January 1-December 31, 1781 325

to the Governor and Council. I confess that I must think that M^r
Ridgate had more Goods but what has become of them he best knows.
M^r W^m Leigh is to deliver a well fixt Waggon and geers at any place
your Ex^cy shall order in hire of an Horse, the Waggon he is to pur-
chase up the Country. There are no Bridles or Geers rec'd with the
Draft Horses, the bridles which the planters generally work with
here, are nothing more then a p^s of crooked Iron with a p^s of Rope
or Cow hide for head stals and Reins, I have therefore purchased
about 30' of Rope for Halters. I hope that your Ex^y will excuse this
incoherent scrawl as I can scarce hold my head up having rode with a
fever every day this week.
As soon as the Horses are Del^d I shall be at Annapolis.

June 30
Red Book
No. 22
Letter 12

[Robt. Smith, Havana, to Gov. Lee.]

I have the Honor of your Ex^ys Letter of the io^th ult. delivered to
me in the absence of M^r Rob^l Dorsey, who has not yet return'd to
this Place. The Flour of the Cargoe of the Sloop Porpoise, which
was something damag'd by being so long on board, arriv'd at a Time
when this Market had been already glutted & I have not yet been able
to dispose of it, the smallness of the bbls is a considerable objection to
the Sale, & I recommend it as worthy of attention, in any Parcel in-
tended in future for this Market, that the bb^les should at least weigh
2 C. w^t I do not despair of selling this Flour in a short Time & I shall
take the first opportunity of doing it, for the reason, which I have al-
ready mentioned, This Article, has been down as low as $21 & 22 1/2 p
2 c^t It has lately been rather on the rise & some light bb^ls have sold
as high as $25 & some heavier at $27 however I have not been able
as yet to get either of these Prices for yours, I am the more easy on
that Head because I am enabled, from a Prize bro^t in by Capt. Weems
& from what remains in my Hands, of the Fox's Cargoe, to remit
you as much as I think it proper to risque on one Occasion I now

June 30
Red Book
No. 27
Letter 99

inclose you Invoice for 116 Cases, Sugars, 115 Hides & 20 pounds
Jalap, which are the only articles of your order that can be procur'd
here I have already had the Honor to inform you, in my Letter of the
28^th April by the Fox, which I have the Pleasure to hear is arrived
with you, that no Stores or Cloathing could be expected here since I
have been here the Families of the City have been without Salt to eat
& that article is always very scarce & very dear. I have not been
able to collect 5 Pounds of Jesuits Bark & for that altho of an inferior
Kind, I am ask'd $4 p lb. I also remit you $ ———— upon this occa-
sion, as since my last Acco^ts from Delaware are more favorable &
because money will turn out nearly as well, as any of the Articles to

[Invoice
filed in
Red Book
No. 27
Letter
100-B]

be had here.
P. S. I now inclose acco^t Sale for the Flour of the Sloop Porpoise
at $24 p bb^l I was afraid to risque the great Heat of this country
any longer, as the Flour has already suffer'd from being so long on

[Account
filed in
Red Book
No. 27
Letter 100]