352 Letters to the Governor and Council

July 16

without regular Payments, so that he must stop unless he can be paid
for it, Your Directions herein will much oblige me, for I am appre-
hensive that my discharging those Accounts in the Manner I have
done, and may hereafter be obliged to do, is not the regular Mode ;
although I shall venture to continue to do so on many Emergencies,
unless you give me positive Orders to the contrary.

July 16
Red Book
No. 27
Letter 121

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

I was Honor'd with a Letter of the 26^th Ult. from M^r Brice, order-
ing returns of Clothing procur'd by me under the Law I answer'd
the Letter next Day. But fear from a Letter I had yesterday from
Col^o Stone I have been in an Error. I Have Constantly thought my
executing your Excell^ys first order was executing the Law. If I have
Err'd, I suppose I am now too late to be set right. The Troops under
the Description of the Law being already Cloth'd.
It would be difficult to procure the Clothing under the Law, The
most people having heretofore Considerably assisted the State &
there is at present few people possesS^td of Suitable Goods here
I Have provided all the waggons except Two & have Expectations
to get them. Should I not, five open waggons will be Sufficient to
Carry all the Tents now ready, & the other two may follow when
the remaining Tents are prepar'd. I think I can pass some of the
New Money as Gold & Silver, therefore shall be obligd if I am fur-
nish'd with about two Hundred & fifty pounds The Delay of To-
bacco, Its slow sale in Philad^a & the fall of flour has put me into the
most difficult situation. Pray send me the New Money soon as possi-
ble, I Have now four very severe Duns in the Store.

July 17

[John Smith Brookes, U Marlbro, to The Hon^ble The Governor
& Councill.]

Your favour of the 11^th did not get to my hands till the 13^th I sett
out immediately upon the business you directed, and from a number
of circumstances it was not in my power to get the Cattle collected
sooner than this day. M^r Scott the Bearer of this has 12 head which
he is directed to deliver to M^r John Crisall agreeable to your orders.
The Cattle are by no means so good as I could wish them, neither are
they equal to what they were when I first collected them — the weather
is so exceeding warm, that they suffer very much in driving. The
Gentlemen from whom I collect there Cattle entertain an idea that
they are to be paid for them in present new money — or they would
realy refuse the delivery. I shall be very much obliged to you to write
me your sentiments upon the matter. I shall sett out immediately
upon the Collection of the remainder and would wish to be informed
as to that matter. At all events I pray you to furnish me with a sum
sufficient to defray expences. I am rendered very contemtable in
being obliged to transact the business in this manner. It is with diffi-