Letters to the Council. 4^J9

The Representation as to the Prisoner's general Character and
Demeanour I have no reason to doubt The Prisoner shewed no
Desire of escaping either immediately after the Injury or after the
Death of Dunn but was present at the Inquest. I have now com-
plied with your Excellency's request and have endeavoured to
detail ..... and circumstantially as possible ..... Excellency will per-
ceive that in some ..... have been obliged to differ from the State
transmitted to your Excellency, but whether the Variance is so
great or material as to be sufficient to deprive the Prisoner of that
Clemency your Excellency is disposed to shew him I shall submit
to your Excellency. The Court will not proceed to inflict any Punish-
ment 'till they know your Excellencys Determination.
I have the Honour to be with the greatest personal regard and
Esteem Your Excellencys Determination.
I have the Honour to be with the greatest regard and Esteem
Your Excellencys most obedient hum^ble Serv^t

Red Book

No. 29

[C. T. Wederstrandt, A. C. P., Wye Queens Ann's County to
Gov. Lee]

Sir The Zele with which the Commissioners executed the trust
reposed in them by the late Law has occasioned the Ten barrels of
flour I bought of M^r Hemsley for your Excellency, two bar^ls for M^r
Thomas Johnson Jun^r four barrels for M^r John Davidson, two
Barrels for M^r John Bullen, Two barrels for Philip Key Esq^r & Eight
barrels for M^r George Mann, in all twenty Eight barrels to be Seized,
and I am informed, I am to be called to an Account for a breach of
my Commission as assistant Commissary of purchases for so doing ;
I do not conceive I am guilty of the charge, as I did no other than
procure it for the use of Gentlemen's families who I presumed were
to have bread as well as their neighbours, that I purchased at no
higher rate than M^r Hemsly sold to the late Governor & Council
four months ago, and at the price he then asked me for the Public
Service which being higher than I was limited to By Col. Blaine I
could not give, however now [it] is Seized and 33 & 1 p O allowed in
Certificate above the price that Gentleman would have sold to me at.
I received yesterday an order on the Eastern Shore Treasurer for
five hundred thousand Dollars with which I'll endeavour to retrive
my Character as a Public purchaser, which has suffered much for the
want of timely Supplies in Cash, yet will fall short as the Persons
I bought of and am indebted to, expect to receive the same prices as
allowed by the Commissioners which are now extended to £20 p
bush^l for wheat £70.. — p O for common flour and £12.. — .. — p
bush^l for Indian Corn. Being informed the Legislature had pre-
served to the People the right of the alternative to sell to Commis-
saries or have their wheat &^ca Seized by Commissioners, I have at-

February 5