January 1-December 31, 1781 445

to Inform your Excell^y that The appointment Does not suit Them
they make Numberless Excuses which would be but little Satisfaction
to mention, For my own Part I am Ready and Willing to Act in any
Department or Character which I have or may be appointed too That
will Render my Country service, at The same Time I would wish to
mention That If supplied with New Money, I think all that Balti-
more affords may be had on Much more Agreeable Terms Then by
Seizure. The Inhabitants knowing of a ^ower Invested in a Person
or Persons That will make Seizure If they Do not sell off such
Comodities as They have and is Wanting to Equip The Troops will
In Preference Take The New money Rather Then Certificates; for
which Purpose I wish to have a supply In The mean while I shall
Look about to see what Goods are in Town suitable That may be
Procured

August 24
Red Book
No. 30
Letter 68

[Tho. S. Lee to The Honorable President Brice]

I was honored with your Letter of this morning. It would give me
pleasure to comply with the request of the Hon^ble Council if my
situation would admit of it: At present its extremely inconvenient
& Doct^r Murray adds, improper for me to go out. My disorder has
passed its Crisis & I expect it will be in my power to attend to morrow
Morn⁸
There is no time to be lost in forming the Cavalry & making the
necessary appointm^ts of officers & if the Board enter upon that busi-
ness this afternoon, I beg leave to recommend M^r S. Chew of Cal-
vert to their attention — he only solicits Cornetcy & Col^o Fitzhugh
recommends him as a young gentlemen of family & fortune & highly
merits such a Commission

August 24
Red Book
No. 26
Letter 19

[Pat Sim Smith, Calvert, to Gov. Lee] (Faver. Mr. Duvall)

I have received your pressing orders for the delivery of the Beef
Cattle I had directions to collect, I am very sorry it has not been in
my power as yet to procure them, which was owing to the illness of
my Family & myself under the flux. I appointed a Deputy for the
purpose and he has been also very Ill, and when I expected he had
Collected a number found he had got none — we are now engaged in
the Business being prevented from beginning sooner in the week by
the sitting of our County Court which is not yet over. I much fear
we shall make a slow progress, it being very difficult to procure assis-
tants besides This the people are much dissatisfied with the mode of
Colection & the low price allowed & I am apprehensive I shall get
none except from a few Individuals without a Seizure, indeed, I am
informed that some declare they will not suffer a Seizure. However
I hope I shall have fifteen or Twenty ready to send up the first of
next week and shall then be able to give better Information respecting
the others.

August 24
Red Book
No. 27
Letter 134