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February 7
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tempted to purchase, but my utmost endeavours have been defeated
by the Commissioners who have thought their duty obliged them
to Seize without consideration.
p. S. I'll endeavour to have the flour herein mentioned released,
if I succeed shall send it to Annapolis p first opportunity
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February 7
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[J. Bolton, Chestertown to His Excellency Thos Sim Lee]
Sir I wrote you some time ago advising that at the request of
Thomas Johnson Esqr our late Governeur I had furnish'd the
several recruiting Parties & Soldiers on furlow with Rations under
great disadvantage to myself, as I had to lay out my own money
to purchase the Provisions, & by the time the money has been paid
to me the depritiation has sunk the greatest part of the sum ad-
vanced; since I wrote you, I have had daily Soldiers calling on me
for Provisions, which are (meat especially) scarce to be had. If
therefore you choose I should continue to supply them, please desire
one of the State Purchasers or the Comissary to supply me with
Beef or Pork or both for that purpose for it is now too late to
purchase any as for Bread or Flower, I can procure that, provided
I can be furnish'd with Cash to purchase it, but I really cannot afford
to lay out any longer my owne money as I have hitherto done, to
the great determent of my Business as a Retailer, being for a long
time kept by that means so bare of Money that I had not wherewith
to lay in a Stock of Goods particularly in the year 1777 & beginning
of 1778 at which time I was above two thousand pounds in advance
to the States & tho I lost considerably by laying out of my money
& by the depritiation at that time yet I have lost much more by
the depritiation since in proportion to the sum advanced. Hope
therefore if you should order me to supply the Recruiting parties
as I have hitherto done, you will also order me, what is necessary
for that purpose, about four bbs Pork & 4 bbs Beef & as much Cash
as will buy the same quantity of Fresh meat, & Flower or Bread
in Proportion I recon will be sufficient for the year. My Pay is so
triffling that should you think fit to continue me in the Station hope
you will consider that, as one months pay at present will scarcely
hire a Labourer for two days, as the Auditor tells me I am intitled to
but 40 dollars pr month. My Accot from 1st Sept. to 1st Decr I sent
to Rock Hall just before the Frost set in, so recon it is still lying
there, it has already sunk above half the Value by the depritiation,
& may probably sink more before it reaches you, however shall
continue to supply any soldiers on furlow, going to, or returning
from Camp, out of the Provisions laid in for my Family (if I can't
get to buy) rather than that they should suffer, but should a Recruit-
ing party come here before I get supplied with Provisions the Ser-
vice will certainly suffer, as I really have not a sufficient quantity
of Salt provision laid in for my Family & there is at present no fresh
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