January 1-December 31, 1781 427

M^r John Ross inform'd M^r Mullahon that he wanted ab^l Six
hundred Barr^u of flour at Baltimore & that he wou'd supply us with
money, if you cou'd let him have that quantity or a part of it. If you
shou'd be of opinion that it wou'd be to the advantage of the State
to persue that measure, until a reasonable price can be obtaind for the
Tobacco (M^r Mullahon says 157 p C^t in cash cannot be obtained
for what he has on hand) we shall be glad to receive y^r directions
to treat with M^r Russ, or any other person who may want flour in
Baltimore.
21^st The president informs us that he has forwarded the passports

August 18
Red Book
No. 5
Letter 101

[James Lloyd, Kent County, to His Excellency Thomas Sim
Lee Esquire]

M™ Gordon is very desirous to see her husband M^r Charles
Gordon before he embarks from New York for Scotland where he
writes her he intends going very soon. He informs her that he has
good reason to think something favorable to the fortunes of his
children may turn up if she will consent to his taking some of them
across sea with him and permission can be obtained from the Execu-
tive of this State for them to come to him; and requests in case
M^rs Gordon consents that she will appoint a time for their meeting.
The character of M^rs Gordon truly amiable and respectable and the
attachment of her father and brothers (three of whom belong to the
Navy of these States) to the Independance of America fully per-
suade me that I do not desire an improper thing when at her instance
I request the favor of you to furnish her with the necessary passes
and permits.

August 18

[David Poe, D. Q. M., Baltimore, to Gov. Lee.]

Your Excellency will herewith Receive an Invoice of one hundred
Barrels of Flour which is the number you wrote for to M^r Calhoun.
We have had every Barrel this Day Examined which is Fresh being
neither musty nor Soure, perhaps the Quality of some part of it may
not be so good as might be Expected, but it is the best we have and
what we Receive from the State, the law only allowing the Bran and
Shorts to be taken out. I am sorry the last sent proved Bad, only a
few Weeks Since we Received it, there was Arbitrators called to
Judge betwixt the State and the United States and they Allowed
that it was Good agreeable to the Present Law
NB. The Invoice was sent to the Issuing Comm^y
Recv^d Baltimore Aug^t 18^th 1781 from Matthew Swan Con^l Store
Keeper one Hundred Barrels flour in Good Order W^t N^t Twenty
two Thousand four hundred & Thirty seven pounds as p Invoice
Which I Promise to Delver at Annapolis being for the Use of the
Troops, Under the Command of Gen^l Smallwood for which I have
Signed two Recp^ts of the same Tenor & Date
Edward [illegible]

August 18