Letters to the Council. 385

proportion, and the accounts finally adjusted so as to do equity to
all the States.
By the separate act of the 1 I^th inst, you will observe the Quantity
at present requested from the State of Maryland is five thousand
barrels of flour & five thousand barrels of indian corn, in addition
to the fifteen thousand barrels of flour heretofore required It is the
desire of Congress that each State should use all possible economy
& dispatch in procuring the Articles requested of them.
So soon as Congress are inform'd that the several States can &
will furnish the provisions necessary for the Army the many persons
heretofore employed in the purchasing Commissaries department for
that purpose may be dismiss'd
I have the honour to be with the highest respect your Exc^ys most
ob^t Serv^t

Red Book
No. 8

[W. Smith, Baltimore, to the Honble. Daniel Carroll]

Sir Your favor of the 12^th Ins^t I this moment received therefore
could not give you an answer on Tuesday as requested. But will
with pleasure give you every information in my power on the Sub-
ject of your Letter.
From the latest accounts I have rec^d from Cape Francais, (which
I believe is the best market for flour in the West Indies) flour sold
there at four half Jos p barrell. The barrells for that market are
generaly calculated for one hundred & three quarters each. What
the price is at Martinicos I cant exactly say but suppose it may be
nearly the same as at the Capes, or perhaps something under Flour
at S^t Eustatia is much lower, our vessells at that place purchase that
article to carry to the cape which afford a good profit. Insurance
from hence to the West Indies at 33^ to 40 p Cent according to
the force & sailing of the vessell insured. The last vessell done at
this office was at 62^. From sixty to Sixty five. I believe any good
vessell may be done to at & from. The Philadelphia provisions I am
informed have been generally higher since the commencement of the
present war, than at this place
The freights I have paid for acco^t of his most Christian Majesty,
have been from forty to fifty Livres p bl^e to the W. Indies. What pro-
portion of the Cargo might be taken in Lieu thereof I cant say but I
presume freight will rise as every thing else does. The expence of fit-
ing out, victualing & maning vessells, are at this time beyond concep-
tion. I have a small Brig now in port, which I have offerd to M^r
Kolker, and expect his answer by next post. Should he not take her
and you want such a one immediately you may have her on such terms
as can be afforded. I also dayly expect a Boat from Cape Francois
which carries 60 hh^ds or about 400 b^les Should she arrive safe. I will
take a freight for her if the terms offerd are adequate to the Risque

25

December
IS
Red Book
No. 22
Letter
No. 70