of the Council of Maryland. 17

their Cannot much be had Imediately for the people are very throug
and will not neglect their Other work to thresh unless they get a
Generous Price for their wheat the threshing must be done from
the Shock for if it is slacked or put in Bulk it gets into a Sweat and
Cannot be threshed for some time those reasons have induced me to
send a Spetial Mesenger for your purtickuler instructions Respect-
ing the Price of wheat and Flower I belave Very little Salt provision
is to be had in this County.
I think I shall be able if necessary to begin to send off Flower in
three weeks from this time if the above Prices are alowed and I am
Imediately supplied with a Sufficient quantity of Cash, as I am
without money and at a Loss what wages to pay the Messenger I
wish it to be Don by you he may be entrusted to bring money

July 18

[H. Hollingsworth Head of Elk to His Excellency Tho. Sim Lee
in Council]

Gentlemen This day came to Land from M^r Donellon of Balti-
more by Capt. Pitt sixty Barrells of Shad which were good as to
the quality, but wanted one sixth to make the quantity, as the sixty
Barrells made but fifty when filled, also 19 Barrells of Herrings,
ten of which are so spoiled as to be unfit for use and of course con-
demn'd I solicitted Capt. Pitt to take them back, which he refused
at double freight, they being quite base and nacious, three Barrells
Pork good, 12 Pieces of Bacon w^t 127 1/2^lbs also from on board the
Rover Cap^t Hadwick, twenty Barrells of Shad four of which are
deficient in packing, (of Course but 16 Bb^ls) and fourteen Barrells
of Herrings four of which are condem'd as above being too natious
to Continue on the wharf. I have therefore this day set a Team
to hall them out to a waist field, with those of M^r Hudsons, as there
is no Possibility of being about the Wharf where they are, and I
had wrote M^r Hudson of them some time since, but have rec^d no
answer, as 'tis likely those fish were cur'd by sundry persons I wished
to distinguish them, by their marks and numbers, but cou'd find none
on them.

July 19

[And Buchanan Balt. Town to His Excellency Thos. Sim Lee]

Sir Capt. Bruff who I expected wou'd take care of the recruits
brought in under the Acts &c informs me that he has not any busi-
ness with them, but that his Serjeant shall call the roll and draw
Provision for them. Pray appoint a Person who will Pay Proper
Attention to them, otherwise I am Satisfied they will runaway as
fast as they are Procured, it's entirely out of my Power either to
Appoint a Person or take the necessary Care of them, these Cursed
Confused Laws, altho founded upon Justice almost distract me

2

July 20