January 1-December 31, 1781 351

their Choice — as he is a Young man of Spirit and as well fitted
in my opinion to bear the Commission as any belonging to the
Company, I could wish if your Excellency approves of him, that the
Company may be indulged especially as he seems ambitious of
receiving it.

July 16

[Peter Chaille, Worcester County, to His Excellency Thos. S.
Lee Esqr.]

I Rec^d your Letter dated in Council July 12. 1781 I have to in-
form you I have Colected no horses as I have bin Out in the State
Barge Protector in order to prevent the Enemy^s Barges from Plun-
dering the People on the Wayters of Ouer Bay and Rivers Which
they wair doing in the most barberus and Cruil manner as she was
not man^d I thought it my duty to turn out as a Volunteer, which
I flatter my self was partly the Cause of her being maned in that
way, in two days, I shall do Every thing in my Power to Colect the
horses in a few days, which shall inform you of by the first oper-
tunity, I have got about three hundred yards of Coarse Cloath fit for
Soldiers Cloathing. I will send you the Sample the first Opertunity.

July 16

[John Murdock, Montgomery County, To His Ex^cy The Governor
and the Honble Council.] (Per George Adams)

I fully intended to have sent forward tomorrow by a Corporal's
Guard, all the Recruits and Draughts that are collected at George
Town, in this County, but some of them are unable to march and
others complain that they have not yet received all their money
from the Classes, nor any of their Cloathing, which has prevented
my sending them at present, but desire you will, if convenient, have
an Officer sent as 'soon as may be, to take Charge of them, who has
been long expected.
If M^r Sears, the Gentleman who conducted the continental Artil-
lery and military Stores to George Town in April last, could be
ordered on this Duty, it might enable me to determine on the Pro-
priety of William Veale Stewart's Enlistment, who made his Com-
plaint to you concerning it, — otherwise I shall forward him with the
officer you may send, enclosing such Affidavits as may be produced
to me concerning him, for your Determination of that Affair.
I have already advanced money out of what has been received from
the Classes which were draughted in this County, for Payment to
Persons who have nursed sick Recruits &c, since they have been in
George Town, one of which is dead and buried, and Disbursements
made therefor; I wish to know whether this is proper or not.
John Yost, who has already repaired several public Arms, and is
now employed about repairing those you last sent to this County, has
made frequent Applications to me for money, and he now tells me
that he cannot go on with the Work, nor longer Maintain his Family

July 16