of the Council of Maryland. 155

tions of the Act appointed recruiting Officers. And am enabled by
the 15 p C^t to give as high as £1500 for recruits but am sorry to
inform your Excellency that I have no reason to believe I shall be
able to procure a single recruit. I have inclosed Col^o Waterses Com-
mission he has resigned it in consequence of his residence in Balti-
more. Major Bruff has also resign'd and alledges his inability to do
duty as the cause. I believe he is very infirm and not equal to the
task. I have mislaid his Commission which prevents my sending it
by this opportunity. Those Gentlemans resignations leaves Col^o
Hayward without the assistance of a field Officer he has recom-
mended M^r William Waters (of W^m) (who was before the present
regulation of the militia, a major to his battalion) to supply the place
of Col^o Waters, And Cap^t Thomas Irving That of Maj. Bruff, I am
of Opinion that them Gentlemen will be as suitable to supply the
vacancies as any in his battalion. And Request the favour of your
Excellency to order the Commissions to be made out for them, And
Delivered to Col^o Dashiell he has promised to convey them to me,
by the first Oppertunity. I am under the necessity of Continuing a
part of the Militia on Duty to prevent the ravages and insults of our
Enemies. My Duty requires me to say something of the situation
of this County but as I intend to Annapolis in a few days shall post-
pone it until I come up.

October 20

[Joseph Ford Leonardtown to Gov Lee]

Sir I Herewith send your Excellency Returns of all Purchases
made by M^r Sims my appointment as Commisary. the Sickly situ-
ation of my family and self for some time past and the Unexpected
Trouble with the Steers, Bucking them to the Rode, Put it out of
My Power to comply with Your Excellencies Command by the 17^th
Ins^t out of the fourty Eight then Returned four was Strayed before
I parted with them, & I have heard of one more since, they were
So ungovernable at first, that I had some doubts whether I should
get any of them away I expect with the Strays to make up about
Thirty Steers in Ten day There will be but little Pork to be had
here this fall would it be adviseable to contract for a Quantity of
Barrel Staves and Heads I have Shipt off about half the Bacon I
Purchased, Craft is so Difficult to be got, that I cannot say when I
shall be able to get of the Ballance.

The People who I owe Tobacco too for Horns are now constantly
Teasing me for it, I should be Glad to discharge their Debts. A
good Crop of Indian Corn made with us.

October 20
Red Book
No. 26
Letter
No. 134