318 Letters to the Governor and Council

June 26
Red Book
No. 30
Letter 87

had your order to Supply him with some Corn. I let him have a part
of what I received and as no more money is like to be paid, I am like
to get no more Corn whither tis kept back by M^r Tilghman or M^r
Falioner. I cant say nor is it worth my enquiry, as I have nothing
to pay either of them with; this matter affected me much as I assured
the waggoners (who chiefly own the Teams) that they should be paid
on their return, which I was confident your Excellency & Honours
would have enable me to have done, distressing as this then seemed,
tis now more so, Col^o Smith agent for the State has applyed to me
with your order for 1500 Barrels flour, which I am doing all in my
power to procure, all this flour is either in meal ground down (the
middlings and flour together) or in wheat now grinding to make good
flour, the better half of the Meal and wheat is in the lower Countys
yet, Col^o Smith has earnest urged me to get the flower ready as soon
as possible, and has acquainted me with the cause, which to comply
with I have agreed with Mills here to boult the flour over again, have
got bran to mix with it, and have sent what Meal is here (about three
hundred Barrels to the Mills which is now boulting) have sent a
Vessel at Col^o Smiths request to Col^o Dallam for a Load of wheat,
(which he has more than he can Manufacture) I have sent another
Vessel to Mess^rs Baruch Williams & John Voorheese for a Load of
flour and Meal, and Intended sending one of those Vessels as soon
as they returned to the Head of Corsica for some flour Meal and
pork that I expected to have hauled there from the Head of Chop-
tank, and this day called on the waggoners which were down at
Snow Hill before, to get them to go on this Service, who flattly re-
fuses to go, unless I will pay them off their old arrearage due since
they were down before, this is so reasonable that it is out of my
power to expostulate with them, though not in my power to comply
with Col^o Smith has assured me that any expence on the flour after
it is flour shall be paid by him, or out of the Sales of it, but the get-
ting it here, lays with your Excellency & Honours I am indebted to
the owners of the Vessels that brought the last two loads of provi-
sions, the present is the last load they will go for unless paid; I can
do, as much as any man in America at this port, but can go no further
without your assistance, if money cant be had with you, Tobacco or
flour will bring it in Philadelphia, and I'le take any trouble of get-
ting either of those articles there, and selling them, or do any thing
in my power to keep the wheels going, but if my hands cannot be
strengthened, tis useless to keep me in office, as I can be no longer
of essential service to my Country,
P. S. Since the year 1775 I have done buisnis for this State have
always settled my accounts once a year and sometimes oftener, and
have never setled one that there was not a Considerable ballance due
me, three of these Ballances now remain due, besides a Large Bal-
lance from the United States, if ever I clear'd a dollar by the service