Letters to the Council. 367

[Rachel Gibson, wife of Woolman Gibson of Talbot County
Petition to Governor and to Congress]

[Written by Rev. John Gordon, Rector of St. Michael's Parish
and endorsed by him, Jonathan Gibson, Joseph Bruff, John Broome,
Richard Parrott, and William Gibson, asking discharge of Jonathan
Hopkins, her son by a former marriage who is " deficient in his
intellect " and having " straggled away last winter was induced to
enlist " on the Chester Galley. He is unfit for service and is exposed
to the " Mockery & Insult of the Sailors and to the Hazard of being
corrupted by their example and of learning the bad words."]

[Owen Biddle, Asst. C. G. of Forage, Philada. to Col Henry
Hollingsworth, D. C. G. F. Head of Elk]

November

IS

Sir I have receiv'd no Supply of forage from you, or thro' the
communication of Elk for a considerable time past; it is the occasion
of great distress with us, and makes me much alarm'd for the con-
sequences; I was out of grain this morning at a Season when we
ought to have 60,000 bushels in store at this place; What can be
the reason, surely the credit of the department has not totally fail'd,
nor the Stock of money sent you ? if it has send a Messenger on for
some we cannot obtain a Supply for you, unless we are fully ac-
quainted with your necessities; I know you are embarrass'd about the
extortionate price demanded, but our delay will not help the matter,
I beg of you set every wheel to work, or we shall have a famine
among our horses; If it is possible for you to send on 10.000 bushels
weekly untill the navigation is Stopped, we shall have occasion for
it; for the sake of the army & our cause which depends on it, I
doubt not but you will exert yourself ;

November
15

[Geo p. Keeports, Baltimore to His Excellency
Thomas S. Lee Esqr.]

As the Money sent up to me for Purchasing Linnen is all Ex-
hausted and has been for some days, and I have made some Pur-
chases which I am unable to Pay without a Further Supply. Your
Excellency will Please to send my by Cap^t Cromwell or Cap^t Shel-
merdine Five or Six Thousand Pounds for which I shall Account as
soon as Its Possable for to make out my Accounts, which will be
by the First of Next Week
Shall be Glad to be Informed Wether I shall Continue the Pur-
chase of Linnen and What shall do for Cloathing and Provision for
the Soldiers at the Fort as they are Entirely Naked and the Pro-
vision and Whiskey is All out. I have been oblidged to purchase
Fresh Beef for them this day

November

IS
Red Book
No. 20
Letter
No. 188