January 1-December 31, 1781 471

pleased with though could not order as the Commissioners had or-
dered it there, this I shall lay before the Commissioners this day if
they meet and indeavour to have orders to remove it, and in that
case shall send a Vessell for it and any other wheat that lay con-
tigious. This case convinces me there is many more parcels of wheat
in the similar situation, which cannot be manufactured on the Easte
side of Elk River, I have therefore wrote to the several Comm^ys of
Kent, Queen Anns, Talbot, Caroline and Dorset Countys, to have
any wheat of the present collection that cant be laid into good Mills
with streams of water sufficient to grind lodg'd so; but such as can-
not, and is contiguous to the stores on the waters on Sasafras, Ches-
ter or high up on Choptank Rivers, to be lodged in such stores, and to
send it to me here, or to give me information of it, and I'le send
Craft for it, I am not Insensible that the Censorious may call this
partiallity, and suspect that I want everything done in my own Neigh-
bourhood, if any such censure should arise, I shall impute it to their
Ignorance of the situation and circumstance of things; and can only
say in my Justification, that if they (or any one else) can get the
wheat properly Manufactured in any other part of the Eastern shore,
(at this season) tis more then I can, I am now closeing my accounts
of Deliverys for the last Collection which with a General return of
receivals shall be sent you, the boulting it over and delivering some
at Philad^a some at Christian, and some here, which tis difficult to col-
lect the receipts for, is the cause of the delay at present, pray Excuse
the length of this letter. I have so many things to touch on often
Intercepted and the mind not concise at best, you have the will for
the deed of your Excellency & Honours Most Obed^t Hble Ser^l

September 1
Red Book
No. 30
Letter 35

[Jas. Calhoun, Baltimore, to His Excellency Thomas S. Lee]
(Honoured by Col^o Smith)

I received yours of the 30^th Ult^o with £250 of the new Emission
which doth not yet pass current here especially with such people as
this will be wanted for, I shall do every thing in my power to for-
ward the collecting of Cattle & flour to this place & George Town
but unless the County Commissaries will exert themselves in a very
particular manner on this occasion we will fail in procuring the num-
ber of Cattle required. Making seisures is so very disagreeable a busi-
ness that few Men can be prevailed on to undertake it, M^r Griffith
the Commissary of this County, I fear will not although I have done
everything in my power to persuade him of the necessity thereof and
at length have insisted that he will either go immediately about it or
inform you thereof that some other person may be appointed in his
stead. He says and I believe with too much truth that it will require
a number of Persons to assist him in the business which is so dis-
agreeable that he can get none to engage in it especially for the new
Money I fear M^r Griffith will not be the only Commissary in this

September 2