January 1-December 31, 1781 233

[G. B. Causin, Portobacco, to The Honble Thomas Stone]
(Favor'd by M^r Mcpherson)

I am to inform you that Col. Ware requests you would speak
to the Governor & Council concerning the alarming situation of
Affairs in this County letting them know the peculiar hardship it
would be to the County to have a Draft at this particular Crisis
& endeavour if in your Power to have a further Suspension of the
Draft here.

May 7

[Richd. Dallam, Harford County, to Gov. Lee.]

I find myself much at a loss in receiving the State money for the
41 Tax it depreciates so fast that a great part must be lost. Our
Commissioners have fixd it at 3 for 1 & hard cannot be bought at
4 for 1 Many have contracted to pay recruits hard money & if
executions are Issued and the money received at 3 for 1 — the engager
looses 1 fourth even at this day. I have rec^d 400 Dollars at 3 for 1
& the recruits will not take it at less then four in Lieu of hard there-
fore it sinks in my hands and the Persons Who are draughted, if
they engage Recruits which I expect will be the Case will not Obtain
the sum they ought owing to the depreciation I therefore shall be
obliged if your Excellency will please to give me some advice or
directions how I shall Proceed, to keep way with the depreciation
I have this day received 4 for I — but as it exceeds the exchange fixd
by the Commissioners Perhaps I may have done amiss which I w^ld
not knowingly do, neither can I care to think the Soldier should
Loose therefore have thought it Proper to give Your Excellency the
Information & hope I may be informd what is right

May 7
(at night)

[Thomas Jones, Ca^l County, to His Excell^y Thomas Sim Lee Esq^r]

The frequent applications I have made to the Council for To-
bacco to discharge my contracts for Horses give me Little hope of
succeeding now However I take the Liberty to Solicit a settlement
of the acc^t w^th Thomas Gray our Sheriff of this county to whom the
Gentlemen are indebted to then surely Justice will say discount it.
I cannot be of opinion that individuals should be Plunderd for the

Benefit of the Public, if there is Necessity Let the Community at

large Suffer. I make no doubt but you are truly Sensible how Dis-
agreeable it is to be Duned for money and therefore an Apology will
not be necessary. Balance now due 24334 pounds of neet crop
Tobacco.

May 7

[McHenry, Jeffers & Co. Baltimore, to His Excellency the Governor
and The Honorable the Council.]

We have had the honor of seeing your Terms for Shipping Pro-
duce & Lumber to New York under a Flag in Consequence of which

May 7