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pared for making it into the best of flour (if necessary) this I con-
ceive will more evidently appear when it is considered that at Least
one half the wheat on the Eastern shore grows, (and is threshed and
clean'd) within two Miles of some Landing, which I presume could
be forwarded occasionally by Water (when safe opportunity s of-
fered) to the Head of the Bay, where it would be much more out
of the way of the Enemy, and where there are plenty of Mills of
the best, plenty of water at all seasons, that could Manufacture it
to any degree of fineness, and where Casks, waggons, and every
other matter or thing necessary, can alway be had to forward it, on
the shortest notice to where it may be wanted; leaveing that which
grow more interior, to be Manufactured by the best Mills in the
County and neighbourhood of its groath, And the collecting curing
and forwarding the provisions of the Meat kind, is attended with as
many inconveniences and extraordinary expences, as that of the
wheat and flour, though in my opinion much easier remidyed, as
each and every creature (be it Cattle or Swine) are able to carry
themselves to, or near Market, or the place they are wanted at, and
the price of Slaughtering Salting packing & coopering the same; with
this differance only, that the coopering or making Casks would be
much better done were it all done at or near one place, (than at
many) and as I conceive some where near the Head of the Bay would
be the most convenient place, it is supposed the workmen are in gen-
eral much better there then below, but should there not be the odds,
I am supposing when we consider that the one is to be waggoned
(or shalloped) from one to two hundred Miles and perhaps three or
four times handled, the casks abused, the pickles leaked out and ex-
posed to the sun (the other kept in a close house or cellar) untill
wanted, and then at hand for use, or at least it is known where it is
and ready for Transportation without the Extra expence of waggon-
age, danger of Leaking the pickle, or any other abuse, it may be
argued in oposition to what I have said, that should large Magazines
of provisions be made at any one place it may tempt the Enemy to
come and destroy it, which I admit, but this can be provided against
by sending it, ten or twenty Miles assunder, in proper deposits, with-
out moveing it one Mile from the common rout where it will be
wanted, another object which I think worthy of your notice is, the
Hides of the Cattle which in this State has been much neglected,
though very essensially necessary for the supplying the Army, sev-
eral quantitys of Leather that I forwarded to Philadelphia from this
State, while acted I as D. Q. M. Gl convinces me that we either dont
know how to Tan, Curry, and clean Leather, or have not conveni-
ences or materials (or perhaps want both) I have seen several par-
cels of Leather sent on that was not worth half as much as the green
Hides it was made of, and the complaints from the receivers, and
leather cutters, will Justify what I am saying as they were general,
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June 14
Red Book
No. 30
Letter 84
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