January 1-December 31, 1781 129

propositions of the Council, providing the transactions are as faith-
fully performed in f ranee: I shall only add, that I rely entirely on
your Excellency's promise; & I could wish you would strongly
recommend to the next General Assembly, to pass such laws, as may
ensure the means of complying with your part of the propositions
on the arrival of the arms; that flour & tobacco good in quality, may
be Stored in the Hands of proper agents, which must not be dis-
posed of, for any other purpose whatsoever.

March 15
Brown Book
No. 8
Letter 29

[Jos^h Merriken, to Honour^e The Councill]
Gentlemen The Ships are Now Just below Sandy point and ap
pear as if others were Coming too I have Twelve men only and they
are badly Accoutred the men Complain badly as they have been on
Guard this two days and have had no Rations tho we applied to M^r
Crisall and he Refuses to Let us have any I shall be Glad to know
what to do as it will be Impraticable to attempt to keep them to-
gether unless they are furnished with provision, it Could be had in
the Neighbourhood if I had Authority from y^r Honours.

March 16
1/2 after
4 o'clock

[James Sulivan, Com'y D. Coty., Dorchester Co^ty to Gov. Lee.]

(By Major Wright)

In consequence of your letter of the 7 Instant with what provi-
sion I have Rec^d for the present Assessment it is in my power to
supply the 10,000^lb meat kind that you think will be wanted for the
proportion for 30 days Consumption of 1500 Men under the Com-
mand of the Marquis De la Fayette
I would be glad to have your Instructions as soon as possible
when the provision may be sent & in what manner you would choose

to order the Beef on the Hoof as I have a large proportion of the
above Quantity in that Article.
Your letter of the 10 of last month never came to hand untill the
28 wherein you request what provition that was purchased by the
late Commissary might be sent to the head of Elk we then had the
alarm here of the Enimy being up the bay thought it not safe to send
it I would also be Glad to know if you would still want it sent to
the head of the Bay

March 16
Red Book
No. 27
Letter 43

[Van Swearingen, Monongahela County, to His Excellency,
Thos Sim Lee.] (Fav^d by M^r Chaplin)

A few days ago being at Fort Pitt was informed that Capt.
Tawnyhill and Lieut Evins of Col^o Rawling's corps was reduced to
half pay and ordered home, and knowing those Gentⁿ to be very
useful in the Army and conceiving that your Excellency and Coun-
cil might not be fully advised of the value of and the services those
Gentlemen have rendered, having Taken the liberty to inform your
Excellency of what I know of them, and as I am actuated by no other
9

March 16
Red Book
No. 27
Letter 42