January 1-December 31, 1781 111

[Proclamation]

To the Inhabitants of Cecil County: The continental Troops to
the amount of fifteen hundred having yesterday arived at this place
and there being little or no Flesh provisions at the Post, the Inhabi-
tants are most earnestly Solicited to throw in a part of their house-
hold provisions on the present Interesting Emergency, the stay of
the Troops is expected to be not more then three or four days the
Salt provisions they have with them must be preserved for their
embarkation therefore it is expected (as much depends on the Suc-
cess of the present Expedition) that every Inhabitant will contribute
all in their power according to their circumstances for which they
shall be allowed a generous price in the first payment of their Tax,
several Inhabitants of this Village have generously thrown in more
then their circumstances would admit of.
H. Hollingsworth Receivor for the State
Head of Elk 4^th March 1781

February 28
Red Book
No. 30
Letter 114

[Stephen Steward, West River, to the Council.]

Agreeabel to your Desier I have Strove all that in my Power to
send off vessels to the Head of the Bay to take In the troops the
People Pay but littel Regard to your warent a very fine schooner
belonging to M^r Letch lying In Herring bay that would Carry at
les^t from 70 to 80 souldiers without Bagage avoids going as M^r
Letch had Dun In the same manner when you was sending Down
troops last Sumer som young men I have had Prest to go In vessels
to git them away Refuses going If none is to go In to the State
Serviss but what chuses themselves I think If Ever you should want
vessels and men again, you will git none with out you will make
Exampels M^r David Weems sent up his schooner Cherfuly with a
Negro Skiper as no whit man would go I have likewise sent off my
old Sloop with a very valubell Negro which must be taken out as the
sloop Corns Down I have had two or three young fellows Prest In
the nabourhood that I might have kept my Negro back but it an-
swered no End I harlly wish to see the law Put Into Execution If
any I have offer to find the vessels Provetion

March 7
Red Book
No. 27
Letter 52

[And. Buchanan, W^m Spear, John Moale, to His Excellency
Tho^s Sim Lee Esq^r]

M^r Richard Owings Collector of Delaware Hundred having very
lately return'd the Commissioners of the Tax, a Number of Per-
sons Omitted to be Assessed by Christopher Owings the Assessor
of the same Hundred and have received the Commissioners orders
to Collect the Taxes from them Acquaint us he is not in Arrears
Except from those Persons mentioned above and as he has not yet
had Time, he ought to be longer Indulged.

March 8