of the Council of Maryland, 1778-1779. 373

We believe you judge very right in preferring Flour to Wheat.
Col^o Hyde has not yet returned, we hope he will soon be with
you, with the Money. From a Letter rec^d by this Day's Post,
we are induced so far to change our former Instructions to
you as, instead of sending it forward to Christeen, that you
will let it continue in the Mills, where you purchase it and that
you will send us, by the 20^th of May, an Account of what you
have on Hand and the particular Place where each quantity
of it lies, noting the Distance to the most convenient Landing,
from whence it may be taken on each Bay, in the mean Time
write us by every Post.
We are &^ca
M^r Sam^l Gilpin.

[Council to R. Dallam.]

In Council Annapolis 30^th April 1779
Sir
We are glad to hear you have been so successful in your
Purchase. We had a principal Dependance on your County
and wish you to get as much more as you can; there's no great
Probability of a speedy fall in the Price. The Accounts we
have received, we believe too well founded of the great Injury
to the growing Grain by the Frost, is very alarming and will

C. C.

much contribute to keep up the Price. Considering that
Harford is in such a Situation that the Expences of Transpor-
tation as well as the Delay of it will be much less than from
many other Places and relying on your Activity, we would
very reluctantly have any, in the best Situations taken out of
your Hands. If you can purchase at £20 you had best not
hesitate or even if you could strike for 1000 Barr^ls of good
fresh Flour at £22 ... 10. you had better not let it slip you; too
much depends on a Supply, to hazard it. The Permission
granted by Congress to the New England Agents to purchase,
has of Course raised the Price, and the Congress must have
expected it. If you can draw Money from Philadelphia, it will
be entirely agreeable to us but we suspect you cannot; we have
sent for Money, but have not got it yet; Col^o Hyde is waiting
for it. The Supply, we are afraid, will not be so ample as it
ought; to be. We shall furnish you as far as we can, if you do
not get it as you expect. It is necessary you qualify and give
Bond, according to the Act. The Shorts and Bran, if it cannot
be disposed of otherwise to Advantage, had better be sent to
M^r Calhoun at Baltimore, or H. Hollingsworth at the head of
Elk, to feed the Continental Horses. From a Letter received
by this Day's Post, we are induced to request that you'll have

p. 244