190 Journal and Correspondence

November
20

I have a quantity of Salt at the different Landings upon the
Eastern Shore which was deposited there for the Purpose of salting
Pork last Fall, this Salt you may have the loan of until next Spring.
M^t Wederstrandt of Wye River will render you an Account of it,
to whom I have given directions to deliver it to your Order and take
receipts for the Quantity.
A number of Cattle forwarded by some of the Agents upon the
Eastern Shore are exceeding Ordinary, indeed fifty of them in such
a Condition that I think they will hardly survive the Winter. I have
given directions to have them sold for the best Price they will bring.
The Public are much indebted to your State for their Exertions
last Year and I pray God they may pursue the same line of Conduct
the ensuing [year], without which it will be impossible to feed the
Army.

November

21

Red Book
No. 26
Letter
No. 66

[Jno Dorsey, Baltimore, to Gov. Lee]

Sir I have Dispatched Midletons Boat with forty cases of Sugar
Capt. Pitt is now Loading you shall have an Invoice of the whole by
him I have the Pleasure to inform you that the Cargo is in much
Better order then I Expected and I believe not more then Three
Cases of Sugar will be lost. I have not as yet sold any I believe the
Buyers are laying Back for the arrival of the Vessels that sails with
the Fox. If they should not arrive in a few days I have not a doubt
but they will have a Brisk Sale at a Higher Price then Sixteen

Dollars.

November

22

[Chris'r Birckhead, Talbot County to Gov. Lee]

Sir I have not rec^d any part of the 15 p C^t since my return to
you; as the Assembly are now sitting I expect they will either
explain or amend the Law, it is very disagreeable to me to act under
a Law where I am to guess at the meaning and intent of it. I have
had the opinion of an eminent Lawyer, a member of the Hon^ble
Senate whose Judgment I can rely on, that unless the recruits are
first procured the Law will not ustify me in ordering executions,
without which it will be impossible to collect it. I hope therefore I
shall be excus'd from acting any farther till the assembly takes
some order therein.
If the Lieut^ts are to be collectors of this Tax I see no provision
made for their trouble and expense, in procuring of Books, opening
Acco^ts ag' all the inhabitants of the County, and Attendance at
Publick places, but in my humble opinion it wou'd be more properly
the Duty of a Sheriff

November
22

[Cha's. Blake, Corsica, to Gov. Lee]

Sir I rec^d y^r Excel^cys of the 3^d of this instant with £250. We
are now at a Stand about the credit of the New money no one here