January 1-December 31, 1781 421

[James F. Armstrong, Baltimore, to Gov. Lee.]

As the want of suitable Clothing in the State Store, and the Re-
fusal of the Inhabitants of Baltimore to receive, in Payments, the
late Emission, have entirely frustrated the generous Intention of
your Excellency and the Council to relieve my temporary wants, I
am under the Necessity of renewing my application for an Order for
Clothing.
Co^l S. Smith, who obliges me by conveying this, informs me that
by an order directed to him he can supply me.
Could I have purchased what I wanted in Baltimore with the
Money I received I would not have taken up your attention by an
application which in that Case I should have judged troublesome and
unnecessary. But for its uncertain Nature, unknown to you when I
received it, I must consider myself in the same Situation as if I had
received neither order or Money.
I beg therefore that I may be indulged by an order directed to Col
Smith to supply me with what is mentioned in the enclosed order
upon the State Store.

August 15
Red Book
No. 26
Letter 6

[John Done, Geo. Day Scott, Cillis Polk, Robert Dashiell, Wicomaco

River, Somerset Co^ty To His Excellency, Thomas Sim Lee Esq.]
(p favour of Col^o Geo. Dashiell)

May it please Your Excellency The deplorable situation which
this shore was in some Little time past being Constantly Infested with
the Enemys Barges and the Little prospect we had of being Timely
relieved Induced a few friends on this river to Build at their private
Expence a Barge, Capable of Carrying 2 .... 6 pound Guns, 8 or
10 Swivels &c^a and to Rowe with 32 Oars, for the Express purpose of
defending this & the adjacent Rivers Issuing out of the Sound but
not finding, the Incouragement from our neighbours as wee at first
Expected and Cash & Materials being very Scarce with us so that a
few Could not with any Conviency fit her out So speedily as Wished
for think It most advisable to make a Tender of her to your Board at
Cost and hope that she will Be Accepted and fitted out for the de-
fence of the sound Imediately or at Least for our mutual defence wee
Can with Truth assure you that she is thought by the best Judges, to
be as Compleate a Hull of a barge as any Built this war you have
the bill of the Dimentions & Cost Inclosed and we shall be much
obliged will you Inform us by the first op^ty whether she will meet
with your Acceptance.

[Inclosure]
Barge 54 ft. Keel
14 ft. Beem
3 ft. hold
3 ft. passage Midships
32 Rowlocks with as many Oars

August 15