306 Proceedings and Correspondence

February 8
Liber No. 78
p.56

without Foundation, and he writes that the Troops have received no
Meat for five Days past. We observe you write of a person from
Carlyle offering Seventy Bullocks to be paid in Flour at Baltimore
Town. The Distance between Frederick and Baltimore from Carlyle
should certainly make some Differences as the Price of the Beef as
well as the Difference between small and large Quantity. However
we think it best that you get the Beef upon the lowest Terms possible
to be paid in Flour at Baltimore Town at the current Price for Flour
there and you shall upon your advising us of having made the Con-
tract be furnished with orders for the Flour to make your Payment

Ibid,
p. 57

[Council to Mr Holker.]

We long since gave orders to the Commissaries of the State to
restore the Flour and Wheat seized by them which was purchased for
the [use] of his most Christian Majesty, though it remained un-
certain whether that Quantity did not exceed what was allowed.
We have been and still are anxious to have the Quantity purchased
by M^r Smith and his Agents in the several Counties, reduced to a
Certainty and pointed out the only Method by which we apprehend
it could be ascertained, the Letters laid before you in Council,
M^r Smith ought to call on his Agents to render Accounts of their
Purchases, in which they ought to mention, the Time of whom they
purchased and how much of each Person we are inclined to think the
Method suggested by you of directing the Commissaries to return
the Quantity of Flour and wheat seized by them belonging to the
Marine of France, will not give the Satisfaction you could wish
because the Commissaries gave Certificates to the Possessors as
Proprietors without making particular Inquiry whose Property it
was and because it cannot be supposed that all the wheat and Flour
purchased by M^r Smiths Agents was seized by our Commissary.
With great Pleasure we will grant the desired Permission to
M^r Smith to forward to Mess^rs Turnbull and Company by the way of
the Head of Elk 3000 Barrels of Flour we are obliged by your Proffer
of 1500 Barrels of Biscuit but decline accepting it, on Account of
the enormous Expence that attends the Transportation and Difficulty
of procuring Barrels and having at this Time a very considerable
Quantity of damaged Flour which we have determined to have baked
in Biscuit.

Ibid.

[Council to Brigadier General Hamilton.]

We received your letter of the 30^th January Yesterday. We have
in Consequence thereof, given Orders to our Agent M^r Murdock to
procure Boards Nails and every Thing necessary for compleating the
Barracks; and to be attentive to the regular Supply of Fuel and Pro-
visions for the Convention Troops.