194 Journal and Correspondence

November
25

that seems to be dodgen us, which the said Capt. knows as he says,
to be one of the same fleet, & the weather appearing at this present,
very unsetled & likely for blowing, and the Cato in a Very indifferent
State with respect to Seamen. Whether it be thought most Prudent
to proceed upwards or to resque the chance of the Bay, not having
more than three Days meat on Board, the opinion of the Court stands
thus. Comm^r Tibball in the Chair —

for Returning up the Bay
M^r John Gordon Master
Lieu' Jones Capt. Kiersted
Lieu' & Pilot Ross Capt. Donathy
Lieut. French Capt. W^m Middletor
Capt. Edgley
Except he & Cap^t
Revely with the
Land forces could
be landed on the
Lower Tangier

for Continuing down
the Bay
Lieu^t Smith
Capt. Revely
Capt. G. Middleton

November
30

[Chas. Blake, Corsica, to Gov. Lee.]
Sir By the Dolphin I send a beef which was missing when the
drove went off, and has been straying ever since; as I had no more
to send to Elk I could not think of sending him have order'd him to
Annapolis to be salted or given to the Men as y^r Excel: may think
proper. I am now quite at a stand the State money will, not pur-
chase another bus. of Wheat if y^r Excel, has any Tob^o on hand on
Choptanck above Oxford or Wye Chester or in Kent Co^ty a Gentⁿ
has offerd to purchase it with Continental money with which wheat
may be had if y^r Excel: will inform me before next Munday what
price your would ask and send an order on the Treasurer for the
notes I can gett thirty thousand pounds down and the rest as 'soon
as the notes are receiv'd if y^r price is not to high. If the Dolphin
could come immediately back with an order and y^r Excel: instruc-
tions if the Gentⁿ should not agree to the terms I would return the
order by her he would take 100 hogsheads; I have agreed for no
price as I could promise no Tob^o he is offering fifty five for single
hogshead and would probably give more for a quantity. I have sent
off to Elk 2179 3/4 of wheat and have now a Vessel loading which
will have between eleven and twelve hundred bus: on board and
have about 500 at M^r Hemsleys Mill which will be all I shall be able
to get unless I am shortly supplied with continental money the wheat
is going off very fast to those who can give Continental or goods and
will in a very short time be all gone.
P. S. if I do not gett the order and instructions before Sunday
night it will be too late, there was a letter directed to me taken from
Queens Town last week if it was from y^r Excel: about Supplies
please to send another as some curious person has taken it away.