentions has
injured rather than promoted the Business in this particular.
Where Prices are limited they ought to be generous & to fall
in with the Avarice of the Times in some Degree in order to
check its Progress rather than to attempt the tearing it up by
the Roots. There is so much to be said on both Sides this
Question of limiting or leaving Prices to regulate themselves
that it is difficult to determine which is right. At present the
Wants of the Army must be supplied at any reasonable Price
& we are happy in perceiving that your Excellency & the
Honble Council are making those Exertions for its Assistance
this Board expected from your known Zeal & Patriotism.
We are obliged to you for your Advice as to Fish & it is so
necessary that every Wheel should be set in Motion to get
forward the great Machine that the Board would have closed
with a less practicable Proposal than this. The Gentleman
you mentioned is employed in the Business of procuring Shad
on the Maryland side & Major Herbert is empowered to pro-
cure them on the Virginia Side of Potowmack. The Board
have written to Col. Henry Hollingsworth to superintend the
Bussiness of procuring Herrings at Charlestown & I am to
entreat your Assistance to these Gentlemen or either of them
where necessary, The obtaining Salt will be the Difficulty as
they should not interfere with that Article if wanted for Pork ;
but as the Season for this will be soon over they may e'er
long appropriate the whole they can obtain for curing of Fish.
The Board lament the Unwillingness of the Militia to guard
the Prisoners; but the yeomanry of the Country will be
humoured. The Prisoners having heard too soon of the late
Resolves of Congress for retaliating are escaping fast to the
Enemy & even some Officers have gone in to General Howe
& made the fitting up Fort Frederick a Pretext for their
Breach of Honour. A general Exchange is however agreed
upon between Generals Washington & Howe which will it is
presumed be carried into Execution unless the Arts of the
Enemy again elude it. We should be prepared at all Events.
But as the Enemy will gain more Strength by the Exchange
than will be added to ours, considering all Circumstances, it is