of the Council of Maryland. 189

P. S. I must further observe to your Exelency that the favours
I ask are understood to Respect only those who are Brought here
by their Commercial Connexions; or are temporary inhabitants.
there is a quantity of vagrants & adventurers that are the dregs of
the French dominions & a burthen to society which deserve no Privi-
leges.
I do not intend to Grant any Protection to such ones; & if your
Exelency Approves of it a Certificate from me will settle the distinc-
tion between those that have a Right to those Privileges, & those
that have not.

November

19
Brown Book
No. 8
Letter

No. 47

[Ephr Blaine, C. G. P., Philad^a, to His Excellency Governor Lee]

Sir I expected to have done myself the Honor of waiting on your
Excellency and Council at Annapolis but the wants of the Army in
a great measure prevented, my Business was the Supplies of the
Army and the requisitions of Congress from your State.
I take the liberty of Suggesting a few things to your Excellency
and Council respecting securing the Supplies in due time which may
be a real advantage to your State, and to the United States in
general.
Our Army will never be properly fed until our Magazines afford
a Barril of well cured Salt Provisions for every Man who is entitled
to draw Rations to hold up the Idea of feeding them with fresh Beef
is absurd and this Continent cannot furnish it. there remains no
certain Method but by using every Exertion in the fall Season, when
Grass Beef and Pork are plenty, to procure as largely as our Exigen-
cies may require.
A considerable quantity of Beef may be salted up in your State
at the Magazines pointed out by His Excellency General Washing-
ton, and every advantage ought to be take by the State Commis-
sioner in the Pork Season to secure as largely as possible of that
usefull and necessary Article otherwise the Monopolizers & En-
grocers will have it all bought up for other purposes than for the
Army.
Larger Magazines ought to be collected at Elk or the Head of the
Bay which will be convenient for either the northern or Southern
Army as their Exigencies may require, this beg your Excellency and
Council will pay attention to.
I wish to be informed who you have appointed Superintendant of
your State Purchases in Order that I may be informed from him
of the Success your Agents have in executing their respective Pur-
chases from month to month and give him such Instructions respect-
ing the Deposit of Provisions as I may receive from the Commander
in Chief.

November

20