of the Council of Maryland. 121

that it is scarcely to be counted upon & therefore the Troops of
Maryland as well as those of other States must chiefly depend on the
Exertions of the respective Governments for their Supplies. If un-
happily the States have Nothing in their Power the situation of the
Army must be indeed distressing. Measures were taken more than
twelve Months ago for the Importation of Cloathing & other Neces-
saries for the Army & we were taught to expect their Arrival in the
Alliance Frigate but from Causes with which we arc unacquainted
that Vessell is arrived & has brought none of the Articles expected
but a few Arms & some Ammunition as we have been informed.
It is now said that the Cloathing is to come in the Ariel under the
Conduct of Capt J. Paul Jones whose Arrival is daily expected.
But so many Disappointments have turned up in the Course of this
Business that we submit to your Excellency & the Hon^ble Council
whether it will not be most prudent for every State to make Provi-
sion as if no Dependence was to be placed on foreign supplies. The
Board will do all in their Power but the Means of Purchasing must
be furnished by Congress & as we have not had those Means we
presume it be out of the Power of Congress to furnish them. Our
Knowledge of the melancholly State of the public Finances will
warrant us in saying that no other Supplies are to be expected but
those hoped for from France, but if domestic Supplies should con-
trary to our Expectations be provided the Board so few as depends
upon them will attend to an equal Distribution of them as well as
of the scanty Stock now on Hand. Enclosed is an Order for the
Shirts borrowed of M^r Smith & as we have ordered the new Regi-
ment a considerable supply we presume the Troops of Maryland
will have had a full Proportion of the Stock on Hand, but if it
should appear on Examination to be otherwise the Deficiency shall
be supplied. The Board will give the earliest Information of the
Arrivals from Europe & in the mean Time make no Doubt that
every thing in their Power will be done by the Governments of the
States.
M^r Smith will also deliver any Linnen he now has purchased on
public Account

September
26
Red Book
No. 7
Letter
No. 195

[Geo. Plater, John Hanson, Dan. of St. Thos Jenifer, J. Henry
Jun'r, Philadelphia, to Gov Lee]

Dear Sir The interval between the coming in and going out of
the post is so short, that we have it not in our power at this Time, to
give you the information which you desire. We can assure you that
very inconsiderable quantities have been imported by the Commer-
cial Committee; some Linens have from time to time arrived but
the quality and quantity we shall endeavour to inform you of in a
few Days, as we are at present unacquainted with the amount of
the returns: It has always been the object of Congress and the

September
26
Red Book

No. 5
Letter
No. 97
Referred to
the Com. to
whom the
Lre of Genl
Washington
of Aug. 27 is
referred