496 Letters to the Governor and Council

September 17

[Thos. Beall of Geo. for T. Richardson, Com'y, Geo Town, to His
Excellency Tho^s S. Lee Esq^r] (Fav^d by Mr. Gary)

As soon as your fav^r of 13^th Ins^t came to hand; I communicated
the Contents to M^r Joshua George Q. M. for this place; to whom I
had delivered all the flour Agreable to an Order from James Calhoun
Esq^r dated 5^th Ins^t M^r George went down to Coll^o Hendricks of
Alex^a who promised to send up Vessells; there was but two small
Pilott Boats at this place which I Immediately Impressed — there has
been sent down 131 Barrells flour & there is still at this place and in
the neighbourhood 1000 Barrels. I have given Possitive Orders to
the Different Millers in this County who has Publick Wheat to have
it Immediately Ground up — and you may Rely on it that Nothing
shall be wanting to forward the Service that lays in my Power.
P. S. I am getting Cattle here to day to Join a drove coming on.

September 17
Red Book
No. 27
Letter 56

[Stephen Steward, West River, to the Council.]

It is been three weeks since I have been coming up to you and have
been prevented by a bad wound on my legg which continues so bad
I dare not venture to ride so I send M^r Wasteneys my Clark to you.
I here Inclose you M^r Lambdins Letter where you'l find nothing will
do but hard money, for plank which I have not got nor will the Red
money buy it, I have laid out at least £300 Hard money for the use of
the Gaily already, which I shall be a great looser by, as I can buy any
thing for Hard money at much less price then I can for the New
Emission, indeed salt provisions coud not be bought all Summer for
any thing but this Hard money which I have been obliged to buy with
my own money at an Extravagant price. I now soon shall be without
Salt provisions, perhaps it may sute you to Let me have some and a
little hard Cash as I have no more of my own I shoud likewise be
glad you will send me four or five Hundred pounds of the New
Emission — we go on but slow with the Gaily for want of hands,
M^r Chase has got several of my hands from me by giving them a
much Higher wages then I think they are worth and promising to
pay them Hard money which I cannot do with any prospect of doing
it. As soon as it is possible for me to go I intend over the Bay myself
to get Masts for the Gaily, I think you had best have her Rigged a
three Mast Schooner as you cant get people that understand Gallys
and a three Mast Schooner will be Equally as handy and her Masts
will hold but very little more wind, if she is Rigged a Schooner you
may then send her to sea Occationally I want much to talk to you
on this Occation. M^r Wasteneys Receipt will be Equall to my own
for any thing you give him for me I think the Gaily will be Superior
to any that ever was built on this Continent, as I cant get the plank
from the Eastern shore I have Desired M^r Wasteneys to go over
Magaty to see if he can get plank there for the new Emission at some
price or I must Discharge what few hands I have for want of both