454 Letters to the Governor and Council

August 28
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your exertions, that you can wish, both from Public bodies and indi-
viduals. My dependance therefore on receiving the Supplies from
your State seems well founded. —
I have the honour to transmit your Excellency herewith, a letter
from the Commander in chief on the same Subject which will add
weight to my intreaties. I have written to Donaldson Yates Esq^r
Quarter Master of the States of Maryland and Delaware, to procure
immediately as many Craft Vessels suitable for transporting the
Troops from the Head of Elk to Virginia as will carry about 7000
Men with the necessary provisions and aparatus.
I have written to M^r Ridley, William Smith Esq^r and some others
in Baltimore, to assist in procuring these Vessels, and should any
application to your Excellency be necessary on this Subject, I per-
swade myself that the authority of the Government or weight of its
influence will be brought in Aid of the Quarter Master's endeavours
to procure Shipping — I have also written to M^r Calhoun, to know
what part of the Specific supplies he has ready, and what prospects
for the remainder, he must bestir himself, as indeed must every per-
son on whom the Procuring of those Articles depends.
While the demands for the Campaign are constantly transmitted
to me, and so much depends upon the measures I am continually
taking to economize the Public Funds, and facilitate our Military
operations, your Excell^y will perceive that full early and accurate
intelligence upon the various objects of my Department is of the
utmost importance — I must therefore reiterate my requests for it.
To act from necessity and on the spur of the occasion, is not only
the source of Waste and extravagance, but frequently defeats plans
otherwise the best concerted, while on the other hand, that timely
forecast and early provision which compleat knowledge of circum-
stances can alone permit of, will save much Public money, and go
very far to ensure victory to our Arms.

August 28
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[Robert Morris, Office of Finance, Philadelphia, to James Calhoun.]

By your answer to Mathew Ridley Esq^r respecting the Flour, I
requested might be delivered to him by the Government of Maryland,
I observe that the quality of the Public Flour is not such as will
answer the purpose intended, therefore I have taken other Measures
for procuring that supply, this Circumstance however will not lessen
my demands on your State to which I understand you are the Agent,
I have lately written several Letters to his Excellency the Governor
informing him that the ballance due to the United States upon the
requisition for specific Supplies by Congress from Maryland will
now be wanted for the Public Service. I am authorized and directed
to collect the ballances due from every State, with some I have already
succeeded to very considerable amounts and the Main Army is in-
tirely fed thereby. The State of Maryland is so connected with the