of the Council of Maryland. 205

me to purchase any of the before mentioned Articles I think there
is no Time to be lost
The following are the prices now current for such Articles as I
presume will be wanting for the Army: Pork 503 per H^d Fatted
Beef 33/4 per H^d Corn 12/6 per Barrell Oats 2/6 per Bus^hl Peas
& Beans @ 6s per bushell. The Sales are now in hard money most
generally whether the new Emission will gain a circulation at some
determinate Standard Value seems at present doubtfull.

December 15

[Chas. Blake, Corsica, to Gov. Lee.]

Sir I rec^d the 111 notes sent by y^r Ex^cy which I have disposed
of at 55 and 4 p^r C^t for the Cash have rec^d 45000 pound and expect
the rest this week. I am endeavoring to lay it out as orderd but find
pork extreemly scarce and very high. I shall be very glad to receive
a farther supply of the New State money to pay for Wheat rec^d and
as people seem to give it better creditt than before should be glad
to have a sum to be ready to take the advantage of any contract that
may be offer'd I yesterday lost 400 bus: for want of Cash as to
Creditt, I cannot gett one bus. for that. As our Members will soon
be returning hope y^r Ex. will make use of the oppertunity of trans-
mitting any sum you may think proper to me which shall be applied
to the best advantage.
The order drawn in favour of M^r Hemsley has been duly paid

December 16

[James Wood, Frederick Town, to Gov. Lee.]

Sir I am Desired by Brigadier General Hamilton, to request
that your Excellency will Permit their Paymaster General M^r David
Geddes, to go occasionally to Baltimore, in order to Dispose of their
Bills of Exchange: this I consider as a matter of which your Hon^ble
Board are the sole Judges; therefore I shall only add, that M^r Geddis
has been Perfectly uniform in his Conduct since the convention
Troops have been under my Direction, and that I am fully Per-
suaded he wou'd not abuse any Indulgence you may think Proper to
grant him.

December 17

[Sam Smith, Annapolis, to Gov. Lee.]

I Have a very fine New Brig nearly ready for Sea. She will Carry
from 1000 to 1200 B^bles flour will mount 12 Six pounders, She is
prim Sailer, & shall in every Respect be compleatly fitted & found.
She is now ready to take in her Cargo. I wish to freight her on the
Terms heretofore given by this state which I understand to be, to
allow me 5 p C^t for purchasing the Cargo for which purpose I must
be supplied with Money, The Brig, to be allow'd one Half the flour
for Carrying the other. I obliging myself to bring one Half a Cargo
Home freight free

December 17