January 1-December 31, 1781 17

that place — the enemy had also left George Town. Capt. Babcock
came through Richmond on Monday last Arnold had burnt about 6
Houses all the Public Stores that were left behind destroyed what
Rum Sugar & Salt they could find but he does not learn that they
got either Artillery Arms or the records as was reported while at
Col^o Gerrats 12 Miles on this side Fred^kburgh thursday last an Ex-
press arrived from Gen^l Weeden informing that the Enemy had
encamp'd about 10 Miles below Petersborough on James River where
their shipping lay.

January 15

[Will: McBryde, [Somerset] County, to His Excellency Tho^s S.
Lee, Esq.] (by M^r Wailes)

I Rec^d yours Dated [2nd] Dec. '80 & shall do as Directed, when
Called on. Likewise yours Dated 27^th Ditto, in answer to which,
am sorry my letter had not Reached you, I sent by M^r Gilbert
Midleton, before you wrote me, as you may Rely on it. I Cannot
Purchase any Provision at all, without having many of the Old
Emission, People hear will not Have the new on any Terms, Am
Liksewise Sorry for want of that alone, I have not got nor will
not get, 1/2 the Quantity I should infallibly have got; & what Little

I have got was by paying the People in Part, with my own money,

& some I Borrowed of M^r W^m Horsey, for that Purpose, The Quan-
tity I have Recev^d of Pork & Beef, about 1000 but my further Pur-
chase, will entirely Depend on your Sending the Old money, for with-
out that, I shall not Receive one more Pownd, my Prices have been
for Beef 30 / p^r lb Pork 40 / p^r lb. which is Considerably Lower
than you allow me, I have sent the Bearer M^r Levin Wails, for some
Cash, I hope you will send me as much of the Old money, as you
Possibly Can, at any Rate as much as will Pay of my Present Pur-
chase, & should you not be willing I should Purchase any more for
the Old money, Please inform me, & will Immediately Stop, How-
ever had I not Engaged it; for the Above, I would not have got one
Pownd, the People are all to meet me next Saturday, in order to
Receive their money, [by Appointment] I hope therefore you will
not let me be worse than my word, by Disapointing them, as it will
be Hurtfull to my Character, you Desire I should mention what
Quantity I think I Can get, it is a bad year hear for Pork, tho' I have
Bo^t here one year when employed by Congress, all in Green Pork
43,783^m & Beef 2,580^m besides a large Quantity of Barrelled Pork,
However as I mentioned before, I dont expect another Pownd with-
out old money,

January 15

[Th: Jefferson, Richmond, to Governor Lee]

I received some time ago from Major Forsythe and afterwards
from the board of war a requisition to furnish one half the sup-
plies of provision for the convention troops removed into your

2

January 15