January 1-December 31, 1781 185

Lansdale's Boy is just come & confirms the proceedings, & says, if
the Militia had 1 9 pounder they cou'd take the (60 Gun) ship that
is still aground — it is said our People have sent to George Town
for a piece of Cannon — the Enemy are industriously lightening the
Ship — If you think it worth your time to examine the Boy he can
inform you further — but perhaps you have much better intelligence
than I have — I thought it however my duty to mention what has
occurred.

April 12
Thursday
12 o'Clock

[H. Hollingsworth, Head of Elk, to His Excellency the Governor
& Council.]

And please your Excell^cy & Honours I did myself the honour
of writing you on the 11^th Informing the prospect I had of provisions
from the County Commissarys of this Shore, since which I have
received nineteen head of Fat Cattle of Joseph Bruff Esq^r which
were forwarded to the Marquises detachment immediately (which
then lay at Susquehanna) I then informed that I apprehended great
difficulty in executing your orders regarding the removing the
Stores and provisions from the Head of Chester to this place, as
the Marqueses detachment had impressed all the Teams and horses
in this neighboured, and as my utmost exertion has been used since
to obtain a Brigade of Teams without effect; I am now constrained
to solicite your Excellency and honours that the Teams impresS^td
from this Neighbourhood be returned from Baltimore as soon as
possible as I have no prospect of executing your orders regarding
the removeing the provisions without them, there being no Teams
below, nor any here but what are gone with the detachment. I am
emboldened thus to intreat your Honourable Board, as I flatter my-
self Teams can be had in Baltimore Town and county, for the use
of the detachment.
I have wrote the several Commissarys below the Head of Ches-
ter to have their provisions properly put up and removed to that
place, have given orders to two Vessels to attend as near that
place as the depth of the water will admit of, as the prospect of
Teams is so discourageing, if any danger appears from the Enemys
Vessels I must Intreat that I be informed of it, and I shall order
these Vessels to the Head of the River great complaints are made
by the Commissarys below for want of Teams to collect the provi-
sions I have applyed to M^r Williams to purchase the Forage as p
your request, in answer to which he intreats me to write you for
money to enable him to comply with your order, and as I am obliged
to hire Teams, Vessels, Coopers, nails &c^a must earnestly request
that an order on the Eastern Shore Treasury be sent to M^r Williams,
and one to myself to enable us to execute your orders in purchasing
Forage and forwarding the Provisions, Inclosed M^r Tench Francis
Certificate regarding the Purchase of flour for the Bank in my last,

April 13
Red Book
No. 30
Letter 104