January 1-December 31, 1781 363

The Assembly promised that the most speady measures should be
taken to obtain money to pay the Certificates given by the Commis-
sary for Horses seized. I am desired to ask when the payment of
those Certificates may be expected in Cash & how to be obtain'd.
I have several hundred Barrels of Corn flour & midlings on hand
which I fear will spoil & should be glad to know how I am to dispose
of them I have delivered Col^o Smith 500 Barrels of Good flour I am
preparing all I can for him.
Your Excellencys directions & answer to the above & whatever may
elec relate my Department by return of the Bearer will oblige His
most ob^t Hum. Serv^t

July 22

[H. Hollingsworth, Head of Elk, to His Excellency Thomas Sim
Lee Esq^r, in Council.]

And please your Excell^y & Honours Having received no answer
to my last, and being in the greatest difficulty, for want of money to
execute yours, and M^r Sam. Smiths orders in the business of the
State, which was then and is now Suffering for want of money to
carry it on, I had in consequence of M^r Smiths direction, forwarded
to Philadelphia for Sale some Flower in order to defray the expence
of the rest, and to my great Mortification and disappointment not
only that, but a parcel I had sent by M^r Smiths orders to be deliv-
ered to M^r John Purviance, are both condemned, as I am really afraid
all that I can make out of the Materials I have will be, as the Wheat,
and meal, sent me are bad, and the Inspecter very particular, having
great quantitys of flour to choose out of; the greatest part from this
State has undergone the same fate, the wheat lately received from
Harford County has been damaged before it was put on Board the
Vessel, by being (as I am informed) removed when the Enemys
Cruisers were up the Bay to a Granary with a bad roof, and was
there wet with the rain, was after removed to the water and stored
where it heat, and is now musty and will not make good flour, the
meal collected by the several Commissarys I described to Your Ex-
cellency & Honours in my former letters, nor is there cask better, as
they assist to condemn the flour; the flour condemned is part of it of
that bolted over again by M^r Smith's order, and part made under
directions of M^r Baruch Williams in this county, since I had your
orders for making the half of the wheat on hand, into superfine and
the other half into Common, it has all fared alike condemned (with-
out the benefit of the Clergy) I have acquainted M^r Williams of it,
and Col^o Dallam of the wheat, the flour condemned I have with the
advise of our Delegates in Congress, and my Brother who I had con-
signed it to, delivered over to the Commissary and shall obtain his
receipt for it on account of the state; I am filling some orders of
M^r Smiths which he has given on me for flour by boulting it over

July 22
Red Book
No. 30
Letter 77