410 Journal and Correspondence.

Brown
Book No. 8

navy, had they possessed the same in their Stores, but if it was
intended in order to supply the immediate wants of the army, then
I should beg leave to represent to your Excellency that it was not
necessary to extend it so far, since the continental commissaries
has Sufficient quantitys of flour on hand to answer the present
emergence if they could have procured Wagons and teams to trans-
port the same to head quarters, how much more extraordinary will

not this second act appear -when I can inform you that in the Run

of last summer, it was proposed by Monsieur Gerard and myself,
to redeliver to the continental commissaries 7000 Barrels of flour
of the Harvest of 1778 purchased by them in the use of the Royal
Marine, which was effected in order to multiply the resources of
the Army & to second a plan of the commercial committee of Con-
gress, that I have been since authorised to procure 24600 Barrels
of flour of the last harvest in Pensilvania & Maryland, that I have
actualy delivered up all the flour I could command in Pensilvania, in
order to supply the army & on the first requisition, that 800 barrels
of flour & as much Biscuit are now on board Ships bound in this
river by the Ice & could have been employed for the use of the army
if it had been necessary or if Congress had thought proper to have
indemnified the owners of the Vessels chartered in order to export
them, for the above reasons & taking into consideration that all the
dependance of his Majestys navy for supplies from America lay
totaly with M^r Smith will it not surprise every one, that it should
have been thought necessary in order to supply the immediate wants
of the Army, to decree the Seizure even of the Wheat purchased by
my agents on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeak bay where all
mills have been long at rest by the late droughts & the present frost
& where the same will not probably be ground up before the months
of March & April next.

it is on account of these various considerations that it is incum-
bent on me, to request that your Excellency will condescend to
inform me if M^r W^m Smith has realy exceeded the quantity he was
authorised to purchase, & whether it was possible for him, not to
give extensive orders so as to Secure the quantity of 12000 Barrels
of flour

Your Excellency would also confer on me a particular obligation
if you would please to inform me of the motives of the late Acts
of your legislature & the grounds on which they have been formed
so as I may take every Step in my power, in order to prevent a future
misunderstanding, should any have been omitted & to establish the
transactions entered upon on behalf of the Service of his most
Christian Majesty, on a more respectable and Solid footing and to
deserve your aprobation & confidence, as likewise of the hon^bl Board
at which you preside