490 Journal and Correspondence.

Brown
Book No. 8

to Monseigneur De Sartine His Majesty's minister in the Department
of the Marine, and that it would be extreamly Satisfactory to be
informed of the qualitys of the Wheat & flour seized by the State
Commissioners so as I may compare the Same with the returns &
accounts of M^r W^m Smith of Baltimore, and also whether any
Embezzlements Grants & misdemeanors have been the consequence
of that Gentleman's transactions for the King's Service.
Not receiving any answer from your Excellency I directed M^r
Smith to transmit the resolve of Congress of the n^th March last
relative to a Supply of 15000 Barrels of flour and to request from
the Supreme executive Council a decisive answer thereon. M^r Smith
informs that you have been pleased to direct the Commissioners of
the Several Counties to restore to him the provisions seized, but
that it is not in your power to fix the time of the delivery of the
remainder of the flour alloted for the French by the State, & that
you will endeavour to have it done as soon as possible.

Your Excellency & the Honorable the Council must be sensible,
that the Supplies of fleets & armies, are of so great importance, that
the persons to whom his Majesty's Service is Entrusted, cannot

place sufficient rleppnflpncp on such an answer; that plane or opera-
tions for the Execution whereof, the demands of 15000 Barrels of
flour from your State have been made & granted by Congress, can-
not take place, if assurances are not given that not only provisions
can be obtained, but are actually delivered into the hands of my
agent in your State, it is on this sole footing, that his majesty's
commanders, can concert or Enter on the Execution of any naval
operation whatever, it is therefore my duty to request, that Your
Excellency and council, will please to inform, whether your Situa-
tion will permit you, to comply with the aforesaid resolve of Con-
gress, or whether you'll permit M^r W^m Smith to continue his pur-
chases to the amount of 15000 Barrels of flour, I supplying him,
with the necessary means to prosecute the same forthwith, as your
answer is of the utmost consequence, I hope, it will be attended with
no unnecessary delay: I shall only add, that on application to the
Governor and Council of this State, they have not hesitated to
empower me to direct my Agent here, to purchase the provisions
demanded by congress & to Employ to this purpose all the Means
which I should deem most Effectual for the King's Service

May 8
Brown
Book No. 3
Letter
No. 17

[Mordecai Gist Annapolis to the Honble Josia Beall Esqr]
Sir The Resolves of the Hon^ble The House of Delegates on the
second reading of the Address of the Military Officers of the State
has been communicated to the Maryland Division, who are truly
sensible of the politeness of the House, and think themselves com-
plimented by the very flattering Terms in which they are mentioned ;
but as the meaning of the Resolve is rather ambiguous, and the