2 Letters to the Governor and Council

January 3

Quantity, what I have purchased has been at Two Hundred Pounds,
except Three Hundred at £150 And those who has for Sale talk of
Asking a greater Price, there is some Beef to be had on the Hoof,
and some in Quarters but the price Generally asked is too high to be
given from Twenty five to thirty shilling a pound I think four or
five Thousand weight may be laid in at them prices, I have pur-
chased Four Hundred and Sixty Bushels of Corn at Twenty Dollars,
no contracts can be made for corn to be delivered a time Hence, Pay
and Receive sums to be the desired mode continental money or To-
bacco of new Inspection Is wanted in payment, but I expect the tone
shortly will be turned to the new Bills, there is not less than Twenty
Thousand Bushels of corn to sell In S^t Mary's County and I think
If I had money or Tobacco I could Purchase four or five Thousand
Bushels at Twenty Dollars or seventy five pounds of Tobacco p^r Bar-
rell But it must be done directly I will endeavor to keep the cooper
close at work I have fifty or Sixty Bushels of good allum Salt that
I purchased for the Public, Better than Two years ago, If I may
make use of that I shall not want any sent. The enemies Barges so
closely watches Patuxent and Potomack Rivers that I have thought
it too dangerous for to send forward my supplies I am entirely out
of money. If I could be supplied with £10,000 continental money &
£250 of the new Bills with an order on the Sheriff in case I should
want I think the purchases may be carried on Here
P. S. Geo. Leigh will deliver this by him is a good oppertunity
to send money

January 3

[Rich'd Dallam, Balt. Town, to Gov. Lee.]

Since I came to this place I find that I may be able to secure about
12 or 1500 Bush^ls of Wheat by being supplyed with new money
therefore if your Excellency thinks proper I should be glad to receive
by the Bearer M^r John Dallam a sum sufficient for that purpose, I
can also raise about 10,000£ Continental If Your Excellency w^ld give
me an Order for M^r Dorsey to deliver me six or Seven Boxes of
Sugar to be charged me at the price he sells for All which to be
charged me on acc^t of my Late purchase for the State. I wait Here
for the return of the Bearer

January 5

[Geo. Murdock, to Governor Lee]

Col Crockett has rec^d Letters from the Gov^r of Virg^a to Col
Wood advising that no supplys of any kind can be expected from
that State for the Convention Troops here, they having our South-
ern Army in great measure to furnish as well as the Hessians now at
Charlotte Ville — I am collecting Beef here in small quantitys daily,
and hope to prevent any want for Ten days or a Fortnight to come,
but I am much distreS^td for want of Cont^l Money, as the Stupidity
of the people with regard to the new cant as yet be Removed. If