January 1-December 31, 1781 257

me that he is without any Kind of Provisions except Flour, and has
not the most Distant Prospect of Procuring a supply of meat, or
geting any repairs or additions made to the Barracks, as he is with-
out Tools and unable to Procure workman. I am really apprehensive
that the Greater part of those Troops will escape without some Effec-
tual measures Can be adopted to have them supplied w^th Provisions
Col^o Rawlings seems by his Letter to me to have mistaken my In-
tentions he Conceives the Troops to be Delivered to him as Com-
missary of Prisoners, my Ideas were for him to receive them as
Commanding Officer of the Guard, as I dont Conceive by the re-
solves of Congress that they were Positively Deemed unconditional
Prisoners of war, as the Direction of the Board of war is to separate
them from the Officers and to give them the allowance of Provisions
Issued to Prisoners of war, untill I shall be informed that Payment
has been made for their subsistence heretofore. I find that a Great
number of those Troops are Concealed by the Inhabitants, who are
greatly offended when I send Guards for them, and go so far as to
threaten bringing suits. I beg your Excellency will represent this
matter to the Assembly, who I Trust will think it Proper to enact a
Law or Pass a resolve for Discouraging a Practice so incompatible
with the Interest of the United States. The Board of war Inform
me, that a flag ship is to Come up Potomack with money & Neces-
saries for the Convention Troops. I am waiting here to Transact
that Business, and shall be Glad to be informed whether the Flag
has Received your Permission to Come to her moorings at George
Town

May 28
Red Book
No. 28
Letter 13

[Henry Hooper, to Gustavus Scott, Esq., Annapolis] (Fav^d by
Capt. Wheatly)

From a Scarcity of money among us I have done very little in
collecting Class money and from the short crops of wheat last year
and the obstruction the Enemy have given to the Transporting In-
dian Corn &c up the Bay many people and I think the greater part
of them are utterly unable to pay. I should therefore be glad you
would represent the Circumstances of our County to the Assembly
and endeavour to procure An Act for the payment of Class money,
after Harvest in Wheat or other produce to be delivered to the
Commissary of the County
I should be glad you could procure me a Copy of the Militia Act
as we are at a Loss to know in what manner to impose Fines &c.
Col^o Jones informs me our Barge will be ready to launch in a
fortnight from this time and wish you would whilst in Annapolis
endeavour to procure for her sail Cloath, Rigging, Guns &c.
17

May 29