January 1-December 31, 1781 47

tions within your State which they would punish capitally: And in
this case I will on intimations from your Excellency furnish you
with proofs of his citizenship authenticated in any [way] which
your Laws shall require. Should he not be amenable to justice under
your Laws or should he be acquitted on trial, I will on information
thereof take immediate measures for having him received & brought
hither.
I have been honored with a Letter from the Honorable M^r Jenefer
President of your Senate and M^r Bruff Speaker of the House of
Delegates proposing that we should invite our Allies the French to
take a post within our State convenient for the defence of Chesa-
peake bay, and desiring communication on this Subject with your
Excellency, The difficulties on this head will certainly not arise with
us. Should our Allies not have a certainty of obtaining and keeping
a superiority of Naval power in the American Seas, they would
probably think any post on the navigable waters of Chesapeake liable
to loss. As a discussion of this matter with the French Minister
required full information to him of the various Ports & grounds
which they might think fitted for defence as well as for overlooking
the bay, of their conveniency to aid from the Country and many
other circumstances which might draw the correspondence, if on
paper, to a great length. I have thought it best to desire the Honble
M^r Harrison Speaker of our house of Delegates who sat out for
Philadelphia two days ago, and who is perfectly acquainted with the
circumstances, to speak with the French Minister on this Subject,
and to give him every information which may be necessary to deter-
mine his opinion I had during the last summer taken the liberty of
soliciting from him some Naval force to be stationed in our bay, and
received hopes that it might be done, just when the enemy, now
within this State, came into the bay, I am afraid the proof they have
exhibited of the practicability of making inroads into our Country,
when conducted with rapidity and aided by winds & waters will
rather discourage our Allies from hazzarding much in any situation
which may be pointed out.

February I

[Pat Sim Smith, Calvert, to Gov. Lee.]

I received £200 in new Bills by M^r Gray for the purchase of Pork
and Beef as also 10 Bushells of Salt by M^r Norris to salt it. I Have
purchased and Salted near two thousand weight of pork and about
three thousand weight of Beef both very fine. Have a Quantity of
Beef now engaged but fear I shall get very little pork more in this
County. Many had sold before I was directed to buy, some who had
not would not take the new Bills & I could not command continental —
indeed the price they sold for were higher than I was Impowered to
go — being first instructed to purchase Beef and Salt it. I did not
attempt to buy on the Hoof, since receiving your orders for that

February I
Red Book
No. 27
Letter 21