January 1-December 31, 1781 309

relates to the Prisoners here, Your hon^rs will receive in CloS^td a Peti-
tion which was handed to me Sign'd by the Principles in Town, they
are so desirious of hav^g the Court at this Place that they have im-
ploy'd a person to go express
N. B. the cloathing which was ordered to this place is not yet
arrived

June 21
Red Book
No. 27
Letter 101

[Thos. Contee to Gov. Lee.] (Mr. A. Thomas)

The bearer A Thomas had some Goods from M^r A. Contee to bar-
ter for Tobacco on Patuxent at fixed prices. M^r William Clagett
seized a part of them for the Army, for which he gave a Certificate,
he says he was Authorized by Law.
To Arrest the Property of any man entitled to the protection of
his Country must hurt the feelings of every man who wishes to be
free. M^r Thomas has the Account of the goods at the rates he was
ordered to dispose of them for Tobacco. If your Excellency and
the Council think proper to pay Tobacco, an Order on the Sheriff of
Calvert or Prince Georges to pay Tobacco on Patuxent will be agree-
able. I have seen a Contract for Tobacco at the Upper Warehouses
on Patuxent five Shillings for a Livre and Tobacco at Eight Shil-
lings per Centum. This was done by Consent and the [owner] had
part the bargain making I am no ways Interested in the goods, only
as the Property of my Son, they were taken out of my Storehouse at
Nottingham three days ago and I presume are at Annapolis before
this time.
My son does not know that his goods are taken nor do I mean to
hurry the payment, I believe he has Contracted for & must pay To-
bacco for the goods and I wish to advise him what he is to expect for
them.

June 22

[Sam. Smith, Balt., to Gov. Lee.]

M^r Muir Informs me you understood the order I sent him for
Tobacco to be the same as that & M^r Buchanan your Excell^y will
remember, that the order to M^r Muir was in Consequence of the Tents
& Camp Kettles order'd & Not Estimated & that to M^r Buchanan in
Consequence of the Impossibility of putting any reliance on M^r Hol-
lingsworth furnishing any flour as your Excell^y saw by his Letter
which I did myself the Honor to forward a few days ago, even 100
H^hds to be deliver'd M^r Muir will not put me in that Situation I was
under the order on M^r Hollingsworth, as you will see at Bottom, add
to this M^r Calhouns Deliverys are very slow & the price of flour fall-
ing, I shall want at least 200 H^hd more besides this to M^r Muir to
Compleat my purchases already made. The Heavy Demands by
M^r Keeports, the Lead & many other advances made Since I fur-
nish'd my Estimate will amo^t to at least 200 H^hds Extraordinary. I

June 22
Red Book
No. 27
Letter 103