550 Journal and Correspondence

C. C.

you for your Advice and Assistance to him, if he is able to do
any Thing, the Gent, with whom he may contract may be
assured of having the Money immediately sent and we shall
be still more obliged that you will make yourself responsible
if necessary
We are &^ca
Col^o Hooe

[Council to R. Buchanan.]

In Council Annapolis 5^th Oct^r 1779
Sir.
Since the Receipt of your Letter of the 30^th we have
received one from Col^o Blaine dated the 28^th last, he strongly
mentions to us the encreased Demands for Flour and his bad
Prospects in Pennsylvania, he concludes with saying " My
Expectation of Flour from Maryland is very great, and have
wrote the Purchasing Agents in the most pressing Terms, to
procure all they possibly can and forward it without Delay I
beg your Excellency and Council to give them every possible
Assistance." There seems to be no Prospect of an End to
your Embarrassments in purchasing with Money since Phila-
delphia has broke loose and the Expectation of the Embargoe
being taken off in Pennsylvania has spread itself, there can be
no Hope of purchasing at the limited Prices. We wrote M^r
Smith last Sunday, which we presume he has communicated
to you, advising that the Continental and, if any, the French
Salt should be immediately exchanged for Wheat and Flour.
On further considering the Matter in all its Consequences, we
are satisfied 'tis the best if not the only Resource that is left,
adequate in any Degree to the present pressing Emergency;
we are confirmed in this opinion by Conversations with
several People and especially with a Gen' from Harford who
says he is satisfied that in three Days you might have lodged
at the Mills at Bush Town, two Pounds of good Wheat for
every Pound of Salt you have at Otter Point to be delivered
there on the Receipts for the Wheat at the Mills being
produced. An Exchange on such Terms, or what would be
equal in Flour, 8000 of your 10000 Bush^ls of Salt would throw
more into your Hands in three Weeks than you will probably
purchase at any Price in three Months. In Conversation
Yesterday with M^r Plater, he informs us that he was some
Time ago advised by M^r Gov^r Morris that they had come to a
Resolution of exchanging the surplus Continental Salt for
Wheat and Flour and thinks it a mere Omission that Orders have
have not been giving accordingly. It is of so much Consequence