of the Council of Maryland. 139

either in wheat or Cattle for the Miller's gave the price allow'd
by Law & some of them more for the wheat & Beef sells much
higher, I have been offered a good deal of Beef lately but not
under from 3 1/2 to 4 Dollars p ft and this is the proper season to
purchase that Article if I am to buy & salt up any quantity of Meat
this fall it is high time to begin to engage it, and should be glad to
have your orders respecting this matter whether to purchase on the
Hoof or by the pound and where the Salt and Casks are to be got
M^r Donnellan has applyd to me for a considerable quantity of
Ship Stuff to mix with the condemn'd flour he is directed to get
baked into bread please inform me whether I am to purchase what is
wanted for that purpose.
I have not yet received any money on your orders except from
the Town Collector and am nearly without any. I cannot get the new
Money to circulate generally with the Millers & Farmers although
most of the Merch^ts of this place have signed an Agreem^t within
these few days to take it which I hope will be the means of getting it
to pass pretty freely ere long

October 7

[Thos Price, Frederick Town to the Council]

Gentlemen I have received about 3500 Bushels of Wheat and
upwards of one hundred Barrels Flour there are about two hundred
& fifty Barrels of Flour manufactured and I shall now be able to
send forward at least 150 Barrels if furnished with money. I have
industriously encleavord to procure Waggons, but as I have no
power to impress, I find it impossible to get a Sufficient number,
unless I could assure the waggoners that they shall receive their pay
immediately on their return. I have with difficulty engaged eight
two of whom have caried their loads to Baltimore & returned, the
other six will go in a few days. I agreed with them at £250 p^r Ton
from Frederick Town & so in proportion for a greater or larger
distance which sum is given by Mess^rs Johnsons for the cariage of
Bomb shells & I could not procure them cheaper It is impracticable
to proceed in the business successfully without Cash. Many of the
coopers are poore and cannot afford to be kept long out of their pay
they refuse to make Barrels for less than £6.. 15. I have endeavoured
to contract for Beef for the new Emission but the people will not
agree to take it until they see wether it will pass current. It is prob-
able that about 50 or 60 Head of Cattle perhaps more might be
bought at £90 p lb If your Excellency & Honors thought Proper to
buy a quantity of Salt with Tobacco & have it lodged in Baltimore,
to be served out to the Waggoners who carry flour at a price some-
what lower than the Merchants sell at, it would be a strong induce-
ment for them to hurry down, and I think any number might be
had, the Bran & sherts will soon encumber the Millers much, & I
wish to be instructed what is to be done with them. I have directed

October 8