January 1-December 31, 1781 267

[Sam Huntington, President, Philadelphia, to His Excellency
Governor Lee.]

My Letter of yesterday addressed to your Excellency & which
accompanies this, contains such important Intelligence, that Con-
gress have thought it indispensible to communicate the same to the
Legislatures of the several States, through their respective supreme
Magistrates as soon as possible; at the same Time the Intelligence
is of a Nature that ought to be kept secret as may be at present. I
am therefore directed to request that effectual Measures may be ob-
served to prevent Copies or Extracts of the Letter of the i^ts Instant
from being taken or published.

June 2
Red Book
No. 8
Letter 19

[Sam. Huntington, President, Philadelphia, to His Excell'y
Governor Lee.]

Your Excellency will receive enclosed, an Act of Congress of the
31^st Ulto. earnestly recommending to the State of Maryland imme-
diately to raise & equip for the Field a certain number of Troops.
Since passing this Act, Intelligence received of the Progress of
the Enemy in Virginia & the distressed situation of a Sister State,
the great Inferiority of our Continental Troops in Virginia under
the Command of the Marquis de la Fayette, render the reinforce-
ments requested more pressing, and require the greatest Expedition
to hasten them forward. It is earnestly wished & hoped, under pres-
ent Circumstances, Volunteers will offer themselves without the least
Delay, and join our Troops in such Numbers as immediately to check
the Progress of the Enemy, & effectually repel them in due Time.

June 2
Red Book
No. 8
Letter 20

[Geo. P. Keeports, Baltimore, to Gov. Lee] (Fav^d by Colo^o Smith)

May It Please Your Excellency Your Letter of yesterday I Re-
ceived this morning and in Consequence thereof have Repeated my
Application To M^r Thos. Hollingsworth to Let me have the Lead
I mentioned in my Last memorandum (on the Credit of the State)
which at that Time he agreed I shou'd have at 30 D^rs Conti^l p lb he
now Asks 18^d specia p lb or the Baltimore Exchange — he has Dimin-
ished the Quantity Selling it out By Retail and Now has not above
10 C w^t Left which with about 8 C w^l in the hand of an Other Person
which may be had at the same Price is all there is in Town But my
Influence and Arguments are to weak to get in on any other Terms
then Paying for it Imediately and without more Lead I Cannot make
up more Amunition as all that was in my Possession is work^d up.
I have Continued and still Continue men Repairing Arms But not
without the Greatest Dificulty for the want of money to pay them
their wages as they have no other support

I Borrowed 6 B^Is of Flour from M^r Calhoun for the Relief of
those men I have Imployed which I am to Replace or Obtain your

June 2
Red Book
No. 30
Letter 88