January 1-December 31, 1781 373

agreed with some of the People for their Cattle, they promise to de-
liver them at such a place on a day then fix'd they neglect doing it,
I am then obliged to wait on them again, and as I observed in my
letter of yesterday many say their Dry Cattle are out at large and
dont know where to find them — from the best intelligence I can get
Beef Cattle in this County is scarce I have had some conversation
with some of the assessors who has had an opportunity of seeing
the Peoples Cattle they tell me that the Stocks of Cattle in this
County are very indiferent. I am informed their is great numbers of
Beef Cattle in Montgomery County. I have some of the most Active
Riders out that I can get and am out myself and to encourage the
Riders I allow them five shill^s a Head which is all I am allow'd I dont
see Gentlemen what I can do more towards forwarding the Collecting
of the Cattle. M^r Chrisall informs me he has sent for the seven Head
at M^r Denton Hammonds — my comeing down to procure a pasture
for the Cattle will prevent my collecting them so soon unless I col-
lect the whole number ordered before I came down. The Troops are
so much in want of Flesh provisions I was thinking it would be best
to send five or Six as I cou'd collect them.

July 27

[Jas Calhoun, Baltimore, to the Governor and Council.]

I had the honour to receive yours of the 23^d InS^t respecting the
common flour & Midlings in Harford County and have directed M^r
Dallam to forward it to the Head of Elk as speedily as possible and
deliver it to Donaldson Yates Esq^r D. O. M. Gen^l
The flour in the other Counties must be in a similar situation with
that in Harford and I should suppose ought also to be delivered the
Continental Storekeepers at George Town and this place, but as I
have wrote your Hon^ble Board several times lately for directions on
this Subject cannot undertake to give any orders respecting it until
you are pleased to instruct me how to act with regard to it. By the
returns made me there is at least ten thousand Bushels of wheat or
the produce thereof in each of the Counties of Frederick & Wash-
ington that in the latter will scarcely pay the charges of manufac-
turing and transporting either to George Town or here, and hence
the impolicy of our Legislature in receiving grain so far from Market
at the same price they allow at Landings. It will require a very con-
siderable sum of money to pay for Casks & carriage of the flour & the
Commissaries write me they have none, please inform what is to be
done in this matter as I really fear some part of the flour will be lost
to the State unless speedily del^d over to the Continental Stores and
that I may be censured for it.

July 28

[Rich^d Barnes, Leo^d Town, to His Excellency Tho^s Sim Lee Esq^r]

I have directed the Militia to be raised here for reinforceing
the Continental Army to be at this place on Thursday next where

July 30