Letters to the Council. 513

M^r Smith did not furnish you the account of his purchases but I
cannot conceive how this cou'd have deprived you of the Knowledge
of the quantity he was master of since the Commissioners of the
State had Possession of the whole for several months & could better
than him, have given you the fullest information.

M^r Smith will undoubtedly do everything in his power to second
your views & request & I have sent him & will Supply him with
whatever quantity of bills on France he can negotiate at 45 dollars
per 5 livres tournois, so as he may purchase all the flour that offers
at market & what he can contract for with the millers, but as I per-
ceive that his Efforts at this late period can realise but very small
quantities we cannot place dependance on them & I must therefore
humbly entreat you to comply with all possible speed with the resolve
of the Assembly & that you'll please to order four or five thousand
barrels into the hands of M^r Smith who will store the same for the
use of the fleet, which may very soon be Expected & which Enter-
tains the strongest hopes of being amply supplied when here. Should
you deem Necessary that I shou'd forward you, some bills on France
I shall readily do it, on account of the flour to be delivered, on your
Excellencys application to me, or M^r W^m Smith in Baltimore

Brown Book
No. 8

[J. Swan, Baltimore to Gov Lee]

I had the Honor of receiving Your Excellencys letter of the 9^th
Current recommending Captⁿ Kelty to take charge of the flag Brig
to New York, in consequence of which I applied to the Owners, who
inform'd me they had appointed a person to take charge of her some
time ago, that He had been at a considerable expence and trouble in
fiting the Vessels for Sea, that in justice to him they could not take
Her from him, nor could they appoint any person for that voyage
upon an uncertainty, who would not continue in their employ after
Her return, finally that they had lost a part of the best season for
sending Her to Holland, and would keep Her no longer in a State
of Suspence, that they would begin to load Her on Monday for
Holland, without they were put upon some certainty, I requested
they would give me one day, and not begin to load untill Tuesday
that I might have an Opportunity to consult Your Excellency, by
to morrows post, they require a demurage of five pounds hard money
p day, untill the 20 Days for Loading commence, laying a stress
upon the time she hath already been detained. At present I think the
uncertainty such that I would prefer running the risque of geting
another Vessel altho: I know of none that will answer the purpose
so well, yet a demurrage of five pounds p day will soon increase the
freight considerably, and the Enemy I apprehend wish to gain time
untill they know the destination of the French fleet, expected on this
Coast.

33

June ii