344 Letters to the Governor and Council

July 11

[T. Donnellan, Baltimore, to Gov. Lee.]

Am Return'd from Philadelphia and ready to Execute your Ex-
cellencys Commands respecting the Recruits to be raised here.
Some have been offered me within this day or two, but being
ignorant of what they shou'd be furnished with, the want of Money
to purchase any thing for them and not knowing by what measure
Barracks is to be had, have declined the Matter untill I Receive your
Excellencys orders about it — w^ch shall be carefully attended to

July 11
Red Book
No. 27
Letter 1 16

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

Yesterday Evening late I rec^d your Excell^ys orders of the 9^th and
in Consequence I this Morning proceeded to the Execution. M^r
Keeport has Two Cover'd waggons nearly ready, Coll Adams is
already provided with one which I presume is the third wanting
If it is not, another will be ready Shortly, I Have Secur'd four open
waggons, about Half worn, but perfectly fit for the road & am in
Hopes to get the other there this week. The Horses may be sent up
on Monday. The Necessity of providing the waggons oblig'd me to
exceed your orders. No person will sell for New Money untill they
first know what Credit it will have, I have therefore Engag'd that
the owners shall be satisfied.
All the Tobacco now in my possession is order'd up to Philad^a or
Sold. I Have yet rec^d none from Bladensburg, but this Day wag-
gons have gone for it, 109 H^hds arriv'd at Elk sometime past for acco^t
the State, 78 are now on their way & the remainder Sold at such
prices as will nearly equal the N^t pro: of that gone Philad^a; except
that to M^r Gillmore, which was with your Hon. Boards approbation
& was a Sale of Expediency, In no Instance have I sold for Less than
double what the planter sells at. Circumstances made those sales
unavoidable, they were advantageous & I am certain when my acc^ts
are laid before you, they will meet with approbation, M^r Gillmore
abated 6^d p yard in the Linens, It not proving of proper Quality.
I Have by making proper payment establish'd a Credit & I now Can
buy Cheaper than any Individual. 1 Bo^t 1200 yds Linen a few Days
past of excell^l quality, much Superior to M^r Gillmores (which was
after the abatement Cost 4/9) at 4/ p yard — and oznaburgs my
property seiz'd from M^r Walker in Marlborough. I am allow'd 3/
p yard for, these Seizures distress & Sour the people, they ruin the
finances & do not expedit the Service, It is Impossible for me to lay
a State of my Expenditures before your Excell^y Imm^y Tradesmen's
Bills, freights, M^r Keeports acco^ts & numberless Small Charges will
prevent its being accurate. Of this be assur'd that the Tedious returns
from Philad^a has oblig'd me to be in advance six Hundred pounds
specie, & be also assur'd that the wants are such that at no Time will
it be in my power to be otherwise than in advance. Allmost all the