402 Journal and Correspondence.

Brown
Book No. 7

pressante pour que j e n'aye pas pris la resolution de m'adresser a
Vous directement et sans delai. j'espere que des que Vous serez in-
forme de 1'importance dont il est pour le succes des operations de
nos flottes et Escadres de ne pas troubler le Service des agens
frangois, Vous voudrez bien donner ou procurer les ordres neces-
saires pour que les approvisionnemens confies au S^r Smith soient
exceptes de la Loi portee par 1'Etat de Maryland et en cas que ce
provisions ayent deja etc enlevees, pour les faire remplacer sans
delai Je remets ave confiance entre Vos mains, Monsieur les interests
des garrissons dans les Ues Frangoises et des forces navales de S. M.
parceque j'ai deja eprove que Vos dispositions et celles de 1'Etat,
au gouvernement duquel Vous presidez, sont telles que nous pouvons
les desirer le la part bons et fideles allies. Je Vous prie d'etre bien
persuade que de mon cote je concourrerai avec joye a toutes les
Mesures qui pourront etre prises pour mettre les Cornissionaires
charges de faire pour notre compte des achats de Subsistances dans
1'impossibilite absolue d'abuser der moyens qui leur serout confies.
Je suis avec un respectueux attachement Monsieur De Votre
Excellence le'bien humble et tres obeissant Serviteur

January 12
Red Book
No. 30
Letter
No. ig

[Geo. p. Keeports Baltimore to Mr. John Muir Annapolis]

Dear Sir I Received yours of the 9^th Ins^t But have it not in my
Power to purchase pewter under 40 dollars p ^tt nor thread Without
Continent^l Money as New Emission (without that which is Counter-
signed By Congress) will not Purchase such Articles I have a Con-
siderable Quantity of Buttons By me Left of those I Rec^d from you
some time ago which I shall send you By the First oppertunity

January 13

, [J. Hammond, Acton Hall, to Gov. Lee]
Sir It is with Reluctance, I presume, to trouble your Excellency
with a Matter, in one Point of View, of a private Nature, that in
another, of very Publick Concern: Some Soldiers of a recruiting
Party, (under Captains Bell & Beatys, as they inform me) have been
detected by my People, in plundering me of, and carrying away my
Fencing from my House, near Town; and being caught in the Fact,
about Day-Break this morning, and brought before me; one of them
for his Impudence (more than the Value of the Spoil,) in threat-
ning that he wou'd pull down, and destroy what he pleased, as well
as my House, if he was mislisted for his Conduct, received a moder-
ate Chastisement at my Hands; whilst the other, who stated the
Distresses of their Party, thro' want of Firewood and alledged
that in Excuse of his Behaviour; was instantly released, and suf-
fered quietly to depart, with the bare Caution of not offending in
like manner again, and with an Assurance that upon an honest
Application for Firewood, I wou'd endeavour in some measure, to