126 Journal and Correspondence

September
29

My purchase in wheat as yet does not exceed three hundred
bushells, tho am promised much more what I have got has been
Cheifly for Certificates. Some wheat has been paid for the 15 p Cent
but it comes as yet very slow.
I shall in a little time have a hundred & some odd bushells of
wheat on the Ray & fear shall meet with difficulty in procuring a
Vessell to Carry it to the Head of Elk. if there is any Vessell be-
longing to the State at Annapolis or elsewhere that Can be spared
for that purpose. I will give notice when & where it will be ready.
I have made enquiry for Beef on the Hooff and find a Quantity
may be had but on very extravagant Terms, the Butchers from
Annapolis have been down & offered four Continental Dollars p^r
pound & tis now not to be had for less.
I have endeavoured but can make no Contracts at forty for one,
of the new Emissions, must therefore decline attempting a purchase
untill I am further Instructed.

September
30

[H. Hollingsworth, Head of Elk to His Excellency
Thomas S. Lee Esqr In Council]

Gentlemen Your favor by Giles came duly to hand have in part
comply'd with its contents, have appointed some Neighbours to
Judge of the Horses; who have Judg'd fifty four to be deliver'd to
Col^o Yeats and forty odd are retain'd to me, on account of the State,
I have done all I can to get those Horses out to Pasture, but tis not
possible there is no person that will take one of them, and be ac-
countable for their not getting away, nor can I get any person to
take any of them, on any terms, they have eaten up all the Pasture
I have and about fifteen Ton of hay, with a Considerable quantity
short Forage and will in a short time not leave me a Straw of any-
thing to winter my own Stock with, for I have not money to buy a
shillings worth, that which your Excellency sent me wont pass &
the Order on M^r Hamilton is not Honor'd, so that I am just as far
off remedy as ever, more than I have forty six horses instead of a
hundred and as I cannot keep them longer, beg you will be pleas'd
to direct what I shall do with them, they can't be Pastur'd out, there
is no pasture, and if they were they wou'd sell for less, at the end
of a Month than now. I have advis'd with Esq^r Gilpen who's opin-
ion is they ought to be sold, they will sell pretty well & as I am in-
debted but to every body here, on public Accounts, and as those
accounts by a late resolve of Congress, are to be paid by this State,
think it will be much to the advantage of the State, to have the
Horses sold at Public Vendue, as it will pay a Considerable part
of the Debts, and they will be bought by people who I am in arrears
to, and are contagious to the waggonage at this place, tis the only
way I see of getting rid of them in which case three fourths of them